Wanted: Chronos Clock w Push Buttons

There's a blue Chronos GX with pushbuttons (new) for sale on Ebay with a buy it now price of $144.71 and free shipping....such a deal...but if you're desperate...

I wrote about The Chronos Situation a while ago:

http://www.bestchessmenever.com/blog/files/chronos-chess-timers.html

It only got worse since.

-Izmet

I have a brand new black Chronos II (the longer model) with push buttons that I have never used.

I accidentally bought two a few months ago (don't ask me how ) and haven't had time to sell one of them.
It's never been used and has stayed in its original box with the manual.
I will put it on eBay at some point soon, depending on what you offer.

If you're interested let me know and I'll ship it to you as soon as your payment has cleared.

I will only take Paypal but if you live in Houston, I can meet you at some convenient place for both of us. 

Let me know.

Here's a picture of the actual clock.

It is risky to buy anything over the internet that is not sold through a site like Ebay or Amazon that guarantees the product and allows returns/refunds. I would not buy a clock unless it was sold through Ebay with a return guarantee if defective because it's possible a seller will take your money and run. Just a warning to potential buyers, I am not implying that Aperture is dishonest in any way, it’s just better to be safe than sorry.

Aperture.  Just sent you a message.  Thanks.

I'm actually thinking the same thing. For whatever reason you don't mention it but there are many risks as a buyer that you can be cheated out of your item and not get payed for it.
I will post here once I put it on eBay.

A sincere ‘thank you’ to all posters, especially AzBobcat who personally followed up on my quest to locate a (long) Chronos II clock with push buttons for my UCSF Expert son.  I was able to snag one, brand new in the box for $100 plus a reasonable delivery charge (see photo).  This clock (and its near-clone, the SamTimer) have not been produced in a very long time and DCI’s owner, Sam Kantimathi, told me that he does not know when either clock will be produced again.  Sam did not elaborate as to the reason for discontinuing production.  Both DCI websites (ChronosDealer.com & SamTimer.com) show that it’s possible to order the 8-3/4” long clocks, but all one accomplishes when doing so is being put onto a waiting list.  It goes without saying that none of the online chess stores have any Chronos IIs remaining in stock.

This is not widely known, but Kantimathi told me that the SamTimer has all the chess functions of the Chronos II.  The difference between the two clocks is that the SamTimer has several Scrabble-specific timing modes enabled (like up-counting overtime) that are not present on the Chronos II.

My advice to anyone who’s a fan of the original long Chronos is to purchase one now off of eBay before prices escalate beyond all reason.  Chronos IIs with touch sensors are already being purchased for $150 plus delivery fees.

Even if you own a Chronos I or II, you may want to purchase a backup.  My son now has two Chronos II clocks – one with touch sensors (which he dislikes as a blitz clock) and one with push buttons (which he prefers, regardless of the time control).  If one goes on the Fritz (pun intended J), he can use the other.

Not all Chronos models are unavailable, however.  The Chronos GX is being sporadically produced, but it has a screen that displays 4 digits, compared to the 6 digit display of the Chronos II.  For my son specifically, the number of digits displayed is a crucial distinction.

In order to make a 4 digit display work, the Chronos GX automatically switches from HH.MM to MM:SS as the time remaining decreases.  Then at less than 100 seconds remaining, the display again automatically switches to seconds and tenths of seconds (ex: 99_9).  He’s seen a GX owner flag because its limited display confused him.  This particular gentleman thought he was observing an automatic display change, when in fact he was observing the expiration of his first time control (ex: 40 moves in 2 hours).  All that being said, I’m sure the Chronos GX is a fine clock for those players who learn the differences between its 4 digit display and the 6 digit display of the Chronos II.

Again, thank you for all your comments!

Congrats NubeDad on finding a clock. Where did you find it, from a private party or a company?

400blows, I would suggest monitoring eBay several times a day, if your schedule permits.  I bought the Chronos II shown above, new in the box, from an individual shortly after they posted it using the 'Buy it Now' option.

Chronos' are so durable that I would not be concerned with purchasing a used one in good condition, provided 3 conditions are met.  (1) Payment using PayPal or a credit card, (2) The seller has plenty of positive feedback points, and (3) The seller allows returns within a reasonable amount of time.  

The touch sensor models seemed to me to be more popular (and therefore more expensive) than the push-button models.  You can also search for a SamTimer, as it has all the chess functionality of the Chronos II.

Hope this helps, and good luck!    

Congrats on the find, NubeDad. I'm glad you could get what you were looking for. Hope your son enjoys it!

400blows - Wholesale Chess got a few long Chronos II clocks in.  If you want one, I would recommend acting quickly.

http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess_clocks/chronos_chess_clocks?sort=featured

Whoop, thanks, just grabbed one! :) Glad I didn't spend $150 on Ebay. Looks like that might have been the last push button. But judging from what I read there, they ought to back in regular production in the near future. I'm so excited!

Thanks for the head's-up NubeDad.

Yep, looks like they took the push button off their page.

DAMN, I didn't know that these clocks are "out of print" They are scarce like some of the street fighter fighting game arcade sticks. I should have bought a Chronos back in 1999, etc...

OK here is some GOOD News / BAD News: GOOD News:The Chronos is still being made.  GOOD News: They are about to re-enter the Pipeline from what I hear. GOOD News: Expected date is sometime either later this month or next month. If I were you and want a Chronos I'ds high tail it over to Wholesale Chess ansd get yourself on the contact / waiting list, I suspect as soon as they come in they will be gone within days.

Now for the BAD  News: No idea what model will be stocked -- Chronos II or the GX.  BAD News: No idea if it will be either Touch Sensor or Push Button.

Here is my *GUESS*: Based upon the popularity within the Scholastic Crowd I *suspect* it will be the Chronos GX, both touch sensor, as well as push button, a market Chronos use to dominate, but as a result  of the drought of Chronos Chess clocks, a competitor stepped in to fill the void, and now markets an almost direct knockoff of the Chronos GX Touch Sensor, called the ZMF-II, which costs about half the price of a genuine Chronos Touch Sensor.  The ZMF-II has had a lot of favorable reviews, and a lot of scholastic players are now buying them, as such I  suspect Chronos will make an agressive move to reclaim this market share, and the best way is to start filling the pipeline with the Chronos GX. According to what I have read and heard, Chronos has now moved to a new location and I suspect by the end of this year, ALL major suppliers of the Chronos  will have them in stock.  Again, thios is ONLY a GUESS. The best thing to do right NOW if you want to get a Chronos of any type is to contact Wholesale Chess NOW, as they seem to be the first of the major suppliers to get any clocks.  Hope this helps.

That's not good news, that's great news! We are most likely all excited to see chronos come back on the scene.