Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Hmm, thought I'd try to google the answer as to when Jaques moved production away from the UK, give the answer here and look like a big-shot, but - I found something more interesting that I wasn't aware of:

"The popularity of chess during World War II helped MI9 construct escape item hidden in chess games sent to British and American prisoners of war. Because the chess sets were made of wood, especially the Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London. The inside walls of the chess pieces box were hollowed out "...to secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses." The large chess boards were perfect for supplying to prisoners "...counterfeit documents, maps, currency and other contraband." The chess pieces themselves were hollowed out and used to hold messages, compasses, maps and dye to help turn uniforms into civilian attire. The base of the piece was often screwed in with a left turn screw, so any attempt to unscrew the base normally would only make it tighter."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaques_of_London

I wasn't aware of these hollowed out Jaques boxes/sets

Or hiding messages inside a King as in Stalag 17.

“Oh, soooooooo."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcQj8Ey9SsY

I just watched that movie last week. Let me show you the mailbox, the hollow black queen. LOL, Great movie.  Ach sooooo.   

Billy Wilder - not forgetting  / Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot

In 1989 me and my wife spent 2 weeks in Prague.  The police thought that I might be a cia agent (  its a long story ). We were followed every where we went. I bought a Czech   plastic club chess set . When we were out and on a tour, our room was serched. My  new, hollow plastic chess set was taken apart !  When the police put it back together , they damaged the white queen.   They must have seen  Stalag 17 !

Bothered me when they got Steve Macqueen after he tried to get away with the motorcycle.

I'm going by memory,since it was a huge hit with my high school pals,way back in the late sixties.

Cool story…. 👍Is that the James Bond theme I hear? 😊

Wrong film it's  The great escape

Yup...My Bad-

Damn good movie too.

No that's the sound your wife makes while shaking her head 'tsk tsk tsk'

Was in Prague a few days in 2019 and enjoyed the sights.  Not mistaken for CIA though.

The German chasing him on a motorbike was also played by Steve McQueen, because no-one else was fast enough to keep up with him.

I am looking at a Jaques set.

Any idea when the set would date from at all as I haven’t seen one not in a mahogany box and the label design seems quite modern…?

That label design appears in Alan Fersht's book, and underneath it it says: "1915 3.5" slide lid (same as dated ivory set)"

Your pictures are clearly not of a slide lid box so I'm confused by this. I also see that the king-side crown stamps are black on the set pictured - this may give a clue as to the date. Presumably both kings are stamped? Can you post any other pictures?

Hmmm yes that is quite strange…

I have attached some more pictures below:

Still it's a'nice looking set , what's the asking price ?

I agree, that looks really nice. No damage, right? And 3.5 inch Kings?

£1500 sounds steep. Is it a 3.5 inch set? How do you know the box is not mahogany?