Post your Travel Chess Sets

Hi LouStule,

I'm afraid Bob is right, this is an Indian set and not K & C Ltd of London.

There are several giveaways, the primary one being the colored cord inside the perimeter of the lid.  I'm not sure all Indian travel sets have this cord, but all sets with this cord are Indian.

Second is the height of the pawn and often the diameter of the finial ball that sets atop it.  Unlike many peg-in style Indian travel sets, your pawns are relatively well proportioned.  Some cheaper sets have pawns that are as tall and often taller than the pieces while others have exceedingly large diameter finials balls.  Some have both as seen in my post #17 and Bob's post #40.

Third is the block-like carving of the knight's head.  This is true of the set in post #17 but not the one in post #40.  Like the cord, not all Indian knights in travel sets are carved in this manner, but if they are you can take it to the bank it's an Indian set.

Lastly, all peg-in style Indian sets come in nice wood cases like yours.

Anyway, I guess we still don't know when K & C Ltd travel chess sets first appeared.

Best,
Bob

ebay.co.uk has some K & C sets advertised as 1950's or earlier.

Thank you very much, Bob.  For some reason I didn't think to examine eBay in the country of origin for the K & C sets but searched the web for a history of K & C Ltd of London as a toy manufacturer, without much success I might add.

I see the sets on eBay UK sport pieces with and pieces without the mitred bishop.  It's obvious the design for the mitred bishop came from copying Britain's own Victorian sets, circa 1890-1900 (see below).

On the left is a bone bishop from a 6-inch Whittington design set and on the right is a bishop from a K & C Ltd. set.

Frankly, I don't know where the design originated for the non-mitred bishop, but it showed up in more than K & C sets (see below).

On the left is a bishop from a K & C set and on the right is a bishop from an Elvin Products Hong Kong set circa 1950s-1960s.

I doubt the design for the Elvin Products bishop was independently invented because the inner ring atop the bishop has been duplicated, implying a borrowing.  Besides, Hong Hong was known for making cheap knockoffs of British goods.

Below is a photo of the Elvin Products Chess N' Checkers set and its retail box.  This one was auctioned on eBay.  The retail box indicates it was used, but it must have been well cared for because it's in pristine condition.

Coincidentally, I played a neighbor kid on a set like this -- my original is long gone, unfortunately -- when I was 9 or 10.

I graduated to a Lowe chess and checker set like the one below when I was 12 or 13, if memory serves. 

Was this an improvement?  I thought so at the time.  Each had advantages and disadvantages.

Anyway, is the very similar design of the two non-mitred bishops in the second photo enough to prove that some of the K & C Ltd. sets date back to the 1950s?  Perhaps so.

Best,
Bob

Thanks Fightin Bob! It's amazing your knowledge of these sets. Thanks for giving me some insight into my little set. I love it and now I know more about it. Much obliged! Take care.

You're quite welcome, LouStule.

A couple sets I own were gifts from my World War II generation parents -- a German, full sized wood set when in grade school and a wood, peg-in travel chess set made in Switzerland when in high school.  They were and still are a treasure, and a fond memory of times past.  Sadly, to many younger folks travel sets are quaint at best and inconvenient at worst; they can just whip out their Android or iPhone.  So it goes.

May you have many happy years playing on and analyzing with your travel set.

Best,
Bob

greetings, fightingbob. say, that recent post of yours with the all plastic set, with a star on the cover, and you call it an elvin set, how do you like it? especially compared to what i consider the nice k&c sets, which have uniform peg holes, uniform pegs, the pieces are easy to insert, etc... I would like an all plastic set, as my k&c sets are card board, and slightly fragile. for instance, if they get wet ----------- disaster. i particularly like the pieces of the k&c sets - each piece is attractive and well made. i think another reason i was leery of the elvin-type set is it includes checkers. i have zero interest in checkers.  thanks for a nice thread and............keep travelin'..............

Hello doublebanzai,

First, not all 1950s-1960s Hong Kong sets were made by Elvin.  There were others in a retail box advertising Pocket Chess & Checkers rather than Chess N' Checkers.  The pieces look similar, but are not as well made nor as uniform (see below).

Notice the crack in the lid, now sealed with packing tape.

There were other sets, now hard to find, with retail boxes that simply said Pocket Chess.  These sets were exclusively chess, had the same pieces as Chess N' Checkers sets, and sported a black and white board.  The one shown below had the board swapped out for a blue and white one.

Any of these sets are fine, but the plastic cases are not substantial and the lids easily crack.  Frankly, the Lowe set in post #84 is sturdier and will last longer.

That said, I'd be patient and wait for the set I photographed for post #23 to be auctioned on eBay.  The Shoptaugh is built like a tank, but the pieces are quite small so take that into account.  I also recommend another plastic set, one with a metal board and soft plastic pieces made by HB Farebrother (see below).

The lid for this set can be slipped underneath the case while playing so you won't lose it.

Now for the bad news, all the sets discussed here are no longer made; you will have to search eBay or etsy for them.  As I said, patience is required.

Best,
Bob

Thanks, Fightingbob, for the info. Btw, there are three Whittington folding peg sets on ebay now.... ranging from $275 to $700 or so.... looks like those sets don't allow the pieces to remain set up when folded, i assume. But the pieces look pretty attractive.......

Hello doublebanzai,

Your assumption would be incorrect about Whittington-pattern chess sets.  Next to the In Statu Quo seen in post #20, they were the premiere Victorian travel set.  They came in 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch sizes.  I believe the 8-incher was the most common.

Go to my initial post #1 and look at the first or second photo.  Notice there are holes around the perimeter of the board for captured pieces.  Also, when the game must be interrupted for whatever reason the wings are folded in to hold the pieces in place, then folded in half and held closed by hooks (see below).

Though $700 is too much to pay, $275 for an 8-incher would be a good buy.  Naturally, that depends upon the condition of the board and wear on the pieces, particularly the red-stained pieces.  I paid a little more to guarantee a very good condition for both, but I still cleaned them up.  As you can see, the sets in post #1 show little wear.

If you buy a Whittington, I can give you some pointers on how to clean them.  Or course, there is only so much you can do if the stain has been worn off the red pieces or the varnish off the board and case.  Then refurbishing is required rather than a mere brush up.

Best,
Bob

I'm not in the market for a Whittington (though that could change....???). I perused the ones on ebay now --- $280 buys one with replacement pieces (wooden).To me I'd want original pieces.  $700 give or take for sets with original pieces. The sets look a little worn and not as nice as yours in post #1. I guess I'm definitely NOT interested in those at those prices. What set do you play/travel with, if any?  Do you like playing with the Whittingtons in terms of comfort of use, etc? I only own a K&C set - it's what I use and has always seemed pleasant in use.  I prefer it to standard sets when i'm analyzing somewhere.... thanks again for your accurate info...

Like I said, doublebanzai, $700 is way out of line even for a pristine set.  My 6-incher was around $150 while the 8-incher was around $350, but I waited until the nice ones showed up on eBay.  I also won a 10-incher with a slightly worn board for $265, which is a good price for that size.

I can't say I play with these sets very often; they are collector's items.  Others collect full sized vintage sets, but I collect these because I don't have to take out a second mortgage to own one.

Frankly, I think your K & C Ltd. set you posted is both attractive and practical.  However, carting it around a lot will eventually mean wear showing up on the case.  Pick up one of the sturdy plastic sets for carting around or a two-dimensional pocket set shown in posts #32, #33 or #70.

I hate to admit it, but I use a Hong Kong or Lowe set for quick analysis because they're convenient and if I break one it's no a big loss because I own several.  However, I wouldn't cart either around, for that a Shoptaugh or the HB Farebrother fits the bill.  The latter I brought on vacation because as the Ford commercial says, "It's built tough."  So is the Shoptaugh.

If I'm serious, I play with a swiss wood travel set purchased from the Denver Dry Goods Company by Mom and Dad in the 1960s.  It was a Christmas present, and it brings back fond memories of my World War II generation parents, now deceased.

The set is still in good shape except for the crack in the board between the c-file and d-file brought on by dry Colorado weather.

The lid is pristine because I transport the set in its original, now quite worn retail box.

I think this answers your questions.

Good hunting!

Best,
Bob

Thanks, Fightingbob.......... Your advice about the K&C is right on. I carry it in this small box, which is about the same size as the K&C box. I may look around for a Whittington ----- I'll take your advice about the pricing, though. Yeah, $700 or even $500 is way too much for me.

Unfolded:

Folded:

I'm confused. which inexpensive, unique, interesting set should I buy🤔

I don't know what to tell you Natesh, but you first have to decide if you prefer magnetic or peg-in style travel chess sets.  I prefer the latter, but own some of the former as well.  Just know that it is harder to find a decent peg-in set today unless you look for a used, vintage, and well cared for set on eBay.  There are several on-line stores and also some brick and mortar stores where you can find nice magnetic sets like the one just posted by deafdrummer.

Good luck in your choices.

Best,
Bob

Pegs for me --- To Ebay I must go, to Ebay I must go.... High Hoe and a Tidllee Doooo..... to Ebay I

M U S T

go

I grabbed this set from Chesshouse.com when there was talk about it here on the forums.

http://www.chesshouse.com/9_Milled_Leather_Travel_Magnetic_Chess_Set_p/gwmg1.htm

It has a weird piece size, sort of short and squat. I thought I would just use a different set of pieces, I like the board and the carry case for it (it would fit well in my suitcase) as well as I thought the weight would be better than my wooden travel set I had been using.

Here is the set as it shipped:

The large bases make the set seemed cramped.

But not overly bad if just using for analysis or study.

But I had a set that I used with one of my wooden boards that I thought I would try

Seems to fit much better

Seems to be about right

I like these pieces but the original pieces are growing on me. I will have to use the baord more with both sets to see which I prefer.  The storage pouch and the size of the board when stored makes it a very nice set to travel with. 

Yes! That is it, Rsava. I love this little travel set. I got this set a few weeks ago and have already played numerous games on it in all sorts of places, because it is so small and easy to pack, yet is big enough that the pieces are easy to manage and see. There is only one thing that bothers me about it, and that is that the pieces are so large in girth that it makes me feel a little claustrophobic, especially early in a game when there are so many pieces on the board. Your other pieces fit the squares much better, I think.

But then you no longer have the magnets in the pieces holding them securely to the board, yes? I really like the fact that the magnets are strong enough so that, should the board get bumped, the pieces stay where they are:

Jon, 

Actually my other pieces are also magnetic.

I like both sets of pieces, not sure which is better ....