Leuchars were mostly known as a manufacturer and retailer for high end boxes and other fancy goods I think. Chess sets were only a very small part of what they sold.
Here is a good link http://www.antiquebox.org/leuchars/
British Chess Co. only seem to have made sets for about 15 years
http://www.fersht.com/The%20British%20Chess%20Company.htm
I have decided to re-post this here as it might be the 'right' place.
I didn't realize that the weighting of chess pieces with lead was such a controversial subject.
I had heard from one manufacturer many years ago that lead could not be used in chess pieces as they are regarded in the same group as toys (for children presumably) and of course lead is supposed to be toxic. (It never did me any harm, I've worked with it for years blblblblblbl).
I worked with a guy in the building trade (Jeff Hamlet, are you still alive?) who said he used to chew bits of lead when he was young. (But then he was often moody and aggressive, so I guess that proves it is dangerous.
Anyway. I looked at Tungsten putty and although it looks good, heavy and pliable the price would kill. $8 per oz so that is a no-no.
I think that lead under felt or baize is safe enough except to the poor person who has to install the weights. But then there are plenty of prolls so we might as well use them up. The best way to make weights for a set in my experience is to cast the lead into holes drilled in a block of scrap wood and then when cool knock the weights out.
Strips of lead (from the local scrap yard) can be melted into the holes with a plumbers blow torch. ( I have one from Lowes with a click start lighter thingy) You can trim the tops flat whilst they are in the wood mold on a sanding disc.
If you drill out the holes in the pieces 1/8" larger then glue them in with one of the rubber solution type glues, I should think that would do it.
Drill the holes for the weights before you turn and finish the pieces... ask me how I know.
Would this not devalue a antique chess set as it's no longer original adding lead weights? or is this quite common to find / To bump up the price !
Hi Chris,
I've never weighted a complete old Jaques and it would be pointless to re-do a cheaper non-Jaques I guess.
I have been asked however, and refused to do it, not particularly for moral reasons but because gripping the already finished (and patinated) pieces, even in a soft vise would be risky and if there is say, a 1 in 10 chance or even a 1 in 20 chance of damaging one then it is almost certain that the set would be damaged.
Jaques weights were screwed in with a 4 pronged insertion tool and the marks are usually quite easy to see if you remove the baize.
Hello Alan ,
Thanks for your input on this , When I was a kid used to collect stamps like most kids back then There was the fake penny black stamp which people would pass of as the real thing .
So it seem this can Happens in every world were there is a intrinsic value .
I find using a Jaques unweighted set better for training with "ie opening study / middle game /end game .
Did you ever see a original Dubrovnik 1950 set in your wandering As this is such a rare chess set ?
There is something in that Knight design which keeps drawing me back to it .
Hi Alan,
Of all the Staunton set you've seen, do you have any favourites?
Hi Chris,
I used to see a good range of sets when I was in Portobello Road. Garrick Coleman got most of them offered to him but I picked up a prize or two on occasion.
I don't remember a Dubrovnik though.
Hi Lawrence,
I have seen so many Jaques sets in my time it is hard to pick a single one out. My Mrs. bought me a nice early Jaques 3.5" weighted for us to play with and I have the only known Jaques stamped bone Staunton which is a bit of a treasure. But, no favorites. However I do wish I owned the Leuchars overstamped wood Jaques it has really early knights heads looking just right for having dragged the moon goddess Selene's chariot across the sky as they are shown in the Elgin marbles of course, but you all know this stuff.
Hi Alan,
The Dubrovnik was Bobby fischer favourite set he even had a rare set one from the 50's
Locked away !
http://bestchessmenever.com/blog/files/fischer-about-dubrovnik.html
He rated it as the best chess set he ever play with even over Jaques .
This set from the 50's seems like a grail .
Hi Chris,
Yes, I do know the Dubrovnik set. If Fisher hadn't mentioned it I should think it would just be a footnote in chess set history. It isn't particularly memorable in my opinion.
I'm at a loss about the popularity of the Dubrovnik set. It's a simple design, minimal carving, pretty substantial uniformity, and everything I've read indicates a TON of them were made (presumably because they were cheap and easy to make). Also, I'd note that Fischer doesn't seem to have been in his right mind during the interview blub pointed to by lighthouse, above.
Alan,
You're way too modest when you said:
"... I have the only known Jaques stamped bone Staunton which is a bit of a treasure."
I am pretty sure it's not just a bit - it will probably valued way more than a bit. I agree with you with the Leuchars. It's my favourite Jaques knight too.
Hi Lawrence,
Having a vanishingly rare set is something of an enigma. Better to have one of 4 or 5 well documented sets I think. Take as an example the ivory and Oak Jaques set on ebay ATM. I have never seen such a thing. It has several drawbacks which will affect the price. 1) half the set is ivory. (impossible to import for now). 2) The Jaques stamp on the WK has been pretty thoroughly scrubbed, it is barely visible. 3) No one AFAIK has ever seen a Jaques set made in Oak or any other mixed wood and ivory.
It should be somewhere between 5K -10K IMO but I doubt it will go over $2K
@jcousins1:
The simple design and minimal carving is a large part of the point of the Dubrovnik set for those of us who like it. I love the Dubrovniks for their elegant, secular and not overly ornamented design, their light weight, their balance and playability, for not being as obnoxiously large as most other premium sets, and for the extraordinarily smooth and polished finish. I've seen a few (but not many) sets I like slightly more on photos, but I've never encountered another set I've liked nearly as much for actual use. It's about how they feel at least as much as how they look. I couldn't care less what Fischer thought about them.
I'm at a loss about the popularity of the Dubrovnik set. It's a simple design, minimal carving, pretty substantial uniformity, and everything I've read indicates a TON of them were made (presumably because they were cheap and easy to make). Also, I'd note that Fischer doesn't seem to have been in his right mind during the interview blub pointed to by lighthouse, above.
The Bobby thing got my attention and I bought my first Noj Dubrovnik in 2010.
The set plays exceptionally well. And it is my favorite of well over 30 sets that I own. In fact I now own this Dubrovnik II set in the original Walnut, Red Maple and Brown Maple.
If you only want a set to look at then I am sure the various Jaques and Soviet designs are fine.for that.
But, this set is the best to play with as far as I know and from the testimony of others.
And Bobby Fischer has nothing to do with it.
@jcousins1:
I'm at a loss about the popularity of the Dubrovnik set. It's a simple design, minimal carving, pretty substantial uniformity, and everything I've read indicates a TON of them were made (presumably because they were cheap and easy to make). Also, I'd note that Fischer doesn't seem to have been in his right mind during the interview blub pointed to by lighthouse, above. "
I'll weigh in here: I was stationed in Germany during the Cold War. There are many, many sets
sets that were would-be Dubrovnik copies, and/or Dubrovnik inspired. Some were pure junk, and others were a dream to play with. The HOS Zagreb '59 is an example of a Dubrovnik Inspired set. When I went to the 29th World Chess Olympiad that was held in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (this was before the war that tore Yugoslavia apart) all you saw were Dubrovnik inspired sets. When we traveled down to Dubrovnik itself all you saw were the more classical Dubrovnik sets. What you did not see were the classical Western Staunton sets.
I like the NOJ sets but they are way out of my price range, and at that price I bet they are properly weighted and balanced. And while I have never played with one of these sets, my bet is HOS' Zagreb '59 and / or their Dubrovnik copy are *probably* properly weighted. I know I would prefer either set over some of the sets I played with in Europe, that said, there were some sets -- mostly Dubrovnik inspired -- that were truly a joy to handle.
Surprising that there are so few vintage Dubrovnik sets on eBay. Apparently some people like these sets - as evidenced by the posts above and the fact that people make reproductions - so I'd have thought there would be lots of people selling the real thing
Surprising that there are so few vintage Dubrovnik sets on eBay. Apparently some people like these sets - as evidenced by the posts above and the fact that people make reproductions - so I'd have thought there would be lots of people selling the real thing
The thing is Matt ,
The real Dubrovnik set is very rare which is the 50"s set
there say there is only six set still around .
And would go for sale at deep pocket prices ,
Put it this way, I would not say No to one as I really like the 50's design knight .
The next best thing is the One by NOJ & not cheap .
Only 6? That is rare, I wasn't aware of that
Hi Lawrence,
Having a vanishingly rare set is something of an enigma. Better to have one of 4 or 5 well documented sets I think. Take as an example the ivory and Oak Jaques set on ebay ATM. I have never seen such a thing. It has several drawbacks which will affect the price. 1) half the set is ivory. (impossible to import for now). 2) The Jaques stamp on the WK has been pretty thoroughly scrubbed, it is barely visible. 3) No one AFAIK has ever seen a Jaques set made in Oak or any other mixed wood and ivory.
It should be somewhere between 5K -10K IMO but I doubt it will go over $2K
Jon Crumiller Jaques didn't sell white=ivory / black=wood sets. These pieces are from (at least) two separate sets.
Hi Lawrence,
Having a vanishingly rare set is something of an enigma. Better to have one of 4 or 5 well documented sets I think. Take as an example the ivory and Oak Jaques set on ebay ATM. I have never seen such a thing. It has several drawbacks which will affect the price. 1) half the set is ivory. (impossible to import for now). 2) The Jaques stamp on the WK has been pretty thoroughly scrubbed, it is barely visible. 3) No one AFAIK has ever seen a Jaques set made in Oak or any other mixed wood and ivory.
It should be somewhere between 5K -10K IMO but I doubt it will go over $2K
Jon Crumiller Jaques didn't sell white=ivory / black=wood sets. These pieces are from (at least) two separate sets.
Occam's Razor
@chessspy1 Those are very interesting histories. It's sad though that none of the Jaques competitor survived (with the exception of Leuchars which is virtually Jaques). From what I can see today, those foregone competitors along with BCC have very good chess sets.