Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Hi Mike 

its here : https://www.officialstaunton.com/products/1849-registered-staunton-chessmen-mahogany-board-box

Is there a picture or a link to go with the above post.^^^^

He's made a thread about it here:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/what-is-this-red-and-white-bone-set

I have to say that set looks absolutely great Carl, well done! If I had money to spare, alas too rich for me at the moment, discount or not.

Alan - or anyone else - please see my post 3302 above. See all that ugly brown "patina" especially on the pawn and bishop? Looks like the french polish has deteriorated or something. Any idea how these could be improved?

Looks like dirt.  Start by cleaning them with a damp cloth.  

Hi Matt,

I have seen this type of 'patina' on old sets before quite often.

I think it is because the old French polish has worn off and hand dirt has gotten worked into the sub-surface.

If you gently clean this off with say a little soapy water and a toothbrush (medium is ok) it will show fairly white where the bare wood is and yellow where the old polish is still there. 

Restoring it back to a good looking set is the problem. It can be done but if you are not careful you will end up with something which looks like one of Carl's much flouted jobbies.

Thanks Alan. Sounds like to fix this properly will require removing the original French Polish, cleaning them and then re-applying. Sounds a bit scary and I haven't got my lathe set up yet.

Maybe I'll try a gentle clean first as you and Greg suggest.

You do give Carl a hard time!

I'd be a bit nervous about getting water and soap under the shellac and hitting any damaged shellac edges with a brush.  The darkest marks are not where the fingers would rest and wear the shellac off (which is where dirt worked into the wood would be) but a bit back from those places.  Unlike modern finishes, French polish (shellac) is a repairable finish and does not all need to be removed.  

Thanks Greg, so you'd avoid anything even slightly abrasive like a toothbrush?

I'd start gently until I knew more clearly what I was dealing with and could see where the finish was intact and where its gone.  

 OK thanks, I'll have a go a go tonight and will maybe post more pics

Best set I have seen. That in itself will be an heirloom to pass down,  Pieces are remarkably done along with a box that compliments. The board has to be one of your best sellers.  The set in itself will be a true collector's item in my opinion. I have one I bought a while back in all the frenzy from a different company I will not name that was numbered and I have #3 and I can't get 1/2 of what I paid for it. 

The age-old adage from Ben Franklin still holds true.  The Bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten.

Thanks Mike, it is a very nicely carved knight, perfectly done, unlike some horrors I have seen in my time! 

Alan loves to give me a hard time but that's ok I guess its easy to simply try to destroy another's hard work, anyhow it is what it is... actually our distressed range has been overwhelmingly popular and chess bazaar copied our 1849 set as they had tried to perfect their abysmal efforts  of the 1849 set that Alan assisted on, but chess bazaar failed miserably over a 3 year period and ultimately resorted to having a collector send them 6 pieces of our repro 1849..albeit they sprayed it red and white and called it their masterpiece lol ..so we must be doing something right. 

what about this one though, ... anyone on here knows who carved this one up I wonder? 

Thank you 

 Alan assisted on, but resorted to having a collector send them 6 pieces of our repro 1849.

This is of course a lie.

I do hope you are not going to continue in this way Carl. My critique of your sets is quite justified. If you post them here, you  must take the brickbats along with the accolades.

Telling or implying lies about me is starting to look much like the old ranting messes you used to post. I strongly advise against it and if you do not retract your latest slur I will report you.

sorry, Alan, you have misinterpreted what i wrote! i am not saying you assisted in getting 6 samples sent to chess bazaar. Im saying you assisted chess bazaar in their original 1849 ... thats all 

Very well, I accept your apology.

Please do be more careful in future when you post my name in close conjunction with some poor behavior.