Post your Travel Chess Sets

Hi traveling chess mates,

Great thread here!

Does anybody know about the brand or even the Mfr name of this russian "chess book" below. 

This one should be coo RU. 

Not searching a vendor, but the source

Thanks

Lovely gothic revival style to the Budapest set.

I just ordered such a set from House of Staunton. That set is originally from Russia Chess House (www.chessm.com). On that site these sets are referenced as Simza chess sets.

This wallet set is currently on eBay. The auction has another week to run. Bidding is at $80 CAD, but I am sure it will go for a lot more.

Hi,

Thank you !

But this one you got is not "manufactured" by them, neither by HOS (they only distribute that Russian branded item which looks similar, but is not the original item).

The fact that they call it ANALOGUE OF CHESS "SIMZA" on their site, means it's NOT Simza . However it seems that the reproduction "factory" is still existing ...

The org. one that I was searching in my first post #445, is only mentioned on the russian chess house site (but they do not manufacture them).

As they don't confirm stock, don't communicate the original brand, neither the mfr, chart orders on the site in english are technically not possible ,...

I suppose that allows them to sell their own stuff as a "copy" of that, even pretty overpriced.

This one you show is a really nice one  - thanks !

These kind of TAB chess sets are very rare.

In new cond. only found one on HOS, branded by USCF, but it's not well made, as No ALGEBRAIC NOTATIONS and not even space for ALL figures only half (!).

(Most probably made in CN, as the other travel set stuff from USCF). 

On Etsy, there is a nice original vintage one in leather, $200 (!) that's a lot, but in comparison to all the other crap you can buy new, maybe appropriate for a collectors market.

@ iamsmien : "Simza" was a former brand, that made travel chess sets, but exactly the same had been launched such as "made in Germany" and others. So not even sure who made them finally. 

So no idea WHO is making this one.

(HOS and RCH are not manufacturing, they are resellers which might have some own branded stuff), but definitely NOT THIS one :

Maybe some of you collectors have more info about it's factory...

@ carnellm

The one you refer to is available at HOS and Chess House. 

But attention, the chess men are from poor quality (CN ?) and much to bulky, I got the same but just changed the pieces from a nice Indian set. Now it fits. 

The pieces that came originally with are locked up in the drawer of that Indian set (pic#3). 

Even the "US-style" CN plastic folder looks nicer.

Thanks @Nisse_FR ! That is exactly what I needed to know. For some reason, I just really like that board. 

OK, great.

I think there are even 2 sizes, a 7" and 9" version. 

Btw, another nice travel board (comes on chesshouse), pretty cheap material with not good coloring of b/w chessmen, but a well glued surface and overall ok. 

I use it to "freeze" a position (beside a normal board) for variant training. 

And last but no least a "vintage set" from former East Germany :

Thank you for clearing that up for me @Nisse_FR

I have that slotted set from USCF and really like it.  True, it does not have notation but that doesn't really bother me.  At first it bothered me that it only had 8 slots for captured pieces until I realized that you can slide 2 captured pieces into one slot.  I take mine everywhere and it has held up great.  Also, important to me, is that you can drop it or whatever and the pieces stay in place.  The only real drawback is that the pieces are kind of fragile so you have to be careful.  Until it is broken in the pieces are tough to slide into the slots and can possibly break if you push too hard.  You have to wiggle them in.  Once it is stretched out a bit they are fine.  I also like that the exterior is leather with embossed gold print.  It just feels nice.

Hi, 

thanks for sharing your experience with that slotted passport set. 

The point of piece-fragility is a major issue that will make it inappropriate for traveling - for me of course. 

Just one remark, the material is certainly not real leather, but a cheap imitation, called synthetic leather. Same as the one I have.

A shame that some vendors are advertising these as "soft leather"*), that pretends something else. Smell, structure, price, scratch- and flame test will prove ... I guess the US legislation allows that kind of commercial bluff. 

Regards

*)Soft leather is an unprotected generic name

Btw, also the "Russian Chess House Travel Chess Set" (post#451) sold by House of Staunton is advertised  as "It is crafted from leather and vinyl." !

Just that on the Russian vendor site the same item from above is called "faux leather" and  "artificial leather"...

Received my "soviet travel chess set" from the 60's today (just have to find a crown replacement for the kings). 

The Apple-pencil could help out pretty well

Just an emergency operation. Final recovery in some weeks ...

After a wood oil treatment and a slight retouch of the black squares, the board looks pretty nice again.

This set was made in Russia, at Orlov chess plant (Khalturin in Soviet time) in 1960.

The (aged) previous owner of that set is (still) one of the best chess players in Moldova.

It fits great for book studies on the desk. 

I won the auction on eBay for this wallet set. According to the seller, it is from the "late Victorian period". Google informs me that is 1850 - 1910. If that is true, it is in beautiful shape for the age. 

It is the only wallet set I have ever seen with a slipcase/envelope. It is much too nice to be walking around with, but is a lovely collector's item.