By the way chaps, A friend who collects chess sets reccommends these cigar humidors to keep sets in.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V0L4RY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set
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Hi Luft waffles,
I doubt it is so critical for chess sets as it is for musical instruments. (I also make wooden flutes btw and my wife is the English early modern historian and muti woodwind instrumentalist Milissa Ellison).
I think that maybe keeping chess sets in a controlled environment for long term storage is a good idea.
LuftWaffles wrote:
I've posted this question in my own thread as well (sorry for double post):
While researching antique staunton sets, I often find the term "club size". I was under the impression that this meant king size 4.4' (often with 2' base), but now today I've run into several references to "Club size (4')" - and I don't know what to think? What is the rule here? What does club size mean?
For Jaques sets, 4"K is "Small Club Size", and 4.4" K is "Club Size" or "Large Club Size".
I believe they also offered Library size (<3") and Congress size (3.5").
Actually, looking at an old Jaques ad, they used "small club" for 3.5" king sets too.
AlanDewey wrote:
Hi Reb,
Watch chessbazaar closely over the next few months for some interesting developments. They also have several good Staunton's and a number of other styles suitable for display rather than competition play.
As almost all modern sets seem to be made in India, a matter of both material and labour costs I am sure, choosing between them is a matter of taste and cost.
Hi Alan:
Here's a PIcasa album link to Alan Fersht's magnificient BCC Club size set. I would love to see ChessBazaar make a replica of this set, of course with your expertise and guidedance. Could this be possible? Vintage BCC sets are so rare and quite expensive if one is avaiable. So bringing a replica of this set to fruiition would be a godsend for BCC starved collectors and I could see collectors clamoring to get this set.
https://picasaweb.google.com/100450293480257053343/BritishChessCompanySize1SLargeClubsize?noredirect=1#5363579047541669330
I just saw where an original BCC Imperial set (circa 1891) went for $1,400 on eBay last week.
Hi Mike,
Making good replicas of these sets is possible but I have to get my hands on one first. There are some interesting possibilites with BCC sets as the norman knights head was in Zylonite an early form of plastic and I see no reason why they should not be cast for the repros too. However BCC did offer an optional upgrade of the white side knights to be carved in boxwwod so that will have to be looked into.
Here's 2 of my antique boxwood finish sets
LuftWaffles, I'm like you — I haven't handled an antiqued set first hand but from all the pictures I've seen I don't like it. It just doesn't seem to match the patina of a genuinely old set. It's either too orange or too yellow and it's always too even. I'd choose standard boxwood over antiqued every time.
To me, antique finishes are the fake tans of the chess world (not that I'm a fan of natural tans either).
I have an antiqued Nottingham set from HOS. I love the set, but I must confess the antique finish looks like the pieces spent a few too many sessions at L.A. Tan. It's not the uniformity that bothers me as mush as their artificial look. The pieces look like they've been treated to look older; and it comes off looking about as real as intentionally 'distressed' furniture.
Alan Dewey mentioned a method of antiquing boxwood in one of his videos (I think) that doesn't look like a spray-on tan. If anyone should know, it's Alan. He's restored hundreds of antique sets, oftentimes replacing either part of or entire pieces, making them from scratch. And when he's done the finishes are so well matched it's hard to tell the repairs/replacements from the originals. If it isn't a trade secret, perhaps he could enlighten us.
This might be a dumb question but what will the antiqued sets look like when they really are old?
Oct 27, 2014
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#255
Maybe the finish will eventually rub off in 100 years and it will look like real boxwood. 
Since the finish, like beauty, appears to be only skin deep, any chips and nicks will uncover the lighter boxwood below. Looking similar to ebonized pieces after use and abuse.
Oct 27, 2014
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#257
Not to hijack the thread but I am finding out the dirty little secret that the genuine ebony pieces are dyed black for a uniform color. 25 years ago ebony with shades and strips of brown were not uncommon and you could still get all black ebony, but I highly doubt it anymore. It is still genuine ebony and therefore they do not tell you it is stained black but even in the finer sets I will bet you it is.
Not saying this is bad for chess sets as they do look nice. But I do not mind brown streaks going through my ebony and leaving it in a natural state.
loubalch wrote:
Since the finish, like beauty, appears to be only skin deep, any chips and nicks will uncover the lighter boxwood below. Looking similar to ebonized pieces after use and abuse.
Lou, I really like the antiqued boxwood finish. If we just forget about it trying to look vintage/old and just look at it as finish itself , then I have to say its really nice and looks great contrasting the ebony pieces... a beautiful sight!! This "hangup" that it doesn't look antique doesn't really matter if you like the finish iteself and not what it's supposed to represent.
Oct 27, 2014
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#259
Was nothing wrong with a few brown streaks going through my ebony pieces 25 years ago and would be nothing wrong today either especially at a 3K discount!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I'm pretty dubious about the customer service at CB based on their lack of replies to people here. I'm also pretty dubious about their claim that the set will be lead weighted. I may be too cynical but at this point I think they may just be telling people what they want to hear.