Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

PetioPetio 

Well, if that is a real Havana set, then you have a real treasure on your hands...

https://kevinspraggettonchess.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/havana-1966-chess-piecesboard-and-table/

Congrats!

@htdavid - rich link. Tx for that.

Hei:

In Spragget article, I'm Xadrez Memória.

My friend and former Portuguese International Master Joaquim Durão, who played this Olympics, had his pieces and the table. (The table was only given to some team captains.
Between 15, 20 thousand dollars, with the table. between 10-15 pieces only. I know some have sold for less, but only out of desperation / need. of the seller.

Well, some pieces need a litlle restauration, here and there, but...

You have one of the greatest treasures ever on chess pieces .. Believe there are few,  but very few sets of these for sale. Who has it, keep it "in safe"

Congratulations!

The dog chewed pieces can be restored by any competent woodworker.

Or perhaps they were chewed by a player who blundered.

How would you go about it Alan?

Hi Matt,

I would remove the baizes on the affected pieces by carefully sliding a box cutter (AKA Stanley knife) blade between the baize and underside of the base.

Then I would make some boxwood (or ebony as appropriate) sanding dust on the sanding faceplate then I would put thin superglue on the affected parts and sprinkle the dust on the glue.

When it was built up sufficiently I would attach the piece to a glue chuck, centred exactly to run as close to' right' as the natural ovaling of the wood (caused by shrinkage over time) will allow.

Then cut off the surplus as the piece spins on the lathe and sand and polish to as smooth as possible.

Then stain to match existing. The staining is the hard part IMO.

There are videos on chessspy.com I think.

Thanks Alan. What sort of stain do you use? Also, once smooth would you apply anything else like French Polish? Or would you just use transparent shoe polish like you do in some of your videos that I've seen?

I've seen a dealer describe a Jaques set as "retaining the original French Polish". Were Jaques sets French Polished?

Hi Matt,

I don't know what the original polish Jaques used was but modern shellac/ wax friction polishes like Krystal Coat seems to work well.

I use various stains and paints and polishes, Keeping at it until the little bar stewards look right.

I can PM you a list if you have a specific job in mind.

it would have been shellac, there were not that many options in the 1850s

Hi Greg,

Yes I agree. I have used similar modern shellac/wax friction polishes, all of which seem to work well.

I remeber when we had an oncologist in the workshop a few years ago doing one of our 'make a chess set in a weekend' classes. he was a bit slow but was getting a superb finish on his dark side pieces (Black Walnut, a common local wood) but it was taking him a long time. However, he did get his set finished I am pleased to say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woNsbHLu5VE

Do you still offer this class Alan?

 Hi Alan,

Not at the moment. I am building a new workshop and hope to take another look at giving classes next year as they are popular.

It seems like a very interesting workshop, no wonder it's popular. I would have been interested in attending too if not for the proximity.  

Ah yes, I wasn't thinking of coming up to Canada just now.

You could re-locate back the the UK Alan, perhaps Ipswich or Diss.

I think that would be best for everyone.

This numbered but ropy 3.5'' set which sold recently has no king-side stamps on the rooks. I have seen another set of a similar age which had stamps on the knights but not on the rooks.  Does anyone know if the little red crowns were ever absent for reasons that don't include mixing up pieces from different sets?

Thanks Alan.  I will keep that in mind for next year!