USA Chess Sets

Creating a list of chess sets made and sold in the United States
initially occurred to me for at least two reasons. First, finding

decent information on such chess sets proved to be extremely
difficult to the point, in some cases, of being almost impossible.
Second, and perhaps as a result of the first, it seemed there was a
tendency among many chess collectors to not take American chess
sets seriously. Perhaps neither did I. I originally envisioned a final
list of just a few short pages, even if the list included a few sample
pictures. But I soon discovered that wouldn't be the case. At All.
As I searched through catalogs, magazines, the internet and
elsewhere, I found the list growing longer, and then longer again. I
was surprised when what I had anticipated to be a short, quick list
became much more. An even bigger surprise was when I realized it
had become necessary to be selective.
Therefore, there are some chess sets and companies not
included in this book. Only a few companies or sets that came after
the 1980s are covered, but that is pretty much within the timeframe
I originally had in mind, anyway. Nor does the list generally include
specialty sets, such as those based on TV shows, movies, or other
pop themes any of which could potentially go on forever. I
have also left out computer and/or electronic chess games
another topic all its own. Chess paraphernalia, chessboards,
compendium sets, clocks, or books topics about which one could
probably start. a book, were also excluded.
Another criteria I followed had to do with verification. If I
couldnt confirm information I didnt use it (i.e. if a manual, box,
or set itself, could not be confirmed as original to the overall
package, it wasnt used). Of course, now that Ive set down the
guidelines I tried to follow, I will be the first to admit there are
some exceptions.
Originally, I had planned to include only those companies in the
United States that were actual manufacturers of chess sets. But I
soon discovered this would require my following a rather blurry
line. Many if not most companies, who were bona fide
manufacturers of chess sets, also purchased sets from other
companies/distributors to fill gaps in their product line. However,
companies that were obviously distributors only (i.e. Pavilion), were
excluded. Other companies, not quite so obvious or well known,
were included.
I also tried, with mixed results, to ignore chess sets that were
imported into the United States. But that also started requiring the
following of a rather blurry line. Ultimately, a number of imported
sets did make it on the list, mostly due to their having become a
quite integral part of the history of that particular company.
Ironically, even as I excluded some things, I found it necessary
to add others. More than just manufacturing companies were
responsible for the

chess sets and designs that originated
in America. To the
list could and
should be added
others, such as
designers, artists, architects and various
other
craftsmen,
who also produced
significant chess sets
and designs over the
years. This development meant I had to
take a new look at
the way I was viewing my list. I had, simply enough, originally
centered my attention on American manufacturing companies; now
that focus needed to change and expand. To exclude such
additional sources of chess sets in the United States would have
been a great disservice to my original purpose.
Where I didnt try to exercise any special criteria was in regards
to quality or collectability. It is pretty safe to say that the contents
of this book easily range from pure junk to pure art. But as the
saying goes, One mans junk is another mans treasure. Every
person has his or her own idea or reason for what they do or do
not collect. That part is not up to me my task, as I saw it, was
to simply make available as much of the information I had as
possible.
Plastic does seem to have been more the rule than the
exception in American sets. Finding information on the individual
plastics actually used, however, was another story. Following is a
short list of plastics, along with brief descriptions, that are known to
have been used in producing chess sets:
Acrylic: A tough, plastic resin that remains clear, doesnt yellow,
and is able to withstand weathering. Some modern sets are made of
acrylic, but as to how great of an extent it was used in the past has
yet to be determined.
Bakelite/Celluloid: A phenol formaldehyde resin, usually mixed
with a wood filler. Bakelite objects were often carved or formed by
an extrusion process which involved forcing the plastic material,
usually in the shape of a bead or pellet, into a heated chamber and
through a shaped die. The immediate cooling of the material after
leaving the die left the plastic in the desired finished shape. Simply
put, if chess pieces have mold lines, the set probably isnt made of
Bakelite. Either process was rather labor-intensive. Bakelite also
starts showing significant yellowing in a relatively short period of
time. As a result, newer materials, which were more easily injected
into molds and less subject to yellowing, replaced Bakelite fairly
quickly. Today, that once undesirable yellowing has developed into
a pleasing patina that has made Bakelite items very desirable and
collectible to many diverse collectors, including some chess
collectors. Bakelite is still used for such things as electric insulators
and other items that do not require extensive detail.
Melamine: A plastic resin that was once considered a likely
replacement for ceramic and, as such, became quite popular for a
short period of time. However, it was found to stain and scratch
easily and soon fell out of favor. It is still extensively used in
laminates and other similar products. The only set currently verified
to be made of Melamine is the Peter Ganine Superba Gothic.
VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES
Polystyrene: A petroleum-based plastic invented in 1927. It is a

cheap and commonly used plastic think Styrofoam peanuts.
While all plastics yellow (with acrylic a possible exception),
polystyrene can be formulated to reduce or even completely prevent
yellowing. Many modern sets, especially the generic ones, are
made of Polystyrene due to the material being so inexpensive.
Tenite: Invented in 1929, Tenite is a staple of the plastics industry
to this very day. As it is cellulose-based (as opposed to petroleumbased), Tenite might be considered a green plastic. It is warm to
the touch, light in weight, yet tough. Light and tough enough that
the first football helmets ever used were made of Tenite. The first
known football team to wear helmets made of Tenite was
Northwestern University, in a game against Syracuse on October 5,
1940. (Northwestern won, 40-0, although its said the victory
wasnt due to the team wearing helmets). Professional teams began
wearing Tenite helmets in 1946, and continued doing so through at
least 1953.
Tenite yellows slightly over the years. Some of those football
helmets, which started out painted silver, now look gold, due to this
natural yellowing effect. Two makers of plastic chess sets known to
have used Tenite are Drueke and Gallant Knight. There were surely
more chess manufacturers who used it.
There were other, more Old World or traditional, materials
used in making chess sets in America, but with limited, and mixed,
results. (Hey, this list really isnt all about plastic, in spite of the
foregoing.) I have not yet found evidence any American company
ever made sets of bone or horn. And I am currently aware of only
one American set made of ivory specifically, from walrus tusk.
However, one very traditional material, wood, was used fairly often
although, with few exceptions, it is doubtful most American
companies will ever be known for the quality of the wood sets they
manufactured.
Various metals were also used to make chess sets in the United
States but, again, with mixed results. Aluminum, although it may be
considered a more modern, non-traditional metal, is one possible
exception. The results of American companies using aluminum
were, for the most part, quite striking and still bring high prices on
the secondary market.
Another material it may be surprising to see on the list is
porcelain. Porcelain has a long world history as a material used in
making chess sets, usually in limited quantities, but with often quite
beautiful results. In this regard, American production was no
exception. As a result, porcelain rightly has a place on any list of
materials used for making chess sets in America. For some chess
collectors, porcelain has a well-recognized place in their collection.
But let us return to the list. First, in the hope it might help in
establishing manufacturing timeframes, I have tried to include any
and all pertinent dates.1 Second, interestingly, many of the names
on this list, especially the older ones, have likely never been heard of
before by most of us and (with just as much likelihood) will never
be heard of again. Regardless, somewhere among all the references
I scoured, their names were somehow connected to chess sets.2 For
Based on protocol used by the American Game and Puzzle Collectors (AGPC),
symbols were used as follows:
~ Approximate year game was available
< Year game was evidently available, possibly earlier
> Game was not available before this year, possibly available after, or may
have never been available
2 While Chess Review, Chess Life, and Chess Life and Review are referred to in this
publication, there may have been other chess magazines carrying the same ads,
history or information. The magazines named above are the ones to which I had
access.
1
several, that is probably all well ever see of them. Some companies
were likely distributors only and manufactured no chess sets of their
own. Others seem to have advertised for a short while, in
magazines or other media, and then dropped out of sight. They
may have operated for a time before and/or after their brief
excursion into advertising but, for some reason, that advertising
soon stopped. For some, their advertising may have been an
attempt to get a new product before the public, or even a last ditch
effort to survive. Ultimately, however, their efforts failed and they
ceased to exist. This seems to be particularly true of companies that
appeared during the Fischer era; which culminated with Bobby
Fischers victory in chess over Boris Spassky.
It should also be noted that, during World War II, an impressive
number of companies set aside their normal business endeavors and
helped support the war effort by manufacturing and/or supplying
small pocket games, including chess sets, to the troops. Once the
war was over, the companies returned to their normal business and
that was the end of their foray into chess making.
Whatever the reason, I included many of these apparently
obscure references on the list. Who knows if one of their sets
might yet be out there, waiting to be found and recognized by a
collector who might have otherwise been unfamiliar with that
particular name?
Much more can yet be learned about most of the chess sets that
follow. I hope. I say hope, because a third and, perhaps even
more important, reason for putting this information together
became stunningly obvious to me as I got deeper into this project.
Most of the companies discussed in this book are long gone. A few
managed to survive but, in most cases, were eventually bought and
sold by others throughout the years. As a result, the histories of
these companies and any chess sets associated with them has
been long ignored, forgotten or, rather callously, discarded. As I
dug ever deeper, I began to feel like I was hearing a cry for help. A
plea to search out whatever information might still exist and save
it. So while my original intent was not all that altruistic I only
wanted to create a list I could use for reference when out hunting
it evolved into much more. It became an effort to try to collect,
catalog, and preserve as much information and history as possible
on American-made chess sets, before all such information was lost
forever.
In spite of the above, however, I do not yet consider myself an
expert on this subject; nor do I consider this list complete. I see
this more as a mere first scratching at the surface. It is my hope the
information contained in this book will form a desire for more
information on the part of others. The result of which will be the
creating of an even greater foundation of information, to both build
upon and preserve.3 4
Please Note: Many of the chess sets in this book have been photographed against a
scaled background. Please do not consider the scale to be an accurate measurement
of the size of the pieces. It was impossible to maintain uniformity either in the
positioning of the pieces or in the camera angle at which the pictures were taken.
The scale should be used only as a rough guide and as a means of size comparison
between the different sets. The accompanying text will usually contain the correct
measurements, using the king as a guide. If at all possible, I have tried to list the size
of the king as well as the material used for making a set. If such information is
missing, it is because it was information I either did not have or about which I was
unsure.
4 Also Note: Many of the photographs and illustrations used in this book are now
quite old as much as seventy, eighty, even one hundred years old. As a result, while
modern technology made it possible to improve their initial quality to a certain
degree, it did not always make it possible to give them the kind of clarity and
definition now often expected with todays technology.
3
ACTIVITOYS LIMITED
Grand Master, >1970, Plastic >>
Compare to the Generic set discussed later >>
ADULT LEISURE PRODUCTS CORPORATION [ALPSCO]

Locust Valley NY 11560
African. 1963, 4 1/8 King, Stone and Resin >>
Board has African motif, Ivory & Mahogany Glaze >>
<< Egyptian, 1963, 4 1/2 King, Stone and Resin, board has museum scarab motif
<< Cream & Black, Lapis Lazuli Blue & Bone White Glaze
<< Reproduced from antiquities in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Cigar Store Indian, Stone and Resin From Authentic Early American Folk Art >>
<< Looking Glass/Alice in Wonderland, 1966, 4 King, Stone and Resin

<< Ruby & Ivory White Glaze
Pre-Columbian, 1963, 4 7/8 King, Stone and Resin >>

Board has MAI Museums motif, White & Green Jade Glaze >>
Reproduced from antiquities in the Museum of American Indian, NY >>
<< Staunton, 3 King, Plastic, White & Black, Silver & Gold,
<< Antique-Finished Estone (Alpscos name for a stone and resin synthetic material)
This Staunton set is a classic example of a generic plastic set
Ad for ALPSCO Chess Sets, Chess Life November, 1966, back page
To the right are reproductions of a patent taken out by ALPSCO in 1976

for a design of Beginner Chess pieces. Even though the patent is on record,
I have not found any evidence the set was ever actually produced. If it was
it must be rare.
The design consisted of cutouts in a plastic plate that were designed to
fit around the base of the pieces. As stated in the patent Abstract, the plate
or indicia as it is referred to in the Abstract was to include the name of
the piece and a diagram of how it was permitted to move. It was also
intended to show the symbol for the piece and its numerical value in chess
notation. The cutouts could be removed when they were no longer needed.
ALCOA ALUMINUM
Alcoa purportedly had this set specially created as a gift for its better
customers. It is not to be confused with the aluminum sets designed and
created by Austin Cox [see Austin Enterprises].
From what I have been able to determine, the set was made using a
process called Isostatic Pressing. In this process, a material, be it plastic,
ceramic, metal or something other, is placed, normally as a powder, in a
high-pressure containment vessel. It is then subjected to both high
temperatures and pressurized gas, usually Argon. The dual application of
heat and pressure eliminates internal voids, reduces the porosity of the
metal thereby raising the metals density and improves the metals
fatigue resistance. The pressing applies a uniform force over the entire
product, no matter what its size or shape. This makes it possible to form
a product to precise measurements. It is also possible to place several
items in the vessel at the same time. The full procedure produces a
finished product in a very cost-effective manner.
While the process was developed as early as the 1950s, it was not
perfected until the 1970s. It may well be that this set was created, not
only as a thank you to Alcoa customers, but to also help advertise the
newly perfected process.
AMBRITE INDUSTRIES, LTD. INC

PO Box 3088
Visalia CA 93277
Harold B. Sherfy incorporated the company on January 18, 1957.
Should anyone be familiar with the company it is likely due to the fact
the company was a maker of Scruby miniatures well-known action
figures used in war games. For whatever reason, it does not appear as if
the chess pieces shared the same quality and detail as did the Scruby
miniature figures.
AMERICAN CHESS COMPANY

150 Nassau St
New York NY
Staunton, ~1898-1902, wood [photo courtesy of Guy Lyons] >>
Sets from this company were used in the 1904 Cambridge Springs
International Tournament, which Frank Marshall won, going undefeated.
AP GAMES
So far, every AP chess set I have seen has been part of a
compendium. In each case [as with the set pictured], the chess set
looked like it came from Gallant Knight.
<< Game Compendium, Plastic
ARE-JAY GAME COMPANY, INC

6415 Sunderland Dr
7509 Denison Ave
Cleveland OH 44129.44102
Wood, stamped Made in America >>
I have found little information regarding this company. I did

discover Crisloid purchased Are-Jay in 1973. So far, everything I have
seen from the company has been proudly stamped Made In America.
Evidence indicates Are-Jay was another company that sold the Kingsway
set under their brand name.
ARROW/ARRCO PLAYING CARD COMPANY
ARRCO/SAXON
UNITED STATES PLAYING CARD COMPANY
Also see GALLANT KNIGHT
Malton, Ontario
734-754 Mather St
Toronto, Canada
Chicago IL USA
Renaissance (painted), Plastic >>
Also sold as Continental (unpainted) by Gallant Knight >>
ARRCO/Saxon was the Canadian division of the ARRCO

Playing Card Co., which changed its name from Arrow Playing Card
Co. (1920-1935). ARRCO was purchased by the US Playing Card
Co. in 1987.
I have been told this Renaissance design originated with a Dutch
Company known as Homas, somewhere in the 1940-50s. A couple
of US companies Gallant Knight and Cardinal, to name a couple
reissued the set in the 1960s and/or later. This particular set has
raised pedestals. I have also seen examples (particularly, from
Gallant Knight) that featured regular bases.
ARRCO Playing Card Co.
While I have seen references linking Gallant Knight with
ARRCO Playing Card Co., it has been difficult to find solid proof.
But the two photos below would seem to confirm the link both
the Gallant Knight and the ARRCO name appear on the box end
(below left). Also compare the set pictured on the box lid in the
photo at bottom right to the set actually contained in the box.
While the box shows a picture of a generic set, the actual set inside
was the original GK design. Perhaps the set was still sold while the
company was transitioning to a generic replacement?
What I have not yet been able to determine is the time at which
ARRCO became involved with Gallant Knight. Did ARRCO own
Gallant Knight from the start, or did ARRCO become the owner of
GK at a later time?
I tend to believe the latter whenever I have seen the two

names together it has almost always been in association with later
and usually, rather mediocre sets. Although, in as late as 1969
and 1970, USCF catalogs did contain advertising for the original
GK sets, still being sold in their original, well-known packaging.
But other occasions where the two names were associated
together involved common imported sets from around the mid1970s and later. During its tenure under ARRCO, Gallant Knight
apparently also sold sets that appear to have come from both Lowe
and Kingsway. All of this would seem to indicate ARRCO likely
became associated with Gallant Knight at a later date. Perhaps this
new ownership, and the seemingly subsequent decline in quality,
would help explain why GK seems to have just quietly faded away?
Hopefully, time will allow the questions of company ownership,
Gallant Knights ultimate fate, and the timeframes involved, to yet
be determined.
ARTECNICA
508 S San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90048
The Book of Chess, by Augusto Ghibelli >>
Made of heavy, pressed Cardboard >>
Artecnica is a Los Angeles-based design company that currently

works to promote talented artisans from underdeveloped countries. The
company cannot truly be regarded as a chess-producing company, but
the owners of the company did collaborate with designer Augusto
Ghibelli in the 1990s to develop this graffiti inspired chess set. The set
was not copyrighted until 2003.
ATHOL RESEARCH COMPANY

th
Athol MA
200 5 St
New York NY
It is doubtful Athol-Research made its own chess sets. For example,
the box lid to the right displays an illustration of a generic Stauntonstyle plastic set. Athol sold the set, in various box designs, until at least
1986.
Generic Set, Plastic >>
<< Another example of a set sold by the Athol Company, which appears to have come
<< from Kingsway.
AUSTIN ENTERPRISES
[in association with Alcoa Aluminum]
2108 Braewick Cr
115 Lyman St
Akron OH 44313
Wadsworth OH 44281
Extruded [Cut] Aluminum, 1962, 4 King >>
Aluminum, Natural & Black Anodized, Wood case with Plexiglas lid >>
This set was commissioned by the Ketchum, McLeod, Grove Ad

Agency. Evidently, the commissioning of the chess sets was an attempt
by the Alcoa Company, and its advertising agency, to present a positive
image of the company to the public that of a problem-solving, tactical
and strategic company, displaying skills similar to those necessary for
winning a chess game. It may have also been an attempt to flatter its
customers, in that the game of chess is often associated with intelligent,
knowledgeable people. Regardless, the results were a couple of truly
unique and beautiful chess sets.5
Set as sold in its wood display case with blue plexiglass lid [above center] >>
The Chess Set That Foiled The Competition by John A. Mazzucco, Chess Collectors International 10th Biennial Congress Program, May 21-26, 2002, Philadelphia PA
Aluminum & Anodized Bronze >>

19 square playing board, 5 X 18 Presentation Case with blue Plexiglas lid >>
Both sets were designed by Austin E. Cox and manufactured by

Alcoa Aluminum Company
H BARON COMPANY
th
5 E 19 St
233 Park Ave S
New York 3, NY
Crusader, Wood >>
The H. Baron Company had corporate offices in New York City and
a factory on Long Island. But it appears the company did not
manufacture its own chess sets. Evidence for making this statement
comes, first, from the set pictured to the right, which was imported from
France and, second, by the two examples shown below right.
The middle example shows a set from Kingsway. The example at
bottom right is a set from The Embossing Company. Judging from
these examples, it would seem the H. Baron Company was more a
distributor than a manufacturer of chess sets, although the company
manuals did proclaim Baron to be Manufacturers of Adult Games
(below left). Coincidentally, the Arthur Popper Company also used this
phrase, but I have not found any indication the two companies were
associated in any way.
One thing to remember: while I refer to the set shown to the right as being from
Kingsway, the only reason for doing so is because Kingsway is the company with
which Ive most often seen this set design associated. I really have no evidence to
prove who actually made the set and, in fact, there is some indication it may have
originated in Hong Kong, although I cant even say that for sure.
Over the years, the H. Baron Company purchased Metro Mfg. Co., John Samuels
Co. and Rottgames, Inc. Incidentally, the Baron chess set I possess [below right], had
to have been manufactured/sold after those three purchases, as the manual that came
with the set lists the company name as: Baron, Rott & Samuels, Inc, 233 Park Ave
South, NY. This would also seem to indicate Milton Bradley would been the supplier
of The Embossing Set to Baron, as it was the owner of The Embossing Company by
that time. The H. Baron Company, in turn, was sold to Crisloid, Inc. in 1972.
BAR-ZIM MANUFACTURING COMPANY

th
113-119 4 Ave
New York 12, NY [~1921-1938]
Jersey City, NY [>1960]
Oriental, 1962, Plastic >>
Harlequin, Plastic
Bar-Zim appears to be another company that sold chess sets it did

not make itself. Examples of two different sets are shown on this page,
both of which bear the Bar-Zim logo. The box above exhibits an artistic
rendition of a set that seems to match the standard Lowe design. The
set to the right appears to be a Kingsway set. In both cases, what was
displayed on the outside of the box, or on the manual, matched the sets
contained inside. The one exception may possibly be the Oriental set
shown above right. So far, I dont recall a set like it being sold by any
other company.
Kingsway[?], Plastic >>
BEN-HUR PRODUCTS, INC

th
320 5 Ave
New York NY
BEAULAH NOVELTY COMPANY

3 Liberty St
Brooklyn NY
Reference to chess sets from this company was found in the

American Game and Puzzle Collectors (AGPC) Catalog. I could find no
further information.
Reference to chess sets from this company was found in the

AGPC Game Catalog. The Beaulah Company also sold the games of
Bagatelle and Polly Woggle. I could find no further information.
MILTON-BRADLEY COMPANY
Springfield MA
East Longmeadow MA
Milton-Bradley originally began in 1860 as a lithograph
company. MB developed The Checkered Game of Life, which
proved to be a hit. Today it is simply known as The Game of Life.
A main focus of the company was educational games, as education
was a personal passion to Milton Bradley himself. This was
particularly true after the Civil War, and the companys educational
games eventually became its major profit-makers.
MB was the first game company to supply soldiers (during the
Civil War) with small game kits containing checkers, backgammon,

chess, dominoes and, of course, The Checkered Game of Life. The
game kits sold for $1.00. Since then, supplying games to soldiers
during wartime has been a tradition continued by toy companies
with each successive war down through today.
The company also developed games such as Twister and Simon.
MB acquired Playskool, Inc., in the early 1970s and the Lowe
Company in 1972. MB was acquired by Hasbro in 1984.
10
No 44568, Wood, 1936 >>
<< No 4279, Wood [wood sets courtesy of John A. Mazzucco]
No 4028, 1 King, Wood >>

Set was also packaged as Castle Chessmen >>
<< Beginners Chess, by Bobby Fischer, 1966, Plastic
The box shown to the right contained a set that appears to be from
Lowe. This is not the first time I have seen this combination, which
leaves me wondering if the Lowe Company and Milton Bradley might
have had some kind of working relationship that lead up to the purchase
of Lowe by MB in 1972.
The set to the left was sold, interchangeably, alongside sets originally
sold by Lowe. After MB purchased Lowe, the set was sold under both
the Milton Bradley and Lowe names. It appears, however, that a third
company Halsam may have truly been the original seller/maker of
the set.
11
E W BREDEMEIER, INC
6625 W Diversey
Chicago IL 60707
Pocket Chess Set, cardboard >>
Also included a mailing envelope labeled Breidemeier [not shown] >>
The Bredemeier Company was established in 1895 as a button

card manufacturer. It went on to produce sample books and cards
for mens clothing companies and other fabric distributors.
According to the companys website (the company still exists),
during WWII it supplied portable checkers and based on the
picture here - also portable chess sets, to GIs abroad as part of the war support movement. According to correspondence I have had with
the company, the making of the sets was probably contracted out. Bredemeier then collated and packaged the sets and included them with
the lunch and ammunition boxes the company produced for the war effort.
CARDINAL INDUSTRIES, INC
st
21-01 51 Ave
Long Island City NY 11101
Cardinal bills itself as one of the oldest privately held toy companies in
the US. It began with the production of dominoes and poker chips in
1948. But it would seem, at least when it comes to chess sets, that it
served more as a distributor than as an actual manufacturer. The company
sold multiple chess sets under its brand name, all of which match sets
offered by several other companies. Some examples of those sets follow,
along with the names of other companies that offered similar sets [also see
Generic Sets].
Staunton, Plastic >>
The chess set illustrated in the box art appears to >>
match the set offered for many years from Kingsway >>
Although the set pictured to the left looks very similar to the set sold
by the Lowe Company, the box illustration looks more like you guessed
it a set from Kingsway. It makes one think it may not have been
uncommon for companies to run out of sets before they ran out of boxes,
or vice versa, making it necessary to find other suppliers to meet demand.
Chess Teacher, 1979 >>
<< 1998, Plastic
Compare the set shown on the box lid with a set offered by Golden
and the Transogram Company.
12
Cardinal also sold a wood set [right] that is comparable to wood sets
from a number of different companies, such as Horn, The Embossing
Company, Dynamic Design, etc.
Perhaps the electronic age arrived much sooner than we thought?
The set shown below left came with chess instructions on an
unbreakable Hi-Fi Recording. Note the Cardinal name and logo on the
box but how the set shown on the box lid is, once again, a set more
associated with Kingsway. Unfortunately, the quality of the picture
makes it rather impossible to determine what set was actually in the box,
but it doesnt look like a match to the Kingsway set shown on the cover.
<< Chess set with instructions on Hi-Fi Record, 3 King, Plastic
Ad above was in 1967 USCF Catalog, November 1966 Chess Life
The set pictured in the ad above, particularly the knight, compares very closely to the set
from Missouri Plastic, as well as Lowes Catalin set.
CARROM INDUSTRIES, INC
218 Dowland St
Ludington MI
Carrom Industries was started sometime around 1889. For our
purpose, the company is most noteworthy for its purchase of the
Drueke Game Company in 1990. It has continued to produce
quality chess sets under the Drueke name until today.
Carrom is also noteworthy for the fact that the company website
proudly states ALL of their games are American-made!
Also see Wm. F. Drueke Company
CHAFFEE AND SELCHOW

New York NY
See Selchow and Righter
CHAMPION MANUFACTURING
Information on this company is sketchy theres only about a million
companies using the name Champion. While the word manufacturing is
included in the company name, all evidence seems to indicate the company
was another distributor, not a manufacturer, of chess sets. The sample
shown below, sold under the Champion name, matches the generic sets
sold by so many other companies.
CHESS EQUIPMENT
th
250 W 57 St
New York NY
The company sold a broad range of products related to
chess playing from boards to tables to books. Also, many
of the products it advertised, such as the chess sets shown in
the ad below, appeared in later ads placed by the actual
manufacturer. It would seem, therefore, that the company
was possibly more a distributor than a manufacturer of chess
sets and products.
Aristocrat Pocket Set, ~1942 >>
The first ad for the Aristocrat Pocket Set appeared in the

March 1942 Chess Review, with only a small illustration of the
outside of the case. Later ads, such as the one to the right,
showed both the case and the chess set inside. Eventually, a
cheaper version of the set was sold in a simple wood box with
square corners.
This ad [above] was in the October 1941 Chess Review. Based on the
timing, descriptions, model numbers, etc., this ad may be the first
(unnamed) appearance of the Liberty set [see Liberty].
CHESS INSTITUTE
th
203 E 12 St
New York NY
This ad is from the February 1934 Chess Review. It appeared again in
May 1934, but with only The Chess Review name and address listed.
13
CLASSIC GAMES COMPANY, INC

255 Skidmore Rd
Deer Park NY 11729
On the next few pages are excerpts from a Classic Games Manual,
copyright 1972, that accompanied their chess sets. The excerpts are of
ads for other sets that were available from Classic Games.
Accompanying the excerpts are pictures of the actual sets.
Compare the picture from the manual [right] to the picture in the ad
from the March 1968 Chess Life [bottom left]. The ad in the manual
states that set was made of styrene (a precursor to polystyrene), the ad in
the Chess Life magazine states its set was made of Catalin. Another
puzzling fact is that the ad in the magazine appeared a full five years after
the copyright for the set pictured in the manual.
While I have to believe the ad is for the same design as the set from
Classic Games, it does raise several questions: Which one came first
the set made of styrene or the set made of catalin? The sets original
copyright date was 1963; the manual itself has a copyright date of 1972.
That would put the set in this March 1968 ad about in the middle of this
time period. But why is that? Did this ad appear at the time it did
because Classic Games was now offering the set in an additional [new]
material catalin? Or, was the set originally available in catalin but
somehow, somewhere, between the 1968 ad and the 1972 manual,
Classic Games switched to using a cheaper plastic styrene? If this all
sounds confusing, youre right.
Ancient Rome, Edition I >>

264 BC-14 AD, Collectors Series >>
1963, 4 7/8 King, Plastic >>
White & Black, Silver & Gold >>
Weighted and Felted >>
14
15
1776 No 1425, Plastic, 1967

King:
Queen:
Bishop:
Knight:
Rook:
Pawns:
1973, Plastic
George Washington
Martha Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Paul Revere
Liberty Bell with readable script of the Proclamation of Liberty
Minutemen (six of the eight pawns per side). The two center
pawns on each side are different from the others
The Kings pawn is a drummer
The Queens pawn is a fifer
With the exception of the Knight and Pawn, the chess pieces in the
set shown to the left are posed to show the view of the set from the
players perspective. The Knight and Pawn, however, are turned to show
their front side. Also notice how the design of each piece subtly
incorporates an indication of the moves that chess piece can make.
16
The Norman Conquest, 1979, Limited Edition of 3000

Silver & Gold finish [Photos courtesy of Jansid Enterprises]
COCO JOES
Hawaii
Don Gallacher started Coco Joes when he bought a gift shop and
started making key rings and magnets. The products were made of a
mixture of lava and resin. They were so popular with tourists it became
necessary to open a factory on the north shore of Oahu to meet the
demand. Coco Joes closed its doors in 1997, when Don retired.
Lava and Resin >>
Information and photos courtesy of Corey Wilson
COLECO
[CONNECTICUT LEATHER COMPANY]
See Selchow and Righter
17
COLLINGWOOD SALES COMPANY

149 Collingwood Ave Rm 7
Detroit MI
Gilchers Pcket Chess >>
The first ad for Gilchers Pocket Chess sets was in the December 1938 issue
of Chess Life. While the ad shown here only lists the celluloid set, the company
also sold a cardboard version. Collingwood also advertised a line of products
for Correspondence Chess.
COLUMBIA ALUMINUM EXTRUSION GROUP

Scott Wolfe designed this aluminum set from 1972. Production was
from the early to mid-1990s. Final production figures have been given in the
range of 150/200 to 300 sets. All were made purely for promotional
purposes and the set was never made available commercially. The set is
often confused with the ones from the Alcoa/Austin Cox collaboration.
CRISLOID PLASTICS, INC

55 Porter St
Providence RI 02905
No 950, 4 King, Plastic >>
Strangely, although the box to this set is marked Made in America, the
set was also sold by Roxy a company located in Hong Kong.
<< Snap On, Plastic
This set comes with green plastic caps that snap on as bases in place of
felting. Crisloid sold this set, with different box graphics through the years,
most commonly as the Chess Teacher
CYBIS PORCELAIN
200 Elizabeth Ave Ste 200
65 Norman Ave
Trenton NJ 08618
Following is a reproduction of the article written about the 1972 USA to USSR Gift of State chess set
(photos to right) from the April 1973 issue of Chess Life and Review:
Illustration of the King and Queen as they originally appeared in the April 1973 Chess Life and Review >>
When the President of the United States (Nixon) announced his visit to Russia a
couple of years ago, a search for a Gift of State began.
An idea came to the artists of CYBIS in Trenton, New Jersey. Just as baseball is
Americas national pastime, so chess has long been considered the Russian national
game. The Cybis artists, who have been creating exquisite porcelain sculpture for more
than thirty years, decided to design a unique chess set. The White House agreed and the
work began. The task was enormous not one, but thirty-two individually sculptured
porcelains. Their inspiration was the 14th century Hero Tapestries in the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York.
The resulting porcelains are rare treasures. The figures are each mounted on golden
pedestals, which are encrusted with jewels. We see a plumed knight in armor complete
with visored helmet, golden sword and full-panoplied horse.
The rook is a crenellated stone tower with a page peering from the top and a court
lady in cowled headdress framed in a turret below.
The king and queen are robed in Byzantine splendor. The queen holds a hooded
falcon; the folds of her embroidered gown gently caress her figure
as she sits with her head bowed in shy repose.
The bearded king is attentively erect as though aware of some
ambush that might befall him ahead. From his gold crown to his
ballet poised armored feet, he is regal. From his jeweled pedestal to
his 18 karat golden pennant, he is majestic.
The dignity of the bishop is personified by a psalter in his right
hand and in his left a golden crozier The pawn is a medieval
bowman. He wears a falcon embroidered on his jerkin and carries
a bow and a quiver of arrows slung around his hips. Burgundy and
turquoise were chosen as the colors for the two groupings. For the
brocaded decorations of the garments Cybis artists employed jewellike enamels, an ancient art which the Russians practiced as early as
the third century.
The chessmen are housed in a handcrafted, double-tiered chest,
of beautifully grained American black walnut, lined in brown velvet.
Inside the lid is a medallion of the Presidential Seal, of almost
transparent porcelain, with the American Eagle and its
accompanying motto cameo-ed in the center.
American curly maple and curly black walnut alternate in the
squares of the nearly three foot square board. The maple is from a
tree more than 200 years old, from Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania. The black walnut came from adjoining Bucks
County.
The Summit Presentation Chessmen will be permanently
housed in the National Russian Museum at Moscow. Either singly
or en masse, the medieval elegance of these small figures carry the
drama of old museum pieces.
A second set was produced and presented to the Smithsonian
Institution. Additionally, ten sets were made in a limited edition
(No. 1-10). Sizes are said to have ranged between 7- 8 tall. A
later Hall of Fame limited edition was also issued. Cybis HOF
editions are usually smaller than the originals; the height of the
HOF editions king is thought to be around 6. I do not know
how many sets were made of the HOF edition.
18
19
Cybis chess set displayed on its custom board >>

Curly maple & curly black walnut >>
Close-up of the plaque fastened to the exterior lid

(as seen at bottom left) of the sets custom case.
Close-up of the ceramic Presidential Seal inlaid

into the inside of the lid of the case.
Custom made box to house the set, in black walnut wood >>
Photos courtesy of the National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian Institution
SALVADOR DALI
Homage to Marcel Duchamp, 3 King >>
1964-1970[?], Bronze & Sterling Silver[?] >>
Salvador Dali designed the Thumb set at the request, and in

honor, of his good friend, Marcel Duchamp. With the exception
of the Queens and Rooks, Dali modeled the5 pieces for the chess
set from his own fingers. The Queens were cast from the thumb
of his wife, Gala, and the rooks were patterned after the
saltshakers at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. Dali also used his
pinkie finger as a model for the pieces. Dali evidently did not
design a board to accompany the set.
The Kings and Queens, after being cast from the thumbs of
Salvador and Gala were then crowned with a cast of a tooth. The
casting for the tooth was from a tooth Dali had lost as a child
and kept. The Rooks were crowned with a cast of Dalis nipple.
As Dali explained it:
artist, the eternal creator. How better to express this vision than
I had a precise and yet symbolic concept. In chess, as in other by sculpting my own hand, my own fingers?
forms of human alchemy, there is always the creator, above all, the
To F. J. Cooper, when brazened enough to ask why, Dali
artist as creator. It is this that I wanted represented: the hand of the replied, Why not?
20
Based on what I have discovered so far, I am still unsure what materials were actually used and how many sets were actually made. One
account says forty-five bronze and sterling silver editions were produced as part of a fund-raiser, in Duchamps name, for the American
Chess Foundation. Another account states the castings were of sterling silver and silver gilt, and yet a third account says the materials used
were sterling silver and gold overlay. Well-known chess collector, George Dean, has a set in his collection that he describes in his book,
Chess Masterpieces, as being of sterling silver and gold-plated silver.6 Sterling silver seems to be the one constant material. Whether the
other materials were also used or not I have not been able to verify one way or another.
As to how many sets were actually made, I have seen what seems to be a lot of conflicting evidence. One account states only thirteen
sets were made. But that figure does not seem to be supported by the evidence. For instance, as stated earlier, there were apparently fortyfive sets involved in the fund-raiser for the American Chess Foundation. But was that number referring only to the number of sets that
were made available for the fund-raiser itself? Because adding to the confusion, Christies, the well-known auction house, when holding an
auction for one of Dalis chess sets, stated F. J. Cooper made an edition of 250. I have not seen where the auction house provided any
evidence to support that statement. And the particular set being sold by Christies at that time was stamped and numbered J Cooper
Sterling AE/45. That marking would seem to better support the original figure of forty-five sets made for the American Chess
Foundation fund-raiser. Like the set in the collection of George Dean, Christies description says the set was made of sterling silver and
gold-plated silver.
DAMICO-HAMMONS ASSOCIATES
La Mesa CA
I could not find any information about the DAmico-Hammons
Company itself. I seriously doubt it was a toy or chess-making
company. Rather, I wonder if it isnt more likely that DAmicoHammons was possibly the company commissioned to produce and/or
distribute the set for the Election Campaign. Although, then the
question now has to be asked Who did the commissioning?
Campaign Checker and Chess Set, 1968 >>
Styrofoam with paper punch out pieces >>
Republican Party Figures are the Red/White side >>
Democratic Party Figures are the Blue/Black side >>
DANBURY MINT
47 Richards Ave
Norwalk CT 06857
Fantasy of the Crystal/Army of Darkness, 3 King 1990, Imported from England >>
Pewter adorned with Swarosky Crystal, Created by Robert Naismith >>
Ralph Gendinning and Ted Stanley founded The Danbury Mint in

Westport, Connecticut in 1969. It has historically sold quality products
made by others. At this point, that means it is a wide open question as to
who actually made the chess sets Danbury sold under its name.
Dean, George; Brady, Maxine. Chess Masterpieces: One Thousand Years

of Extraordinary Chess Sets, Abrams, New York, 2010
21
Like Franklin Mint, which will be discussed later, most of the pieces
to the chess sets from Danbury Mint were made of pewter and then
hand painted/finished.
The chess sets were traditionally offered to registered subscribers,
two pieces sent every other month, for $19.95/piece. At that rate it
would have taken something like five years to collect a full set, at a cost
of approximately $700, including shipping expense. I suspect few people
have ever realized their initial investment, much less any added value,
from their supposed future collectability. The same can probably be
said of products offered by the other Mints, as well.
Star Trek, Pewter, 1991 >>
Camelot, Pewter, 1992
Dr Who, Pewter, 1994

Star Wars, Pewter, 1994
Baseball, 1996, Pewter
American League
King:
Queen:
Bishops:
Knights:
Rooks:
Pawns:
Babe Ruth
AL Bald Eagle Logo
T. Cobb and T. Williams
Berra and W. Johnson
Foxx and Gehrig
Athletics, Browns, Indians, Red Sox, Senators, White Sox & Yankees
King:
Queen:
Bishops:
Knights:
Rooks:
Pawns:
Hank Aaron
NL Badge Logo
Mays and Musial
Campanella and Hubbell
Hornsby and J. Robinson
Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Dodgers, Phillies, Pirates & Reds
National League
RITA DELIETO
th
235 E 10 St
New York 3, NY
Rita showed her face, and her ad, in the November 1954 Chess
Review, page 337. She never did it again.
Actual Set, 4 King
While Rita DeLieto was evidently a real person (I found census

records proving the existence of a person by that name in the right area
at the right time), I was always under the impression she was simply the
spokesperson/figurehead/model used for advertising the set. But
according to the ad to the right, she was apparently more she is named
as the actual designer of the set. Which leaves begging the question, of
course what in heck was her motivation when designing the set?
DE LUXE GAMES CORPORATION

th
200 5 Ave
New York NY
Variety of De Luxe Pocket Games, including Chess >>
<< De Luxe Chess, Cardboard, ~1944
De Luxe Discs, Plastic >>
22
23
D N PRODUCTS
PO Box 244
Ojai CA 93023
Industrial Revolution, 1972, 2 King >>
Steel Gun Metal Blue/Black Satin Silver, cork felting >>
This ad first appeared in the May 1973 Chess Review
WM. F. DRUEKE COMPANY

rd
122 Scribner Marshall Ave 601 3 St NW
Grand Rapids MI
History of the Wm. F. Drueke Game Company as told by William F. Drueke III
INTRODUCTION
This is the history of Drueke, the game manufacturer, that was
started 100 years ago in 1914 by William Francis Drueke who
continued to run the company until his death in 1956. It remained
in the family until his sons, Bill Jr. and Joe Drueke, sold the
company to investors in 1986.
I am Bill Drueke III, born February 1, 1943, two years after the
game company purchased a building at 601 Third St NW in Grand
Rapids, Michigan where the business operated until it was sold. I
was the president at the time of the sale but did not have option to
continue in that position.
My involvement with the business began in the late 1950s. And
in addition to presenting information as someone who was a part of
the Drueke business for 30 years of my life, I also have a collection
of salesmens catalogs and a wealth of information recorded in the
General Journal from the first three years when the company
restarted in 1932. All the information you read here is history,
either from something I have in print or have actually lived or
observed.
Bill Jr. (my father) recorded that his dad was a salesman calling
on Marshall Fields in Chicago in 1914 selling card boxes for a card
game named Rhum. (I found a card game online called Celebes
Rhum that was very popular in 1930 and preceded the card game
Oklahoma Gin.) While Bill Sr. was talking with the stationery
buyer, he was asked to see the toy buyer who told him their supply
of chess from France and been cut off because of the war in
Europe. The buyer (whose name is unknown) suggested that the
Drueke company ought to make chess. So Bill Sr. returned to
Grand Rapids and contracted with Waddell Mfg. to make his first
chess. William F. Drueke & Company were manufacturers of
chessmen, novelties and toys in 1920. The items in the oldest
catalog I have (dated Jan. 1, 1920) included five versions of the
Rhum box, two books (Rules of Rhum and Beginners Book of
Chess), seven cribbage boards, and 12 sets of chessmen (though
only three sets of the chess are pictured).
I once visited G. R. Dowel Works that started in 1913 and was
informed by the grandson that they had made chess for Drueke in
the early days of the company. I also have Beginners Book of
Chess published by G. R. Dowel Works in 1917.
Bill Sr. was awarded a large government contract to make wood

breech sticks for cleaning guns. However, when the war ended in
1918, Drueke had lots of breech sticks left so he made toy wood
rakes and shovels. Now he could concentrate more on chess and
other games. It is not recorded whether he toured the country with
child chess prodigy Samuel Reshevsky promoting chess but there is
a photo online of Bill Sr. in New York with Reshevsky in 1922. I
do not have any business records for this time period which
continued up to 1928 when Drueke gout of the business until 1932
when it was restarted in the basement of his home in Grand Rapids.
During the time they were out of business, Sterling Furniture of
Grand Rapids manufactured chess claiming to be succeeding Wm.
F. Drueke & Co.. They went out of business in 1934.
Chess and Cribbage were the two main product lines for Drueke
from 1932 through 1986. The chessboards were made of walnut
and birch or maple in a range of sizes from 1 squares to 2
squares. During the period of time I was involved with the
company, the U. S. Chess Federation was our largest customer of
boards and chess pieces. Most of the wood chess Drueke sold
during their history was either purchased from wood turners or
imported. It was often purchased unfinished and Drueke would
then finish the pieces and package them in a Drueke box. Some
sets were made by Drueke until 1928 but I do not know which
ones. When the business opened in 1932, William Sr. immediately
had his daughter, Marian, set up a set of books; I have the General
Journal stating that fact. It also has names of vendors covering a
three-year period. I have the price list for 1932 and the catalog for
1935 as well.
In the General Journal entries of 1932, there were regular
purchases of chess from Henry Kayser & Fils, an importer located
in New York. These purchases continued over the entire three-year
period. This was the most likely source for the plastic peg chess
pieces. Drueke began selling plastic chess pieces sometime between
1935 and 1939. The first sets were turned and carved catalin.
Molded plastic sets made of Tenite plastic were offered in the 1939
catalog. The early plastic machines were plunger-type injection
molding machines and later went to screw-type injection molding
machines. The latter kind were what Drueke eventually bought.
24
Around 1940, Drueke began selling tall plastic chess pieces in

their bookshelf series of games that were so popular during World
War II. The E. S. Lowe Co. was also selling a bookshelf series that
carried their name, having slightly different titles, but looked the
same as those by Drueke. I recently noticed that a third company,
Metro Games, supplied a chess set that was similar.
In 1940, Drueke came out with the octagon-shaped chess pieces
designed by Charles B. Chatfield. This design was also used for the
pieces and other plastic items until 1954. The most popular one
was the Little Jewel folding magnetic set. This set was stolen from
our display at The New York Stationery Show, set overseas, and
came back into the United States for half the price! That is a fact! I
know because I set up the display at the show and when we packed
up the product to ship it back to Grand Rapids, that set was gone.
Needless to say, our sales took a nosedive.
In 1964 the Players Choice Chess was introduced. This design
ranged in size from a 2 king up to the Imperial set with a 5
king. The King Arthur chess that required a very costly set of
molds and never did sell well was also part of this era. The biggest
seller of all was the 3 Players Choice Chess Set.
In conclusion, the Drueke line of games during the course of
their history included wood puzzles, dice games, chip racks,
backgammon and favorite family and action games. At the peak of
their business, the company sold over 300 products. Today the best
place to get Drueke games is on the internet.
William F. Drueke III
April 10, 2014
The following additional information was compiled/provided by Peter Biggins
and Paul Drueke, both of whom are also grandsons of William F. Drueke Sr.
By 1917, demand was great enough that the new company

moved to a small rented building at 122 Scribner NW in Grand
Rapids.
In just a couple of years the business outgrew its facilities on
Scribner Avenue, so William F. Drueke bought a larger building at
the corner of Marshall Avenue and the Pere Marquette Railroad
(Pere Marquette is now CSX). Soon after, the company added a
furniture line, including spinet desks, secretary desks, bookshelves,
and tables.
But just a few short years later, William Drueke disbanded the
company when he accepted an offer from a friend to become a
Sales Manager within a large furniture company. That position
came to an abrupt end, however, due to a business disagreement
with the owner of the furniture company, and William Drueke left
the company. In 1932, he restarted the Drueke game business. All
the work was done in the family home, using the basement and
attic. Also in 1932, Drueke wrote and produced Druekes Chess
Primer.
By 1935, the new business was doing well enough that it moved
out of the Drueke home and into rented space in the Shaw Building
at 640 Front Ave NW. The company moved again in 1940, this
time moving to a building only a few blocks away, at 601 Third St
NW, which had been purchased for $15,000. (The site referred to
above by William F. Drueke III)
As William F. Drueke III mentioned in his history, when
William F. Drueke Sr. died suddenly in 1956 at age 72, his sons Bill
(William F. Drueke Jr) and Joe (Joseph Drueke) continued to run
the business. Bill did the manufacturing and Joe handled sales.
They each equally owned a little over a third of the stock in the
company with Rose, William F. Drueke Srs widow, and Marion, his
daughter, owning the rest.
However, according to Joes son, Paul Drueke, in 1971 a
difference of opinion arose between Joe and Bill. Joe started
another company, known as Drueke Blue Chip Game Company
(see logo below right), even as he continued to own a share of the
original Drueke Company. The Drueke Blue Chip Company made
pretty much the same games as the original Drueke Company.
Thus, between 1971 and 1987, there were two Drueke game
companies.
Drueke Blue Chip Company Logo [Photo Courtesy of Paul Drueke]
In July and August of 1972, American Bobby Fischer beat the

Russian chess champion Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Drueke games received a priceless promotion when photos showed
Bobby Fischer practicing with the Players Choice set from Drueke.
The match in Iceland between Fischer and Spassky doubled orders
for Drueke chess sets. An article in the Sunday New York Times
mentioned increased demand for chess sets as a result of the match.
The article specifically mentioned the William F. Drueke Companys
Players Choice as among the sets recommended by experts.
In 1987, when Bill Jr. was age 75, the Drueke Company was sold
to the Low Tech Company. Shortly afterward, Joe also sold his
share of the Drueke Company to Low Tech, as well as the Drueke
Blue Chip Game Company. The Drueke name was retained. As
part of the sales agreement, Joe Sr. continued on as a consultant and
in sales for a couple of years, while Joe Jr. became a sales manager
In 1990, the Low Tech Company sold Drueke to the Carrom
Company, which moved manufacturing operations to its home in
Ludington, Michigan. Joe Jr. continued to work for the Carrom
Company as a manufacturers rep until 1994. The Carrom
Company continues to produce games under the Drueke name to
this day.7
As of this writing, William F Drueke III still maintains a shop in
which he continues to hand-build custom chessboards and tables.
He may be contacted by phone (1.616.328.2356), or email
(bdrueke@tds.net). His chessboards and tables can also be found
for sale on ebay from time to time.
7
For more historical information on the Drueke Company, or Drueke family, please
visit Peter Biggins excellent website: peterspioneers.com.
25
CHESS SETS OF THE WM. F. DRUEKE COMPANY

WOOD SETS
As is evident from the history given by the

sources above, it is difficult, if not impossible, to
know what the original wood sets may have looked
like. Sets are often seen being sold with the claim
they are from Drueke. All too often, however, the
only connection the seller has for making such a
claim is the presence of a manual or board from
Drueke that happened to be with the set, or the set
came in a box with the Drueke label. Unfortunately,
claims based on such fluid evidence do not mean
much; it is quite easy for such things to get switched
around over the years.
But a couple clues may be of help. For the earlier
sets, a clue can be found in the catalog put out by the
Drueke Company in 1920 referred to by William F.
Drueke III earlier. A picture of the cover is shown
[right], with the inside page also shown. There are
three different wood sets illustrated, made of two
kinds of wood maple and boxwood.
The
illustrations are rather crude by todays standards, but
they do give us some idea of what those early sets
may have looked like.
[Photos of the 1920 Drueke catalog courtesy of Dan Navarro]
For later sets - from the restart of the company in the 1930s and
later a clue might be found in an ad [left] put out by the Drueke
Company for the March 1946 International Toy Fair. Just below
right center can be seen three wood chess pieces from a Drueke
chess set. Interestingly, the pieces, especially the king and bishop,
look as if they could have been the direct inspiration for the pieces
that appeared in the [plastic] Players Choice sets from Drueke nearly
20 years later.
Below is a large wood set Drueke made for display purposes and
loaned to retailers. The price for the set in 1938 was $200! William
F. Drueke III currently owns the pieces shown in this photo.
Wood, 9 King [Photo courtesy of William F. Drueke III]
Pictured on this page are three sets I own, all of which came in boxes
with Drueke labels. Given the above information, the Drueke Company
may have sold all three sets, but it may not ever be possible to verify this
as fact conclusively.
One set that was definitely sold by Drueke is the one pictured center
right. It appeared in the 1938 Drueke Catalog and was listed at
$72/dozen. Based on the previous information and a comparison of
quality between it and the sets pictured on the previous page the set
shown below was probably imported, likely from France.
Wood, 2 5/8 King >>
Set shown below left in its original case
Patent # D128794, 1941, American Design, by William F. Drueke >>
THE AMERICAN DESIGN

Between 1941 and 1946, Will and his sons, Joe and Bill, applied for and received
patents for the designs of eight games. The most notable, for our purpose, was
patent #D128794. This is the octagon-shaped set referred to by William F. Druke
III, and designed by Charles B. Chatfield. It was designed to be made of plastic and
was referred to by the company as the American Design.
26
American Design, 1941, 2 King, Tenite plastic, White & Red, White & Black >>
Interestingly, there is one rather notable style variation a change to

the queens coronets. One version had thinner, more scalloped/upright
coronets [Red & White set right], the other had flatter/blunter coronets
(Black & White set, second right]. The set with the flatter queens
coronets may have been slightly larger. Currently unknown is the reason
for the change[s], or which version came first. Going by the
illustration[s] that accompanied the original patent [previous page], it
would appear the original design was the one with the thinner, more
scalloped coronets as seen in the first photo above. This might explain
the change in the design, as these coronets tended to be rather vulnerable
and the points of the queens coronets often got broken. The
flatter/blunter coronet design, as seen in the second photo above, may
therefore have been an attempt to prevent such damage from occurring
to future sets. I own an example of each set. The set with the thinner
more scalloped queens coronets has a distinctly deeper yellow coloring
than the other set, which also leads me to believe it may be the older set.
William F. Drueke III has original drawings that were made of four
different versions of the American Design before a final design was
selected. Is it possible these two variations might match some of those
drawings?
American Design Models
No 20: unweighted/unfelted
No 22: weighted, felted
No 23: weighted, felted
No 24: weighted, felted, leatherette box
(Possible) White & Chocolate, Plastic, [photo courtesy of Dan Navarro] >>
The photos to the right and above show two color combinations
available in the American Design. A third color combination appears to
have also been available [center right]. In all of the Drueke literature and
ads I have examined over the years, the set pictured to the right center is
the only example I have ever seen of that color combination. But, as
they say, pictures dont lie. I know nothing more about it.
TRAVEL SET
The ad to the right, featuring the American Design as a pegged travel set,
appeared on the back of Drueke Instruction Manuals that came with Drueke
chess sets. I also found ads for the pegged Deluxe Travel Set in the Chess
Life magazine as early as the November 1962 Christmas catalog.
Pegged Travel Set No 900 (Also available was a magnetized version top of next page)
27
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Magnetic Travel Set, plastic, also known as The Little Jewel or Remotrol set
The magnetized version of the American Design Travel Set
During WWll, Drueke, like other game makers, put much of their
production effort into supporting the war by producing multitudes of
small, portable Pocket Games. Above right is a picture of what the
Pocket Games chess set looked like when opened. This travel set
appears to match the one illustrated in a patent received by William F.
Drueke on January 19, 1943 [left].
At one point, Drueke shipped out a railroad car that was full of
nothing but Pocket Games including chess, backgammon, cribbage
boards, and other games in their product line.
Fans of Drueke chess sets might find it difficult to believe the set
displayed below was really from the Drueke Company if it were not for
the evidence given on the box lid itself [bottom left].
The lid lists two different chess styles available under the same model
number. A stamp on the box lid identified which set was contained in
that particular box (as barely seen to the right of the Model No., in the
photo at bottom left of page). In this case, the box contained the KFlorentine set.
While unknown for sure, it is doubtful the K-Florentine chess pieces

were actually produced by Drueke. Since the Kingsway Company owned
the patent to this design, it would seem more likely Kingsway supplied
the sets to Drueke. But this surprising little curve also illustrates the
difficult, yet interesting, twists so often seen when examining the
histories of American chess companies. There appears to have been a
generic sharing of styles and packaging between game manufacturers. It
would be interesting if agreements between the different companies
could be found. It is definitely a subject deserving more research.
29
PLAYERS CHOICE CHESS SET (ALSO KNOWN AS THE LUXURY LINE)

Players Choice came in three different sizes
Small, 2 King, simulated wood Plastic >>
Standard (tournament size), 3 King, simulated wood Plastic
Imperial, 5 King [not shown], simulated wood Plastic
According to William F. Drueke III, only 25-50 of the Imperial-sized

set were made per year, since they were so expensive to make.
Players Choice Comparison, Small vs Standard size chess sets >>
Up until the introduction of their Players Choice chess set, Drueke did not have a
tournament-size chess set to offer the public. This would have made for a serious gap in their
product line and, no doubt, was one the company felt the need to fill if it was to be truly
competitive.
While Drueke advertisements [bottom left] stated the set was officially introduced at the 1965
National Open in Las Vegas (where it was so popular every set on hand sold out at the event),
evidence seems to indicate the set was available some time earlier. Note the ad that appeared in
the November 1963 Chess Life, page 288 [bottom right]. A frequent problem faced while
compiling information for this book has been the same problem found in this ad. The problem
is, since sets were often advertised by the USCF itself the makers were left unidentified.
However, while the USCF may have placed their name on the ads, the Federation usually didnt
touch the ad copy itself. This makes it possible to compare USCF ads with later ones placed
by the manufacturers themselves. In this manner, it is possible to identify the maker. In this
case, the comparisons help us determine both ads were for the Drueke Players Choice set.
First, the set itself: Compare the design of the King, Queen, Pawns and, especially, the
Knights in the two ads. The design of the Knights alone surely indicates the set is from
Drueke. After all, this was the knight design Drueke used for their company logo. Second,
as mentioned earlier, the way in which the ads were written can be just as telling. Compare
the wording used in the ad above left with the wording used in ad above right. Parts of them
match word for word. And finally, Players Choice was also know as The Luxury Line, the
name used to identify the set in the November 1963 ad seen in the ad to the right. All of this
evidence, put together, indicates the set is the Players Choice, and even more that it was
available for some time before the Las Vegas National Open in 1965.
Interestingly, the pieces to the Players Choice sets were made in two pieces with the exception of the
knights. I discovered this for myself quite by accident. While cleaning a small size set I had recently
purchased, the bishop suddenly came apart in my hand [right]. Also note what appears to be glue residue
on the insert at the top of the stem. Curious, I quickly examined all the other pieces in the set and found
they evidently were all made in the same way. This was a surprise to me, at least as I had always
assumed these sets, and most plastic sets in general, were molded as one piece.
To the center right is a picture of the king, well illustrating this two-piece manufacturing process. A
seam line is visible on the top part of the piece, but no such seam line is visible anywhere on the stem or
base.
Another interesting comparison: We know the American Design was made of Tenite. Drueke stated
the fact a number of times in their advertisements. But whether the Players Choice was also made of
Tenite has been open to debate. This may be due to the fact the Players Choice set has a very different
look, feel and texture than the American Design perhaps deliberately so, considering the ads touted its
Hi-Impact satin-finished plastic. However, at one point, a card included with all Drueke chess sets made
a blanket statement regarding the plastic used by Drueke that would seem to cover all of the companys
plastic chess sets [below].
In addition, compare the card [bottom right] with the ad below. The wording of the statement on the
card regarding the Hi-Impact satin-finished plastic that will not attack the lacquer finishes is an exact
match to the identical statement made in the advertisement for the Players Choice set. Such evidence
would seem to support the conclusion that the Players Choice was also likely made of Tenite.
Magnetic version of Luxury Line/ Players Choice >>

from the 1969 USCF Catalog >>
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I find a certain irony in the fact that Samuel Reshevsky began his
chess career in America as a child prodigy under the sponsorship of
William F. Drueke. And then later, as an adult, he graced the cover of
the April 1965 issue of Chess Life, playing in a tournament with none
other than a Players Choice chess set from Drueke.
KING ARTHUR
Throughout the 1940-1950s, one of the most popular chess set

designs on the market was the Gothic chess design by Peter Ganine. For
something like 30 years, from 1947 through the 1970s, the game was sold
in the hundreds of thousands. Drueke may have again felt the need to
market a rival set. To do so, the company commissioned William A.
Bendekgey, a local master wood carver, to design and make a set in a
similar design to the Gothic. The design he created was named the King
Arthur set. The set began to be sold by Drueke around 1964 about the
same time the company introduced the Players Choice.
The set was manufactured differently than any Drueke plastic sets
before it, however. Each chessman was manufactured in two pieces, a
metal weight was inserted into the base, and the two halves were then
sealed together. Evidently, this was an attempt to keep the weights from
falling out.
Unfortunately, the process apparently created other
unforeseen problems sometimes the weights came lose and could not
be fixed unless one was willing to destroy the piece in the process.
Another disadvantage was the lack of protective felt on the bottoms.
This caused excessive wear on whatever chessboard was being used for
play and forget about using it on a wooden board. Also, the mold
method used produced rather hollowed out pieces that were seriously
more thin-skinned than either of its rival sets the Ganine Gothic or
even Druekes own Players Choice. Some have compared the thickness
of the pieces to that of a ping-pong ball. Which, perhaps, is a rather
harsh comparison.
Possibly as late as 1986, ads for the King Arthur set were included in
many of the company brochures, instruction booklets and chess primers.
Despite such heavy promotion by Drueke, the set did not live up to its
hopes or sales expectation and never proved to be a valid competitor to
the Ganine Gothic design. It is not often seen on the aftermarkets and
remains rather rare and unknown.
King Arthur No 1007, ~1963-64, 4 King, Plastic >>
King Arthur sets were sold in the following color combinations:

Ivory & Black (top right)
Ivory & Black Gold Faces [above right]
Tan/Chocolate Marbled
Tan/Chocolate Marbled, Gold Faces
Ochre/Black
DYNAMIC DESIGN
1433 N Central Park
Anaheim CA 92802
1973, 2 King, Wood >>
I have not been able to find much information about this company
other than its main focus was apparently on the production of
psychological board games, such as Wine Cellar, Emperor of China,
Who Can Beat Nixon, and others. Perhaps chess fit somewhere in that
32
product philosophy? I could find no further information on the company.

The wood set shown on the previous page shares several of the same characteristics
as wood sets from Cardinal, Horn, The Embossing Company, and others. There are
differences, though in particular the king. It has a cross on the finial rather than the
round knob as seen on the finials of the kings from the other companies mentioned. A
set with a similar king to the one below was supposedly sold by Horn, but the knights
were different.
In the example to the right, the chess pieces shown on the box lid appear to also share
many of the characteristics seen in the wood sets from Cardinal, Horn and The
Embossing Company. In fact, these chess pieces seem to have more similarity with those
competing sets than even with its sister set shown on the bottom of the previous page.
Strato Chess, Wood, chrome and acrylic boards >>
EAST COAST GAMES

Wood >>
THE EMBOSSING COMPANY

23 Church St
58 Liberty St
Albany NY
Disk Set, Wood >>
Despite claims made to the contrary by other companies, there is a

good possibility The Embossing Company may have been the first
chess-making company in America. It was definitely one of the earliest.
Evidence suggests it may have been manufacturing chess sets, in the
form of disks [bottom right], as early as 1871.
Since The Embossing Company was founded for the purpose of
manufacturing embossed wood products, it is likely the companys first
chess sets, as mentioned earlier, consisted of embossed wood disks
similar to the ones shown to the right (Note the embossed or raised
design/relief on the surfaces of the disks). This set was offered for
many years, but whether or not it is representative of their original
33
product cannot be said for sure. Given the companys history, it would
seem likely.
Wooden Disk and Staunton-style Chess Sets. Note the similarity in the wooden >>
Staunton set with those sold by other companies such as Horn, Cardinal, etc. >>
The company was incorporated on January 22, 1870 in Albany, New

York and operated until December 31, 1955. At that time it was sold to
Halsam Products Company of Chicago Illinois. The companys product
line included checkers, dominoes, picture puzzles, ABC blocks and other
games and products. The company took special pride in its embossed
wood products and the graphics on them were spectacular. The
Embossing Company also served as the US sales agents for the Britishmade Meccano and Plasticine products.
Throughout its history, the company owners were responsible for a
good number of patents in plastics, water purification, machine tools,
bearings, dental plates and other manufacturing processes. Perhaps the
most notable was the patent received by one of the owners, John Hyatt,
for the invention of Celluloid. But it was his brother, Isaiah Hyatt,
another owner of the company, who coined the word celluloid. This
invention, and others, led to the establishment of sister companies such
as the Hyatt Billiard Ball Company and the Bonsilate Company.
No 420, Plastic, <1955 >>
Although solid verification is lacking, it would appear The Embossing

Company possibly supplied chess sets and other games to a number of
other companies, such as the H. Baron Company, E. S. Lowe Company,
Wm F. Drueke Company, Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley.
When Halsam bought The Embossing Company at the end of 1955, it
continued to manufacture products and sell them under the umbrella
name of The Embossing Company Division of Halsam Products
Company. It was primarily used for Halsams economy products. For
example, both The Embossing Company and Halsam sold the plastic set
shown to the right. And as mentioned earlier, evidence suggests this set
was also supplied to other companies to sell under their brand names.
Mouseketeer, Plastic [chess pieces] >>
Eventually, all Embossing Company products were sold under the

Halsam name the original Embossing Company packaging was often still used, only the names were substituted. An example of this
practice is the Mousketeer set shown above, where both the Halsam and The Embossing Company names were used (the Halsam name
can be seen on the bottom of the lid, The Embossing name can be seen on the bottom of the cardboard insert inside the box). Halsam
Products was taken over by Playskool in 1962. Milton Bradley purchased Playskool in 1968 and, in turn, the Hasbro Company purchased
Milton Bradley in 1984.e
EXECUTIVE GAMES, INC
Boston MA 02124
Peter Stepanek incorporated Executive Games in Dorchester,
Massachusetts, in 1968. Games, such as chess and badminton, and
other novelty items, were its original product line. By 1975 the
company had turned its attention to home electronic games. The
company first introduced a home version of an air-hockey game and
then introduced Television Tennis, the first electronic game taken on
by the company itself. The game was introduced in time for
Christmas 1975 and was an instant success. For Christmas 1976, the
company offered a TV Hockey/Soccer game. However, one month
later, in January 1976, the companys factory was badly vandalized
and Executive Games ceased operations shortly afterwards.
Chess Mate, 8 King, plastic, sand filled for weight >>
32 X 32 carpet board made for Executive Games by Glenoit Mills, Inc >>
34
FRANKLIN MINT
th
th
8 W 40 St 14 Flr
486 Thomas Jones Way
New York NY 10018 Franlin Center PA 19341
Joseph Segel originally founded The Franklin Mint in 1964 as a
private mint, manufacturing and marketing coins, jewelry, diecast
vehicles, dolls, sculptures and other collectibles. In 1980, Warner
Communications purchased the company but then sold the company in
1985 to American Protection Industries, Inc (API). API renamed itself
Roll International (RI) in 1993. Entering the 2000s, RI began closing
down much of the Franklin Mint business, ultimately selling its remains
to a group that included a private equity investor and The Morgan Mint.
The latter appears to still be operating in full form at this time.
The predominant material used for making the chess pieces was
pewter. The pieces were then hand painted or covered/highlighted in
Sterling Silver and 24 carat Gold. A couple exceptions were the Chess
Sets of the Gods made from Bisque Porcelain, and the Coca-Cola set,
which the mint claimed was made from Tiffany-like glass. Both were
then embellished in Sterling Silver and 24 carat Gold.
Tournament of Camelot, pewter, 1977 >>
According to the document that came with the set [right] >>
Tournament at Camelot was the first chess set offered by the Franklin Mint >>
Blue & Gold Civil War Set, Pewter, also available in Gold & Silver finish, 1983
Ulysses S Grant and Robert E Lee served as Kings
Chess Set of the Gods, White & Black, Porcelain Bisque accented in 24 carat gold
Battle of Waterloo, Pewter, 1984
35
The Great Crusaders, Richard the Lionhearted vs The Saracens >>

5 King, 1984, Tesori Porcelain >>
The Great Crusaders set came in a wooden storage box with formed
trays to hold individual pieces. Franklin Mint evidently sold the set in
either the natural colors shown here, or in a fully hand-painted version.
Plaque fastened to top of wooden storage box
<< Raj, 1987, Pewter, set is based on the British/Indian Sepoy Indian Revolution, 1857
Star Trek 25th Anniversary, Pewter, 1989 >>
<< Emperors of the Orient, 1992, 4 1/8 King, Porcelain

Sportsman Trophy, Pewter, 1994
36
Star Trek Next Generation, Pewter and Crystal-Clear base, 1993 >>
Star Trek 3D, Pewter, 1994, Gold & Silver colored
Lord of the Rings, Pewter >>
Coca Cola Chess Set, 1996, 2 King, Pewter and Stained Glass >>
Franklin Mint literature described the Coca Cola set as follows:

The playing surface, inspired by the early 1900's Coca-Cola stained
glass lamps, is crafted with hand-cut, individually smoothed panels of
authentic Victorian style stained glass arranged and soldered into place.
The finished board is set into a hand-assembled hardwood frame with
Victorian style open fretwork. The logo appliques on all four sides are
individually hand-painted with fine enamels and lavishly embellished with
24K gold. The bodies of all 32 chess pieces are based on the design of a
Coca-Cola syrup dispenser of the 1890's and accented with 24K gold.
Each is hand-enameled to distinguish the opposing sides. The pawns,
kings, and queens are each enhanced with Coca-Cola logos.
37
King Tut, Pewter, 1997 >>
<< Looney Tunes, Pewter
Faberge Imperial Jeweled Egg Miniature, Pewter, Gold, Sterling Silver, Rubies >>
Official FIDE Champion Set, Wood >>
GALLANT KNIGHT
228@ Kinzie SW
1331 Shermer Rd S
Chicago 10, IL
Northbrook, IL
Lake Villa, IL
340 S Racine St
Chicago, IL
The first reference I found to Gallant Knight chess sets was in the
April 1942 Chess Review. In that issue, CR announced a set of Gallant
Knight Moulded Chessmen in wooden box would be given as 1st Prize
in their Sectional Open Tournament. The first ad for Gallant Knight sets
appeared in the Aug-Sept issue of Chess Review. Sets were weighted and
felted. They were originally sold in two sizes: Small 2 1/8 King, or
Standard 2 King. A larger set 3 King, started appearing in
Gallant Knight ads in the October 1942 Chess Review. The largest set 5
King, was first advertised in October 1947 [see ad below right].
The ad to the right is from the October 1942 Chess Review. Note the
reference to the sets being made of Tenite plastic. Like Drueke, GK also
advertised their sets were made of Tenite, and did so as late as 1957
possibly even somewhat later. Interestingly, the photo from the ad was
used as a cover photo for the book The Immortal Games of
Capablanca by Fred Reinfeld, first advertised in the December 1942
Chess Review.
Standard, 2 King, Plastic

No 125 Black & White, No 126 Red & White [shown above]
The set pictured above matches the set illustrated in the top
left corner of the ad shown to the right. The actual case, with
set, is shown at the top left of the next page.
Gallant Knight ad from the 1945 Chess Review Christmas Catalog >>
Standard, 2 King, plastic, No 80Black & White [shown above]

No 81Red & White [not shown]
The set shown above matches the set illustrated in the bottom left
corner of the ad above right. The actual case, with set, is shown at top
left of the next page. I havent quite figured out what system if any
was behind the numbering sequence to Gallant Knight chess sets. I do,
however, have sets and cases that match the two sets illustrated on the
left side of the ad above center.
Ad announcing the availability of the new >>
5 Inch King Size Gallant Knight chess set >>
38
39
<< No 80, Black & White, case with set

<< Compare to illustration in the 1945 Chess
<< Review Christmas Catalog [previous page]
No 126, Red & White, case with set >>
Compare to illustration from the 1945 Chess >>
Review Christmas Catalog [previous page] >>
Gallant Knight logo as emblazoned >>

on the lid of both cases shown >>
For the most part, Gallant Knight advertising appears to have ended by the end of
1962. I have, however, seen GK sets listed for sale in the USCF Catalogs of 1969 and
1970. But somewhere around this time, another name started appearing along with
Gallant Knight ARRCO Playing Card Company. The name change seems to have also
accompanied a subsequent downgrade in quality. Gallant Knight totally disappeared from
sight soon afterwards [see ARRCO Playing Card Company].
Style No 100, Plastic, Mottled Color >>
<< Style No 150B, 2 King, Plastic, Ivory & Black
L400 The Dundee, 3 King, Plastic, Red & White >>
Gallant Knight also apparently sold a version of the Florentine

design, as sold by Kingsway [left]. It also came in a Gold & Silver
version. Although the set depicted on the box looks very much like the
Renaissance set shown earlier under ARRCO, it appears Gallant Knight
used the box design and graphics for selling anything but the Renaissance
chess set. Besides the Florentine set shown here, I have also seen the
box used as packaging for both the regular Gallant Knight chess set as
well as versions of the generic chess set.
To the right is a picture of the Gallant Knight Lawn Set

that appeared on the front page of the May 5, 1950 Chess Life.
The article about the set was found on page 3 (the two were
combined here for display purposes). I have yet to find
evidence Gallant Knight, itself, ever advertised the set.
Shown below is another classic example of why it can be

so difficult to verify which set was made and/or sold by
which company. I bought the set due to the fact the seller
said the box was still sealed. Therefore, it seemed safe to
assume the box would still contain its original contents from
when it left the factory. I was curious to see if the set inside
matched the set illustrated on the box lid. Especially since the
set represented on the lid bears no resemblance to any the
classic GK sets shown earlier.
The box did arrive still in its original wrapping from the
factory. I was surprised, though, when I opened the box and
found the set inside wasnt related to any of the GK sets
discussed above or to the set illustrated on the box cover.
Instead, the set was a direct match to the set sold by
Kingsway.
40
41
GEM PRECISION
41 Murray St
New York NY 10007
Ad as it appeared in the October 1970 Chess Life and Review >>
The set itself is understandably heavy. Unfortunately, the silk

screen chessboard built into the top of the box was only cardboard
and really couldnt support the weight of the pieces and ultimately
caved in/collapsed. Below is a photo of the actual set.
Chess Nuts, 3 King, Metal
GENERIC SETS
Maker[s] Unknown
Since I refer several times to a generic set, perhaps now is a good
time to explain what I mean by the term. I apply the term to a chess set
design that was made/supplied by as yet unknown manufacturer[s] to
almost every company that ever sold chess sets. Unfortunately, this fact
also makes it nearly impossible to determine the true origins of the set.
However, information provided by the John Hansen Co., as recounted
later, may give some indication as to where the sets were manufactured.
The US Chess Federation placed the generic ad shown at left in the
January 1974 Chess Review. Compare the set in the ad to the generic sets
sold by a large number of other companies listed elsewhere in this book.
Generic Plastic >>
C. R. GIBSON COMPANY
Norwalk Conn
The Gibson family, originally from York, England, settled in the
U.S. in 1850. Four brothers, Robert, Stephen, George and Samuel,
started a printing company in 1860. Sixteen-year-old John Gibson
launched a printing company of his own, called the John Gibson
Company, in 1870. It would eventually become todays C.R Gibson

Company. Some of John Gibson Companys original retail products
included letterheads and business forms, notes, drafts and receipts
sold to stationers, plus marriage certificates and calendars.
No. KA33, Wood, compare to Horn No A33 >>
After operating separately for over thirty years, the John Gibson
Company and the Gibson Art Company merged into one, forming C.R.
Gibson & Company under the leadership of John Gibsons nephew,
Charles Gibson. A young innovator and apprentice to the family
business, Charles had previously developed wedding and baby books
from the elaborate wedding and baptismal certificates of the day. These
fresh formats were transferred to the new company, increasing C.R.
Gibsons presence in the industry and established it as an industry leader.
By 1940, with the rough waters of the Great Depression behind
them, the company had outgrown its New York dwelling, so C.R.
Gibson, comprised of thirty-some employees, relocated to larger facilities
and a more measured pace of life in Norwalk, Connecticut.
C.R. Gibson purchased photo album manufacturer, W.C. Horn
Brothers & Company. This pivotal maneuver allowed C.R. Gibson to
successfully enter the gift book and photograph album market with two
revolutionary products: the popular Unimount photo album featuring
adhesive pages under acetate sheets, and the Univision photo album
with acetate windows (or pockets) on each page. These particular
products were originally developed by W C Horn and appear to have
been the major motivation behind C R Gibsons acquisition of the Horn
Company. As a direct result, sales increased sevenfold in as many years
for C.R. Gibson. Interestingly, up until this time, Horn had been
contracting with C R Gibson to produce cribbage boards and chess sets
that were then sold under the Horn name.
In 1979, C R Gibson purchased Creative Papers Stationery Company.
C.R. Gibson itself was acquired in December 2007 by CSS Industries,
Inc. In May 2008, the company acquired Basalt Colorado-based Iota
Stationery and Gifting Essentials.
GITS MOLDING CORPORATION

4600 W Huron St
Chicago IL
The first ad for Gits chess sets appeared in the January 29, 1947 issue of Chess
Life. It consisted of a simple list of chess sets that were available along with
descriptions and prices. The first ad to show an illustration of a Gits chess set
[right] appeared in the May 5, 1947 issue of Chess Life.
No 500, 2 King. Despite the difference in packaging this set appears to be

the same as the Parti-Game set [top of next page]
42
43
Parti-Game, 2 King, Plastic >>

[see No. 500 shown on previous page]
No 820, 2 King, plastic, weighted and felted, Mottled Ivory & Black
Set No. 820 came in the case shown to the right >>
Note how it matches the case illustrated in the ad on bottom of previous page >>
<< Size comparison between No 820 and

<< Parti-Game sets, the family resemblance
<< is unmistakable, notably in the knights
Close up [right] in which can be seen >>
(barely, after all these years) the company name >>
G I T S, embossed into the top cover >>
GOLDEN
See Western Publishing
Golden was a trademark of Western Publishing. Compare this set and
packaging to the set and packaging used by Parker Brothers. Also
compare the set to a like one from Transogram.
GRAND RAPIDS DOWEL WORKS

Grand Rapids, Mich
The company was started in 1913 and, as reported by the
owners grandson, early in the companys history it made chess sets
for Drueke. According to A Working List of Historic Michigan
Furniture Manufacturers, GRDW merged with Saunders Brothers
Dowel Makers of Westbrook ME, in 1978. I have seen very few
samples of chess sets from this company, but they also seem to
match wood sets sold by Horn, The Embossing Company, Drueke,
Cardinal, and others. The company also published A Beginners
Book of Chess in 1917.
44
MICHAEL GRAVES
Princeton NJ
Michael Grave was an American architect and professor at Princeton
University, known for designing domestic products sold at Target stores
(now at JC Pennys). Among those products are takes on several
different board games, the chess set seen below being one of them.
Magnetic, Plastic >>
HALSAM
4114-4124 Ravenswood Ave
Chicago 13, IL
Plastic, White & Black >>
Halsam was founded in 1917 by brothers-in-law Harold (Hal) Elliot

and Sam Goss, Jr. The company name was created by combining the
founders first names (Hal + Sam). Sam Goss Sr. had invented the highspeed rotary press. But when Sam Jr. talked to his father about joining
him in the printing business, his father convinced his son he should try a
different business; one without the kind of fluctuations that affected the
printing business. Sam decided on making toys and bought a
woodworking company in Muskegon, Michigan. That company was
already making wooden blocks. Sam Goss moved the business to 4114
Ravenswood Ave, Chicago. He persuaded his father to apply the
engineering expertise he had used in inventing the rotary press to the
making of wooden blocks. As a result, the companys first product was
the automated manufacturing of wooden blocks. Raw wood was put
into one end of the machine and finished blocks rolled out of the other
end. Employees would then assemble the loose blocks into completed
sets.
Halsam was the first licensee for Disney products. The company also
made bakelite dominoes and checkers and eventually introduced
American Bricks. As part of a consolidation effort, Halsam acquired
JOHN N HANSEN COMPANY

369 Adrian Rd
Millbrae CA 94030
The John N. Hansen Company was established in 1947 and is
presently under the management of three generations of the same family.
The company is a game manufacturer/assembler/distributor for many
national game and toy companies.
Medieval, <1972 2002, Chessmaster No 378, Plastic >>
Set was assembled from parts made in Asia and the US >>
their rival wooden block maker, The Embossing Company, in

1955. After the acquisition, Halsam moved to a new factory
and office building at 3610 Touhy Ave, in Chicago.
I do not know if the chess design shown below was
original to Halsam, but evidence indicates Halsam sold it both
before and after the Halsam Company was purchased by
Playskool. The set was also sold by Milton Bradley after MB
purchased Playskool. I do know Halsam sold chess sets that
were original to The Embossing Company, after Halsam
purchased that company.
Playskool purchased Halsam in 1962. Milton Bradley, in
turn, purchased Playskool, sometime in the 1970s.
45
Chessmaster, Plastic >>
The Hansen Company sold this set under the name of

Chessmaster. It is obviously another version of the Generic set
described earlier and sold by so many different game companies. As
such, it illustrates why I have, rather reluctantly, used the word generic
to identify these sets. Generic or not, this is one of my favorite sets to
use for play. It is simply a nice solid set with which to play.
At the time the Hansen Company confirmed they sold this set, it also
informed me the set consisted of pieces originally manufactured in Japan,
then Taiwan, and finally, China. Perhaps such information provides a
clue as to the manufacturing origins of most, if not all, Generic sets?
HASBRO INC
1027 Newport Ave
Central Falls
Pawtucket RI
Hasbro/Hassenfeld, Plastic, 1967 >>
Brothers Henry, Helal and Herman Hassenfeld founded the

Hassenfeld Brothers Company in 1923, as a textile remnant company.
The company was incorporated in 1926. Within just a few years the
brothers were using the textile remnants to make hat liners and pencil
box covers. They soon began making their own pencil boxes, however,
once they saw how popular they were. In 1935, when the supplier of
pencils to Hassenfeld decided to raise their prices and sell their own
pencil boxes at a cheaper price, the brothers also started making their
own pencils. By 1942, as the demand for school supplies waned, the
company became primarily a toy company. The pencil making business
continued as a major moneymaker for the company, however, until that
part of the business was spun off on its own as Empire Pencil in 1980.
Toy hits were Mr. Potato Head (in 1952, the first toy to be advertised
on TV), GI Joe (in 1964) and My Little Pony (1982). The company
became a major licensee for Disney characters in 1954. By 1960,
Hassenfeld was one of the largest private toy companies in the nation.
The company name was changed to Hasbro Industries in 1968.
While these two examples from Hasbro are similar to the standard Lowe design, they were apparently a cheaper imitation see Tucket
Toy Co., a company with close ties to Hasbro. Also compare them to the set illustrated on the box lid for The Learning Game by Gallant
Knight.
In 1977, Hasbro acquired the licensing rights to the Peanuts characters. In 1984 it introduced the Transformers line, which proved to
be highly successful. The company purchased the Knickerbocker Toy Company in 1982, Milton Bradley in 1984, CBS Toys in 1985, and
Playskool in 1986. It acquired bankrupt Coleco in 1989, and bought
Tonka Corp (owner of Parker Brothers) in 1991. It bought Avalon Hills
in 1998 and Wizards of the Coast in 1999. As a result of its acquisitions,
Hasbro became the worlds largest toy maker by the mid-1980s. Mattel
reclaimed that position in 1993, however, when it acquired Fisher-Price.
Most Hasbro products are now made in East Asia. Along with that
practice has also come the alleged worker abuse, domestic work force
layoffs, factory closings, and obscenely paid CEOs. A book about chess
sets made in the United States has no choice but to lament the
companys following of a pattern currently seen all too often in the
corporate world of America.
Family Fun, Plastic, 1971 >>
#37802 Chess Game, Plastic >>
In contrast, the set shown to the right was apparently an inhouse Hasbro design and product, from the companys Design
Center East. On the bottom of the plastic case is impressed Made
in America and Hasbro Industries.
The literature that
accompanied the set described this chess design in this way: The
game of the ages! But in a design no older than now. This Marslike planetary set reverses the tradition; has all men in one shape,
opponent colors identify the pieces. Men are prismatic. A really
new interpretation of chessmen for collector and beginner alike.
Hasbro also used a similar design for a set of Checkers.
HOLLENDONNER CHESSMEN
1830 T St NW
Washington DC 20009
This is the one and only ad I have found for this set. Patents
were filed for the chess piece designs in 1976 and, for the most
part, granted in 1977. The one exception appears to have been for
the queen. The patent filed for the design of the queen piece was
not granted until 1979.
46
47
A HOLUM AND SONS CO. INC

341 N Pulaski Rd
740 Burr Oak Dr
Chicago, IL
Westmont IL 60559
When I discovered this company was still in business, I sent an email asking if anyone
might know some history on the set bearing their name. Following is the response I received:
My name is Richard Holum, president of Holum and Sons Co Inc. I have to say WOW!
What a blast from the past. A. Holum and Sons was my grandfathers company, Arthur
Holum. The location, 341 North Pulaski, was the first building A. Holum and Sons moved
into after starting the business in my grandfathers basement. I believe the first location was
only a thousand square feet or less. We are now over 77 years old, 40,000 square feet and I
am third generation and sole proprietor.
My father Edward T Holum, second generation and former president of Holum and
Sons, was piloting B-24 bombing missions into Germany during the time the chessboard was
being manufactured by his father, Arthur, and brother, Leo.
Holum and Son is a custom Job Shop, we dont have any
proprietary products manufactured here, all work is basically one of a
kind. The chess/checkers set is something I have never seen before and
any records of its manufacturer are long gone.
I have to say thank you for bringing this piece to my attention and I
am amazed how it has come full circle after all these years.
The follow-up below was received shortly after:
After sending you my email I noticed something interesting. The
name on game was "Buddy" Chess and Checkers. That got me to
thinking a little more about this game and my family history. A third brother was also involved in the business and his name was William
Holum. He was also well known to be called "Bud". Was this just a coincidence? I can't say with 100% certainty. I would have to
conclude that the work I see is familiar to us, and something we would produce. I would also say that it was "manufactured and
distributed" by my grandfather and uncles at the Pulaski factory in Chicago as stated on the envelope. We would have every capability to
produce that product. I am sure that this was an early venture of a custom product by A. Holum and Sons and probably my uncle Bud. I
don't have the complete history of our company as I have only worked here the last thirty years of our seventy-seven year history. When I
started at the factory my grandfather and two uncles, Leo and Bud had already passed away.
Granted, the above is a lot of space devoted to a relatively insignificant chess set, but it is this kind of information that makes collecting
so interesting. Such history is fascinating and makes the set that much more personal.
W C HORN BRO & CO

rd
571 N 3 St
Newark NJ
According to its Masthead, W. C. Horn, Bro. & Co. was established in 1846. It
was incorporated on July 1, 1924. The company address was listed as 200 Fifth
Avenue, New York, NY. The company had a factory located in Newark, New Jersey.
It appears W C Horn was known mostly for its photo albums and other stationery
supplies (CR Gibson lauded its acquisition of the Horn Company because of the
innovative photo album products from Horn that could now be added to the Gibson
product line). But W. C. Horn was also known for its cribbage and chess sets.
However, evidence indicates the cribbage boards were actually made for W. C. Horn
by R. F. McCrillis, Inc. from the early 1920s through the 1970s. This makes me
wonder if this might also be true for the chess sets sold by the Horn Company [also
see C. R. Gibson Company].
The ad to the right first appeared in the March 1935 Chess Review. It was, however,
used as a generic ad by Chess Review for several months prior to 1935. The generic ad
used the same text and graphics, but without the use of a company logo of any kind.
Ad variations were seen in the magazine nearly every month after its initial
introduction. Sometimes, the Horn logo was used. Other times, only the graphics,
sans logo were used. While the ads referred to Horns wood sets, the wood set itself
other than the knight did not appear in ads until July 1937. All of these ad
variations appeared randomly for several years.
Ad is from the March 1935 Chess Review >>
No. A33 Wood, in original green box >>

Note how the pieces are fitted into the box >>
The fitted case, together with the box logo, helps confirm the set is
from Horn (even after allowing for the large degree of artistic license
evident in the ad).
More Wood
Unlike the example of the wooden set pictured to the right, I am not
totally convinced the examples below are really from the Horn Company.
The Horn Company advertised for many years in Chess Review and Chess
Life and the ads consistently showed the same wood set. Not a single one
of those ads ever showed anything close to the two sets shown here.
On the other hand, the fact cannot be ignored that sets like these
consistently come up for sale and are fairly consistent in their style,
packaging and model numbering. As is the case with wood sets
purportedly from Drueke, this commonality may be the best argument for
supporting the sets are originally from Horn.
Therefore, I have included these examples and will let the reader decide
their origins. Compare them to the wood sets from Cardinal, Dynamic
Design and Drueke, etc.
Travel Sets
An ad for the travel set shown below left first appeared in the November 1941
issue of Chess Review. While the Horn name does not appear in the ad, it is very likely
the set came from Horn, given the evidence shown below. For whatever reason,
advertising for this set does not appear to have lasted for long possibly no longer
than the next Christmas season.
Ad for Travel Set, actual set is shown below left >>
Note how the bottom of the sets wood base [bottom center] is stamped with both
the Horn and McGrillis names. This would seem to give credence to the possibility
that at least some of the chess sets sold by Horn, like their cribbage boards, were
actually made by the McGrillis Company.
48
49
The ad to the right is from the December 1936 Chess Review, page 286. It is the earliest
ad I have found for Horn Catalin sets. Unfortunately, the quality of the picture is rather
poor, so details of the set are pretty much impossible to determine. I included the ad to
help date the set. Its dating can be of help in determining when such sets might have been
available.
In 1963, W. C. Horn Bro. & Co. was sold to C. R. Gibson & Company. Gibson
apparently desired some innovative photo album copyrights and products owned by the
Horn Company. Gibson evidently also attempted to continue the Horn Companys venture
in chess by now producing the sets once supplied to Horn under the C. R. Gibson name
(below). The attempt doesnt appear to have lasted long.
C R Gibson set KA33, wood, ~1963. Compare to Horn set A33 (shown earlier)
INTERNATIONAL MINT
PO Box 1151
Washington DC 20013
International Mint ad from the November 1972 Chess Life. It is the only ad I have ever seen for this company or their chess set.
50
KINGSBRIDGE
th
10-05 35 Ave
Long Island City NY 11106
Ad is from the October 1964 Chess Life. However, most sets I have
seen from Kingsbridge came with the case and set shown below. And it is
nothing like any of the items shown in the ad. Go figure . . . .
The Kingsbridge name can be seen on the set to the right, consisting of a full box >>
of matches for each chess piece. I have seen very few of these sets come up for sale >>
<< Renaissance, plastic, imported by Kingsbridge, see label below

<< Compare the set to like sets from ARRCO, Cardinal and Gallant Knight.
Inside of box for this set which shows >>
the Kingsbridge name. It would also >>
seem to verify the set was imported >>
KINGSWAY
Deluxe: Embossed box with chessboard >>
Red & White, Maroon & Ivory, Black & Ivory >>
Standard: Box opened into chessboard, Black & Ivory
I believe the set to the left is also probably from Kingsway, although
there are differences: compare the tops of the rooks and knights heads
with the ones in the first picture. Also note differences in collars. I refer
to both sets as being from Kingsway since that is the company with which
they are most often associated I really have no idea whether they were
actually produced by Kingsway or if Kingsway got them from a supplier.
51
<< Varsity, 5 King, Plastic
When I received rhis set in the mail, the

King and one Pawn were in two pieces.
While repairing them, I realized the inside of
the top of each piece had a slight collar and
the base piece fit into the bottom of the top
piece quite nicely. The repairs became
virtually invisible. I then realized the top of
the pieces had mold lines while the bases did
not. It appears the chessmen were made in
two pieces and then glued together, much
the same as was the Druekes Players Choice
set (see Wm. F. Drueke Game Company).
It was difficult to photograph, but note the barely visible mold line running
between the finial and the first of the double rings (right). With the exception
of the matching fleur decoration on the other side, the rest are smooth. Below
that first ring, there are no mold lines to be found whatsoever.
<< Size Comparison between the Kingsway sets shown
<< on the previous page and the Varsity Set shown above
Below left is the first ad I discovered for the Florentine set from Kingsway. It is from the June 20, 1948
issue of Chess Life. The United States Chess Federation was the sponsor of the Kingsway ads from the first
ad in June through the last ad [below right]. This last ad was in the September 5, 1948 Chess Life and
displayed a different chess piece from the set.
52
Florentine, 1947, available with either a 2 7/8 or 3 King, Plastic

White & Red, White & Black, Marbled Gold & Silver
Magnetic, Plastic >>
KNIGHTS CASTLE
997 First Ave
New York 22, NY
The ad to the left appeared in the February 1951 Chess Review, page 37. Now you know as
much about the company and this set as I do.
KONTRELL INDUSTRIES
Newburgh NY 12550
Peter Max, 1971, Paper Cutout >>
[Colors of set shown below]
1960-70s, Plastic, another example of a company selling a generic set >>
KUIPER CARVING COMPANY

1519 Paris Ave SI
Grand Rapids, Mich
Another company from Grand Rapids that appears to have entered
the chess business. Did the company design and sell its own set
[pictured below]? There are enough slight differences to the set that it is
possible. But even at that, it is still a common enough design that it is
impossible to say for sure.
LEARNING GAMES, INC

Quickmaster, Cardboard, 1971 >>
LIBERTY
[W T PINNEY (?)]
811 Maltman Ave
Los Angeles CA
Life for the ad appearing to the right began in the 1942 issue of Chess Review.
Sets were made of Olivewood and were weighted and felted, with the exception of
the Economy Set. All came in a wooden box with a hinged lid and clasp.
Judging by the similarities in description, design, and model numbers, the set in
the ad could very well be the same set formerly sold by the Chess Equipment
Company as hand-carved chessmen. Either way, it seems to have been a popular
set. As noted in the ad, Reshevsky and Kashdan used a Master Set in their 1942
Championship match [as seen in photo at middle right of the next page]. The set
also appeared on the covers of several Chess Review and Chess Life and Review
magazines.
I have seen pictures and descriptions indicating a W. T. Pinney, of Los Angeles,
California, made the Liberty sets, but have yet to see concrete evidence
supporting/confirming that claim. However, the sets and descriptions I have seen
very closely matched the details of the set shown in the previous ad. Compare the
picture of the set in the ad with the sets shown at the top of the next page. The
evidence would seem to indicate the claim has merit.
53
54
LINCOLN SPECIALTIES COMPANY
Travel Chess and Checkers, Cardboard >>
E S LOWE
th
27 W 20 St
New York 11, NY
The E S Lowe Company was founded in 1929-1930 when E. S.
Lowe introduced the world to the game of Bingo. From the
beginning, the company had trouble keeping up with the demand
for the game. Later, the company would have the same kind of
success when it introduced the game of Yahtsee. Based on
copyright dates, the company evidently didnt start selling chess sets
until around 1945. A copyright date of 1945 is on almost all chess
related items sold by Lowe the one major exception being the
Renaissance set, which has a copyright date of 1959. The original
basic chess set on which Lowe received its copyright was sold,
virtually unchanged, for close to thirty years. According to one
management insider, Lowe made even more money selling its chess
and checker games.8 That is a significant statement when you

consider how wildly successful the games of Bingo and Yahtsee
were for the company.
However, in spite of the millions of chess sets the Lowe
Company likely sold over the years, I have never found references
to any factory facilities or manufacturing plants owned or used by
Lowe for manufacturing chess sets. So comes the question; did
Lowe manufacture sets of their own, or did [a] supplier[s], provide
chess sets to Lowe?
8
Eisler, Kim Isaac. Revenge of the Pequots: How a Small Native American Tribe
Created the World's Most Profitable Casino, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001
55
These photos have been scaled in size in an effort to match, and

illustrate, the relative size differences between the sets. As the pictures
also demonstrate, with the exception of the knights, all three sets reflect
similar design characteristics.
No 841, 1945, 3 King, Plastic >>
No 815 Magnetic, 2 5/8 King, Plastic, unweighted, unfelted >>
Various Color Combinations Available For Lowe Chess Sets

No 804: 2 King
White & Red
White & Black
Marbled White & Marbled Black
Marbled Red & Marbled Black
Bakelite with case: 3 King
White & Black
White & Red
No 815: 2 5/8 King

Magnetic
No 841: 3 King
White & Red
White & Black
Marbled Purple & Pink
No 831: ANRI Renaissance: 4 King
No 835 ANRI Coronation: 5 King
With the exception of bakelite sets, the sets listed above were sold either unweighted
and unfelted, or weighted and felted.
No 804, 2 King, Plastic, unweighted, unfelted >>
Bakelite, ~1946 >>
So far, the earliest ad I have discovered for Bakelite sets, like the set
shown above, was in a 1946 Chess Review Christmas Catalog printed in
both the November and December issues of the magazine. Since the ad
[below left] is a generic ad from Chess Review, the maker cannot be
positively identified as Lowe. However, I have the set in a similar case
with the Lowe logo embroidered on a ribbon located in the upper inside
left corner of the case [bottom right]. At the very least, the ad helps
establish some kind of time frame in which the sets were available.
<< November 1946 Chess Review

<< Christmas Catalog, First Catalin ad
Bakelite Set in Presentation Case >>
56
No 831, ANRI Renaissance, Plastic, 1959 >>
It is thought the Renaissance design was inspired by the coronation of

Leopold I as the Holy Roman Emperor in 1658. The set was a copy of
one originally produced by the ANRI Company of Italy. There must
have been some kind of agreement for doing so between Lowe and
ANRI, as the sets bore the logos of both companies, but I have not yet
found any evidence or details of what that arrangement might have been.
<< No 835, ANRI Renaissance Coronation, Plastic, ~1974
Paint it Yourself Renaissance, Plastic, 1961 >>
For a long time, whenever I

saw examples of Renaissance sets
that had been custom painted I
thought I was seeing an
individuals
own
personal
attempt at customizing a
Renaissance set. But once I saw
this product [right], as sold by
Lowe, I realized I had been
mistaken. Lowe evidently sold a
kit by which the set could be
custom painted.
The set came with paint,
brushes and thinner, along with
painting and playing instructions
[left].
Shortly after Milton Bradley purchased the Lowe Company, it offered both the Renaissance and the Crusader set [right]. A good
question to ask might be: Why? Was the Crusader design an attempt by MB to eventually replace the Renaissance set for some reason?
Was there perhaps a licensing problem with ANRI after MB purchased Lowe? Or did MB simply feel the need to introduce a new product
under new ownership? I do not yet know the answers.
Due to its design, it is hard to find an undamaged Crusader set. They are almost always missing part of the protrusions designed into
the set, ie: the axes carried by the pawns, the staff ends on the bishops, etc. In fact, when I purchased one in good shape online I found
two pieces had broken when I received it. Just shipping it without any extra precautions was enough to cause breakage. The designers
must not have taken into consideration, as much as they should have,
perhaps, the everyday wear and tear a chess set needs to endure if it is to
be used for actual chess playing.
Supposedly, the cover art for the box lid of the Crusader set (not
shown) was done with assistance from the Higgins Army Museum of
Worcester, Massachusetts. So far, I have not yet been able to confirm
that as a fact.
Lowe also sold wood sets, but pretty much every example I have seen
has appeared to be of sets imported from the Lardy Company of France.
57
Pegged Travel Set

Lowe also sold a series of travel sets. Most contained the exact same pieces, but were available
in at least two different types of packages. Either in a
Bookcase Style, set as shown in ad >>
<< Or in a Plastic Case
Actual Book Case >>
<< Pegged Metal Travel Set
The Lowe Company was a master, as apparently were most toy companies, at repackaging
their sets. Box art and styles changed frequently; sets were offered in basic cardboard boxes or
could be upgraded to fancier Presentation Cases, such as the one in which the Bakelite set was
shown earlier. Space wont allow the attempting of even a small sampling of the many different
ways the same basic set was repackaged and sold.
E. S. Lowe sold the company to Milton Bradley in 1973. Milton Bradley continued selling
original Lowe chess set under the MB name for some time after it had purchased the Lowe
Company, perhaps up until MB itself was sold.
LUC-TON AND COMPANY, INC

See Odell Company. Inc.
MAG-NIF, INC
8820 East Ave
Mentor OH 44060
Mag-Nif was founded in 1963 as a maker of coin storage banks. It is
now the nations largest producer of animated coin sorting banks for
both business and home. Over the years the company has designed and
produced a large assortment of products that ranged from the coin
sorting banks to puzzles, games, trim-a-tree, gift wrap and bow-making
items. The case [above right] unfolds into a playing board with the
pieces contained inside (bottom right and below].
58
MANACRAFT
678 Berriman St
Brooklyn 8, NY
The ad shown to the right appeared once, and only once in the November 1950
Chess Review.
METRO MANUFACTURING COMPANY

th
127 W 25 St
New York1, NY
Essentially all I was able to discover
regarding Metro Manufacturing was that it
was purchased by the H Baron Company.
Below, however, are two examples of the
sets they sold:
Travel Chess, Plastic, <1946
<< Chess, Plastic, ~1950, from a Chess and Checker Compendium
MINGO
Fremont CA 94536
Space Chess No 712, Plastic, 1980 >>
King: Planet
Rook: Rocket
Queen: Commander
Bishop: Jet Fighter
Knight: Satellite
Pawn: Robot
MISSOURI PLASTICS
1050 Suburban Tracks
St Louis 14, MO
I previously listed the set shown below as possibly coming from SkorMor, but have since been informed, and confirmed, it was likely made by
a company called Missouri Plastics. The set is likely from before the
1960s as the address is from before zip codes.
Note the interesting similarity between the knight in this [plastic] set
and the knight in the Lowe Bakelite set, as well as a catalin set sold by
Cardinal.
Plastic, White & Red, Ivory & Black, Marbled Yellow & Black >>
NATIONAL BINDERY & GAME COMPANY, INC

80-82 Greene St
New York NY
< 1935
Reference to this company and a chess set it sold was

found in the AGPC Game Catalog. I could find no further
information on the company or any of its possible chess sets.
59
NATION TIME, INC

2407 Clark St
Columbia SC 29201
Nation Time was apparently a [non-violent] black separatist
movement around the 1970s. One may wonder if perhaps the company
was set up as a way of funding the organization. Pages from the manual
appear below, followed by a picture of the set itself. The manual
definitely puts a new twist on the history of chess although, I would
think, a pretty mythical one. Note also the names of the pieces, etc. The
set itself was unique enough that it easily added to the twist on the game
of chess introduced by the manual.
Nation Time, plastic [Photos Courtesy of Don Mankowski] >>
<< Nation Time Instructions [Photos Courtesy of Don Mankowski]
NON-SKID PRODUCTS, INC

Hartford CT
The pieces to the Non-Skid set were made of a felt-type cardboard

that clung to the felt chessboard. The pieces measured across. The
set came with its own mailing envelope. Note the similarities between
the packaging of this pocket set, to like sets from A Holum and Sons and
other companies. The set was advertised for only a short period of time
in Chess Review.
60
ODELL COMPANY, INC

4304 Rainbow Blvd
Kansas City 3, Kansas
Strat-egy, Plastic >>
While it was given the name Strat-egy, the game was really nothing
more than the traditional game of chess with new names given the chess
pieces.
I have seen three versions of the
instruction sheet accompanying the
game. One version listed Luc-Ton
& Co. as the manufacturer, but
showed the game as Strat-Agy [see
Instruction Manual, left compare
to box cover shown right]. The
second version still listed Luc-Ton
as the maker, but with the name of
the game corrected to Strat-egy.
And the third version listed the
game as Strat-egy, Modern Chess, A
Creation of Luc-Ton, but listed the
Odell Games Company as manufacturer. An indication, perhaps,
that the Odell Company had
purchased the Luc-Ton Company,
but continued to produce the game?
PACIFIC GAMES COMPANY - CAVALIER

12830 Raymer St
N Hollywood CA 91605
Pacific Games offered their chess sets under two different brand names
Cavalier and Pleasantime Games. To try to avoid confusion, I have
divided the sets offered by Pacific Games according to their brand names.
Pacific Games filed for the Cavalier trademark on June 18, 1964. The
trademark expired on Feb. 18, 2006. The ad to the right is from the June
1975 Chess Life and Review. It was also used in the 1977 USCF Chess Catalog.
<< No 1493 Cavalier Deluxe, 4 King

<< Plastic, 1967
No 1491: Ivory & Black, double-weighted

No 1492: Ivory & Walnut
No 1493: Alabaster & Walnut [above left]
<< No 1433, Cavalier Magnetic, Plastic
Size comparison between >>
Cavalier Nos 1493 and 1433 >>
The ad to the right appeared in the 1969 USCF Catalog. It was positioned on the
catalog page just below the ad for its plastic counterpart, as seen at the beginning of
this section. This is the only time I recall seeing this set, either in an ad or otherwise.
PACIFC GAMES COMPANY PLEASANTIME GAMES

Sets designed by Peter Ganine were offered under the Pleasantime Games
brand/division of Pacific Games, so I have listed them accordingly
Wood, pre-1960s [?]
The estimate for the date given above is based on the

fact the address on the box does not include a zip code,
which started in 1963.
Cover of August 1956 issue of Chess Review >>
with the cover story [below] that accompanied it >>
Incidentally, this was also the issue of Chess Review in

which Bobby Fischer first came to the attention of the
chess world. Only a few months later it was his turn to
be featured on the cover (December 1956), after what
came to be known then as the Game of the Century.
61
62
Superba Gothic, Melamine >>

Ivory & Black (right), Ivory & Burgundy [below], and Antiqued [below right]
No 108, Henry Ohme, Wood, 1960

US Patent #171,286: Filed March 16, 1953, granted January 12, 1954 >>
<< Leaflet, showing

<< the Ohme design
<< along with the
<< Cavalier and
<< Ganine designs
63
Peter Ganine Classic, Plastic, 1961 >>
Acrylic, 1961
No 1483, Peter Ganine Conquerer, 4 King, Plastic, 1962

White & Red, White & Black, Gold & Silver
No 142[4], Space Chess, 1969, Made in U.S.A. >>
Table-ette, Wood
Europa, 1973 >>
64
Travel Set 810-1100, 1971, 2 King, Plastic >>
Medici, 4 King, 1975, plastic
Inspired by the Medici family . . . rulers of the Italian Renaissance
Ganine Travel Set, metal, Silver & Gold [shown], also came in Plastic, White & Red >>
PARKER BROTHERS
190 Bridge St
Salem, Mass
Since 1883, Parker Brothers has published more than 1,800 games,
including such well-known games as Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Risk, Trivial
Pursuit, Aggravation and Probe. Despite such a legacy of games, I have
found no evidence the company ever produced chess sets of its own.
Instead, it appears the company imported chess sets from the Lardy
Company of France and probably other makers, as well and sold them
under the Parker name. Compare this set and box cover with the set and
box cover from Golden.
PATTBERG NOVELTY COMPANY

New York, NY
Plastic >>
So far, the two or three examples of chess sets I have seen from the
Pattberg Company have consisted of this similar GK-appearing chess set.
This would seem to suggest the company did not make its own sets, but,
rather, used a supplier. The company also sold imported wood sets.
65
PET TOY OF N. H.
Claremont, NH
#878, King Richard, 6 King, Plastic >>
A POLET
Eskimo Arts
Nome AK
The write-up shown to the right appeared on the front page of the June 6, 1949 issue of Chess Life.
An ad for the set [below] appeared in the same issue of the magazine. Both the article and the ad stated
a Staunton-style set was also available in old rare ivory. The sets sold for $150 each
<< Alaska Walrus Tusk/Ivory, 3 King

King:
Queen:
Bishop:
Knight:
Rook:
Pawn:
POLYGON CORPORATION
3411 N Halsted St
810 Arlington
Chicago IL
La Grange
IL
Plastic, [photo courtesy of Don and Patricia Otto] >>
Polygon was evidently a game and toy company, as I have found

evidence of several different games that were produced and/or sold by
the company. A person by the name of Bert J. Bratt copyrighted several
of the games, from at least 1939 through 1947. I have not yet discovered
what position he held in the Polygon Corporation.
Eskimo man in typical garb

Eskimo woman in typical garb
Arctic Owl
Polar Bear
Igloo
Squirrel
66
ARTHUR POPPER
th
113-119 4 Ave [>1932]
555 Broadway [>1960]
New York, NY
The Arthur Popper Company was well known for its fine jewelry and plasticware
designs. The phrase Manufacturers of Adult Games was included in a number of
their ads.
Ads for Arthur Popper chess sets ran in the Chess Review for a very brief time: from
August 1934 through January 1935. Their sets were never pictured in the ad. However,
the same ad and information appeared as a generic ad in later issues of The Chess Review.
PRESSMAN TOY CORPORATION

th
200 5 Ave
New York, NY
Jack Pressman founded the Pressman Toy Company in 1922.
No 1124, Staunton, 3 5/8 King, Plastic, weighted and felted >>
The set inside matches the set shown on the box lid. Compare it to the
set design from Lowe.
Cardboard Disk
Magnetic Disks, Plastic >>
67
To the right is a set from Pressman that also looks very much like it
came from the Lowe Company. On the box lid below left can be seen
the Pressman name.
Golden Chess, Plastic >>
THE RAINBOW WORKS

Also See WESTERN PUBLISHING
I have seen this exact same box and set with the Whitman name
displayed in place of The Rainbox Works on the box cover.
Plastic >>
MAN RAY
The information below appeared in the January 12, 1994 issue of CCI-USA News and again in the Spring 2013
issue of the CCI-USA Newsletter
A checkered pattern of a chessboard appeared in Man Rays very first assemblage. In 1920,
Man Ray planned his first chess set, and the pieces he so lovingly designed on paper inspired
the shapes of the chess pieces. His chessmen were made from the items scattered around his
studio simple geometric wooden shapes used as draughtsmans models and broken violins. A
pyramid was used for the King, a cone for the Queen, a cube for the Rook, a bottle for the
Bishop and a sphere, glued to a button that served as a base, for the Pawn.
Man Ray displaying his chess set design >>
Taking the Egyptian symbol of Kingship as the Pyramid, he used it for the King. The
Queen, a more feminine form, was suggested by the conical headdress of ladies in medieval
times. The flagon for the Bishop originated in the clergys love of good cheer and their skill in
concocting rare and famous liquors. The scroll of a violin bearing resemblance to a horse head,
served for the Knight, whose movement on the board is more erratic than the geometrical
moves of the other pieces. The Rook was reduced to the simplest possible geometric form
the cube or blockhouse. The sphere for the Pawns was the most simple interpretation of these
less powerful pieces, but their augmented size was in keeping with the importance the Pawn has
68
assumed in modern chess. In 1926, while living in Paris, Man Ray was
commissioned by an Indian Prince to execute the set in silver and three
sets were made.9
1920 1924, Wood >>
In 1945, Man Ray designed a new set [center right], issued in a limited
edition of six wooden numbered and signed sets, which in 1947 were
produced in aluminum. Here the influence of geometrical industrial
design can be observed as chance yields to the rational: the Rook was a
cylinder; the Knight a segment of a circle creating the profile of the
arched horses neck; the Bishop a bottle; the Queen more feminine with
the pointed end of the earlier cone replaced by a sphere; the King,
mellowed with age, the pointed edges of the pyramid softened into a
circular pyramidal shape surmounting a truncated cone with a central
hole. The Pawns were almost identical to those of the 1920 set except
for a slight modification of the base to facilitate handling.
Man Ray, 1945, Aluminum >>
In 1962, 17 years later, Man Ray designed his third chess set by
making slight modifications to the 1945 design. Only one piece, the
Bishop, changed radically; the bottle shape being abandoned in favor of a
more conventional approach derived from the Bishop of the standard
Staunton set. Man Rays Bishop was, however, more harmonious. The
eight different planes of the Staunton model melted into one long
flowing S-shaped curve derived from the Bishops head in the standard
model. The Queen and Pawn remained unchanged. The top section of
the Rook and the King was cut by a cross-shaped indentation while the
Knights eye, a simple point in the 1945 set, was enlarged to a circular
hole.
Aluminum, set and board. Board was signed by Man Ray and dated 1962 >>
In addition to these three main chess sets, Man Ray produced several
variations in which the pieces of the various sets are somewhat mixed.
Sometimes slight changes were introduced into the basic design of the
three sets.
Man Ray designed a chess table (1930) and a chessboard (1962). In
both cases the sides of the chessboard are inscribed with a prose poem
based on alliteration and puns that humorously characterize the chess
pieces of the game.
Le Roi est moi, la Reine est la tienne
[The King is mine, the Queen is yours]
La Tour fait un four, le Fou est comme vous
[The Rook is a flop, the Bishop is a fool like you]
Le Cavalier draille, le Pion fait lespion comme toute canaille
[The Knight talks nonsense, the Pawn is a spy like every scoundrel]
1971, Aluminum >>
Note how this later design [right] varies from the 1962 design. In
particular, the King does not have the cross-shaped indentation as seen
on the Rook. Also, the Pawns have evolved from spheres on bases to
cylinders with indented tops. The design of the Bishops appears to have
married the traditional visor cut to the top with the vase shape of the early Man Ray chess designs.
Man Ray harbored illusions that his chess set might become as popular as the standard Staunton set in tournament play. In 1919, the
reaction of a chess master, Marshall, decided. Man Ray displayed his chess pieces to Marshall who asked if they were intended for play.
Marshall proposed a game and took about 10 minutes to beat Man Ray.
Man Ray asked Marshall if his design was practical and might be accepted by players. Marshall replied that the pieces did not matter, he
could play with buttons or even without pieces chess players were not susceptible to form unless they were also artists.
Man Ray continued to direct his efforts toward designing new forms for chess pieces.
9
The Man Ray Trust, founded by his wife, Juliet Man Ray, has authorized a new posthumous release of this early wood chess set. It is to be made by craftsman located in
Germany and Italy.
69
RECREATION PRODUCTS COMPANY

180 Lafayette St
New York, NY
Travel Set, Cardboard >>
REGAL & WADE MFG, INC

Maspeth 78, NY
Magnetic, Metal >>
Regal and Wades main product was a set of specially coated steel
playing cards, along with a magnetic board to which the cards would
Kling (the companys term). This allowed for using the cards in
windy/inclement weather without the cards blowing away. The company
apparently used the same idea for this metal disc chess set with a
magnetic playing board [partially shown with the set]. A best guess for a date of manufacture is roughly the 1960s or 70s, based on the box
graphics. But this is only speculation, of course.
REGAL GAMES, INC
47-05 Fifth St
Long Island City, NY
RIGGS & FREEMAN

th
242 W 27 St
New York, NY
The very first ad for selling chess sets I was able to find in any issue
of Chess Review was one from this company. The ad appeared in March
1933 [right]. But the ad tends to be a bit confusing. Although under
Styles it refers to Hand Painted Men, the emphasis appears to be on
advertising chessboards. So, did chessmen come with the board[s]? It
seems likely, based on the ad. But that may remain an unanswered
mystery as this is the only time the ad ever appeared and I could find no
further information on the company and/or its products.
ROSE ART INDUSTRIES, INC
6 Regent St #150
Livingston NJ 07039
Isador Rosen founded the company in 1923 when he started the
Rosebud Art Company in New York City. It primarily produced coloring
books but later, mostly during the 1930s, it changed its focus to games
and puzzles. Isadors sons, Irving and Sydney, joined the company in the
1940s. In 1970 the company was incorporated as Rose Art Industries
and moved to New Jersey. During the Labor Day weekend of 1985, a
Chess >1936
Reference to the Regal Games Company selling chess sets

was found in the AGPC Game Catalog. I could find no further
information on the company.
70
huge fire destroyed 23 homes and 17 industrial buildings, including the

factory and inventory of the Rose Art Company. The company relocated
to Bloomfield New Jersey. Sydneys sons, Jeffrey and Lawrence, bought
the company in the early 1990s. In 1994 the company moved to Wood
Ridge New Jersey.
Along the way, Rose Art acquired other companies, such as
Coloron/Avalon, Warren Industries, American Publishing, and others.
The company is now regarded as the fastest growing crayon
manufacturer, right behind Binney & Smith, makers of Crayola. While
nowhere near the size of the dominant toy maker, Hasbro, Rose Art is
among the top ten toy makers. None of this history, however, explains
the address seen on the box [bottom of previous page] in which this
chess set was sold. Unlike most other manufacturers, seventy percent of
the companys products are still made in the United States.
This set from Rose Art [right] would at first appear to be the same
one sold by Tucket and/or Hasbro. The rooks, however, are noticeably
different; they look more like they came from Lowe. And while the
knights look like they could have come from a Kingsway set, they differ noticeably in the ears and base design. It leaves one rather baffled
as to the actual origin of this chess set design. Perhaps the pieces were bought from various sources and then assembled, much like what
was done by the Hansen Company?
ROTTGAMES, INC
New York, NY
Travel Set, Plastic >>
Rottgames was primarily known as a quality Roulette and Mah Jong games
manufacturer.
Chess set collector, Ty Kroll, has a picture of a travel set on his website that
is also supposedly from Rottgames. Rottgames was purchased by The Baron
Company. Baron, in turn, was bought by Crisloid, Inc. in 1972. Compare the
case and set shown to the right with one shown earlier under Chess Equipment.
Wow, this little black box [left] seems to
show up everywhere!
Companies like
Drueke, Horn, Grand Rapids Dowel
Company, and others, all used it. The chess
set inside this one, however, is distinctly
different from those other wood chess set[s]
[below right]. The sets design fits the style
of the era of the box it came in, but there is
no way of knowing for sure whether it really
originally came in the box. It is likely, but
not beyond question.
Wooden chess set >>

purportedly from Rottgames >>
RUSSIAN WAR RELIEF

th
11 E 35 St
New York, NY
Chess and Checkers, >1941
Reference to this company was found in the AGPC Game Catalog.

According to other references, the organization was created on July 29,
1941, one month after Germany attacked Russia. The FBI, among
others, considered it a Communist Front Group. I could find no further
information as to what any of this may have had to do with chess sets.
71
SELCHOW AND RIGHTER

Also Known as E G SELCHOW
Or CHAFFEE & SELCHOW
New York, NY
Selchow and Righter was originally founded in 1867 as E. G. Selchow
& Co. In 1880, with the addition of a new partner, John Righter, the
company name was changed to Selchow and Righter. Up until the midtwentieth century, the company was considered a jobber a company
that produced and licensed other peoples games (also see Holum). It
produced such games as Parcheesi (1870), Scrabble (licensed in 1952 and
trademarked in 1972), and Trivial Pursuit (licensed from Horn and Abbot
in 1982). It also produced Anagrams (1934) and Jotto (1955), plus a
number of other games over the years. Coleco Industries purchased
Selchow & Righter in 1986, declared bankruptcy in 1989, and was
subsequently purchased by Hasbro.
Chess for Juniors, Plastic >>
Some, but perhaps not all, of the Chess for Juniors sets included a
basic chess set. This one looks to be from Kingsway, but others I have
seen contained sets that appeared to be from Lowe.
SHIRT POCKET GAMES COMPANY

PO Box 885, Madison Square Station
New York NY 10010
<< Pocket Chess, Cardboard
The chessmen in this set were made of a self-adhering vinyl, with a handsomely
grained vinyl case. Chessmen flipped over to convert into a checker set. This company
may have fared slightly better than many of its contemporaries. Other companies of its
time advertised for only a month or so in 1973, but advertising for the Shirt Pocket set
started in the July 1973 Chess Life and Review and lasted through September 1974. It
should be remembered all of this occurred at the peak of popularity for chess, due to the
match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in 1972.
S I PRODUCTS
PO Box 8155
La Sierra CA 92595
Staunton Grace, 4 King, Pewter & Bronze >>
SI also offered an elephant leather chessboard on a wood

base, with raised border and felted bottom, or a flexible
tournament style board with gold trim.
This was another company with a short lifespan if you use
length of advertising as a guide. SI advertised for the two
months of August & September 1973 and then was never seen
again. The ad shown above was from September 1973.
SKOR-MOR CORPORATION
6390 Cindy Ct
Plain St
Carpinteria CA 96013
Clinton MA 01510
Skor-Mor is another example of a company selling the Generic set
under their brand name.
Chesseasy, with Tablecloth-size chessboard >>

and generic Plastic chess set >>
The drinking chess set shown below left

was advertised in the November 1973 Chess
Life and Review [left] - the only ad I have ever
seen for this particular set. Perhaps
everyone was too busy enjoying the game?
Chess in the 3rd Dimension, Plastic >>

Wood base with plastic boards, 1976 >>
72
73
STAY-PUT
Pocket Chess, No 233, ~1941, Cardboard >>
Pieces stood up or dropped down on their own as the board opened or closed. The set
came with four extra pawns for playing checkers and the case had a zippered fastener.
The first ad for the set was in the August/September 1941 Chess Review. Although The
Chess Equipment Company was the game distributor (leaving its maker unidentified), the
cover had a Stay-Put logo. It is possible, therefore, that Stay-Put was the name of the
manufacturer. No further information was found.
STERLING FURNITURE COMPANY

Grand Rapids, Mich
During the time the Wm F. Drueke Company was temporarily out of
business (approximately 1928-1932), Sterling Furniture manufactured
chess sets and claimed to be succeeding Wm. F. Drueke & Co. [below].
Sterling Furniture went out of business in 1934.
<< Wood, 1926 - 1934
STOLL & EDWARDS COMPANY

Also Known as NOBLE & NOBLE; STOLL & EINSON
th
th
23-25 26 St 65-67 Madison Ave
25 4 St
New York, NY
Chess & Checkers <1926 >>
Picture of logo is from the back of the sets chess/checker-board. I

have been unable to find any further information on the company or
whatever chess sets it may have produced or sold.
STRATO-VARIOUS PRODUCTS, INC

9041 Hensley
Sterling Heights MI 48078
Crescendo Chess, Clear & Acrylic with acrylic board >>
The ad for this set was in the September 1973 Chess Life and Review
[right], and was the only ad ever seen from the company. It also sold
Strato Tac-Tics and Strato Checkers.
Apparently, these games were 3-dimensional versions of the classic
games of Tic Tac Toe and Checkers. Each game used clear and colored
acrylic pieces.
The game was the companys variant on the game of chess.
Information on the box itself described how the chess variant was
played, as quoted below:
An introduction to an ageless game with a 20th century pace. The
game of chess is simple. It is difficult only if you make it so. And
Crescendo Chess is as simple as regular chess. It is played by the same
rules. The chessmen move the same. A full set of rules and instructions
that completely cover Crescendo Chess are included. After several
moves, you then enter into the exciting world of mobility, power, and
cunning. Compounding the power and mobility of the chess pieces
accelerates the game and sharpens one's perception of the effects of
combining different pieces. Thus one gains a broader insight and a
better appreciation of this game. Because of this, Crescendo Chess
enhances regular chess.
"Crescendo Chess is a new experience for any chess player. By
following the rather simple rules, one can soon learn to think in terms of
stacking, capturing and position playing. One important feature in
Crescendo Chess is that the chessmen have a hole on top and one on the
bottom that permits pegging one piece atop another. When this is done,
it is called "stacking." A stack of chessmen can then move across the
board together. One soon learns not to exhaust the stack ineffectively.
Experience teaches how to take advantage of the best stacking
arrangements for certain types of attack and defense.
In one turn the stack moves first as the bottom piece normally
would move as in regular chess, then continues as the next piece up
would move, etc. It costs one turn to place a piece on a stack. On the
next turn, the stack can make its move (see rule 8). To give an example,
a Knight can be placed atop a Bishop in one turn. Then, on a later turn,
the two together would move the permissible diagonal move of the
Bishop and the two together could continue, one one, two, as the
Knight would move."
"It is important that in stacking, the pieces are moved into the stack
using their regular move, - that is, a Bishop diagonally, a Rook forward or
sideways, etc. Each piece must be free to make its move as in regular
chess rules.
"Crescendo Chess is so called because it starts as regular chess and
then increases in intensity. As stated, the first two moves by each player
are made on a regular basis. After that, the next four moves by each
player may be made where one piece is stacked on top of another to a
two level height Max. (L2). NOTE: See Glossary & Game Notations at
end of rules. It is not necessary to stack the pieces if the player does not
wish to do so.
Upon completion of a total of six moves by each player, the pieces
may be stacked to a three level height. Max. (L3). This is the stacking
limit for the rest of the game. The three can move first as the bottom
piece, which then remains, then as the other two would move as a two
piece stack."
74
75
3M
Bookshelf Game, Wood, 1970 >>
This set was produced from 1962-1975 and was designed to fit onto a
standard bookshelf. It fit into a slipcover that looked like the outside of
a hardback book. 3M Games was eventually sold to Avalon Hill, which
had a competing bookshelf line. Avalon Hill was later sold to Hasbro.
TRANSOGRAM COMPANY, INC

560 Broadway
200 Fifth Ave
New York, NY [~1920]
New York, NY [~1936]
Also: Brooklyn, NY [Pre-1930]
Easton, Penn [1930+]
Chess King, Plastic, White & Black, Bone & Alabaster, Peach & Seafoam Green >>
Special Edition Gold & Silver, 1945. Compare with set from Cardinal, 1998 >>
The original Transogram Company was established in New York in

1915. A new company was incorporated on September 4, 1959, in
Pennsylvania. Over the years, several subsidiaries were added Anchor
Toy Corporation, Gold Metal Toys, Playwood Plastics Company, Toy
Research Institute, Toy Scouts of America, Transco Adult Games and
Transogram Midwest. Marx Toys purchased the company in 1970, but
filed for bankruptcy in February 1971.
Staunton Variation, Plastic, likely from Tag >>
[compare coloring to Mandarin set on next page], but not known for sure >>
<< Patent No 9239 Visual Chess 1966

<< Pieces were designed to illustrate the moves each piece could make
No 9239 Visual Chess, Plastic
76
Mandarin, 5, King, Plastic, Ivory & Green, also available in Silver & Gold >>
Mandarin, 5 King, Antique, Plastic, Ivory & Chocolate Presentation Edition

No 9250 Ming Dynasty, 1963, 5 King, Plastic, Antique, Ivory & Chinese Red >>
Im not sure what the difference is between the Mandarin and the
Ming Dynasty set - perhaps the differences in colors?
<< A Mandarin chess set from TAG was featured, along with Bobby Fischer, on
<< the cover of the July 1965 Chess Review.
TAG sponsored an event featuring Bobby Fischer at the UN >>
77
TUCKET TOY CORPORATION

Woonsocket, RI
420 Pine St
Pawtucket, RI
Tucket did some manufacturing of toys for Hassenfeld Brothers
(Hasbro). But to what extent, or in what way the companies may have
been related has not yet been determined. It does appear both
companies shared selling the same chess design. I have also seen the set
with the Hasbro name and a 1972 copyright date.
At first look, one might think the set was of the standard Lowe
design, but a closer look reveals its probably a [cheaper] imitation: note
the flat-topped rook, very shallow indentation of the bishop mitres, and
the severely flattened top of the queens coronet.
THE UNGAME COMPANY

1440 S State College Blvd Bldg 2D
Anaheim CA 92806
The Ungame Company described itself as the makers of noncompetitive communication games for all age groups. Im not quite sure
how such a description managed to include chess in its product line, but
it apparently did.
Chess II, Plastic, 1978 >>
They did quite the patterned designs on their chessboards, though.
UNIQUE ITEMS COMPANY

270 Lafayette St
New York, NY
Chess, 1942, Cardboard >>
78
WESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY

WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
Racine, Wis
Pughkeesie, NY
No 4812, 1963, 2 5/8 King, Plastic, unweighted and unfelted >>
The box to this set says Made in Hong Kong for Western Publishing Co. I
have also seen this set in a Jade Green & Brown variation. The set itself
may have been based on a set made of Soapstone and sold in Asia in a
carved box often sold to tourists.
Western Publishing Company was based in Racine Wisconsin.
Brothers Edward and Albert Wadewitz founded Western Publishing
when they bought the West Side Printing Co. in September 1907,
changing its name in 1910. In 1915 the company bought HammerungWhitman Publishing Company, which had been based in Chicago. It
became a subsidiary of Western Publishing under the name of Whitman
Publishing Company. By the late 1970s, Western Publishing was one of
the largest commercial printers in the US, with four manufacturing plants
and two distribution centers. At one time it was said Western printed
everything from business cards to billboards. But by the mid-1990s
most of the printing plants had been closed down and the printing
operations once again became headquartered in Racine.
Western Publishing was the primary manufacturer/distributor of
such games as Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary and other games. It also printed
specialty cookbooks such as the famous Betty Crocker cookbook
comic books, children and juvenile books, magazines, corporate reports,
automobile service manuals, etc., etc. In the 1920s and 30s, Western
published childrens books under the Golden Books brand.
Mattel bought Western in 1979, but resold it to private investors in
1984. In 1996, as an attempt to emphasize childrens books, and under
the supervision of Richard E. Snyder, the company was renamed Golden
Books Family Entertainment.
The box lid below pictures a set that appears to be the same as one
sold by Milton Bradley, starting around 1969 [also compare to
the box and set sold under the name of The Rainbow Works]
Compare with sets sold >>

by Transogram and >>
Parker Brothers >>
Cut/Pop out, Paper >>
By 1997, Western Publishing had been absorbed into the

Golden Books Publishing Company. Classic Media and
Random House acquired Golden for $84.4 million in a
bankruptcy auction on June 5, 2001. On July 23, 2012,
DreamWorks Animation purchased Classic Media for $155
million.
Whitman Publishing, while long a subsidiary of Western
Publishing, had originally started in 1938 with the publishing
of coin boards, used by coin collectors to store their
collections. In 1942 it published its first price guide, The
Official Blue Book of U.S. Coins. This was the start of an
expanding line of books aimed at coin collectors and would
eventually include hundreds of titles. That line continued even
after Mattel bought Western Publishing and was spun-off and
renamed Golden Books Family Entertainment. The coin
products were eventually sold to St Martins Press, which then
sold off the coin products line to the H. E. Harris Company,
which also specialized in coin collecting materials. Harris was
renamed Whitman Publishing and continues making coin
collecting materials. Strangely, while Whitman Publishings
specialty appears to have been in the coin collecting field, a
number of chess sets were sold under the company name over
the years, as shown in the following examples:
79
WHITMAN BROTHERS
PO Box 2285
New York, NY
A Travel set of wooden checker pieces with chess symbols on the
other side. Board folds into quarters to fit into box.
<< Chess & Checkers, Wood
WINDSOR CASTLE
LEO GLADSTONE
th
140 W 30 St
New York, NY
Windsor Castle, 3 7/8 King, Plastic >>
The ad to the right, the first and original ad to appear for this brand, appeared in the June and
October 1949 issues of Chess Review. The ad didnt reappear again until October of the following
year (1950).
This is another set/brand that benefited from the phenomenon that was Bobby Fischer
sales of this set took off after the publication of a picture showing [a very young] Bobby playing
a game using one of these sets.
The ad, below left, for the Windsor Castle chessmen, first appeared in the August 5, 1953
Chess Life. The ad continued to appear thereafter in Chess Life, through the end of 1955.
Ads for Windsor didnt appear in Chess Review until October 1965. Then an ad appeared, but
the set was pictured upside down. It was corrected and reappeared in the December 1965 issue
[bottom right]. But that was the end of advertising for Windsor in Chess Review.
80
ERNEST WRIGHT
PO Box 141
9-5 Edgehill Ter.
Belmont 78, Mass
Troy, NY
Ad to the left first
appeared in the February
1953
Chess
Life
and
December 1953 Chess Review.
The ads ended with the last
issue of Chess Life in 1954.
Tempo, Wood >>
An article about the set

[right] appeared in the October 20, 1954 issue.
THEODORE YONKERS, INC

A reference to this company was found in the AGPC Game Catalog.
I could find no further information on the company
I would like to thank the following people and entities for their
contributions and help in making this book possible:
American Game and Puzzle Collectors
Peter Biggins
Paul Drueke
William F. Drueke III
Richard Holum, Holum and Sons Co., Inc.
Lars Larson, John N. Hansen Co., Inc.
Bonnie Campbell Lilienfeld and staff, Division of Home and Community
Life, National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Institution
Guy Lyons, CCI Member
John A. Mazzucco, CCI Member
Keith Middleton, CCI Member
Dan Navarro
Floyd Sarisohn, CCI Member
REFERENCES
Answers.com
American Cribbage Congress, cribbage.com, Article #4
American Game and Puzzle Collectors 1998 Game Catalog
A Working List of Historic Michigan Furniture Manufacturers
(fm4furniture.org/michyes.htm)
Blog.crgibson.com
Chess Life, 1946-1955
Chess Life and Review, 1956-1969. 1973-1975
Chess Review, 1933-1955
Christies.com
Ebay.com
Helmuthut.com
Peterspioneers.com
Tykroll.com
Wikipedia.com

USA Chess Sets

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USA Chess Sets

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Creating a list of chess sets made and sold in the United States

initially occurred to me for at least two reasons. First, finding

responsible for the

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

Polystyrene: A petroleum-based plastic invented in 1927. It is a

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

ADULT LEISURE PRODUCTS CORPORATION [ALPSCO]

<< Looking Glass/Alice in Wonderland, 1966, 4 King, Stone and Resin

Pre-Columbian, 1963, 4 7/8 King, Stone and Resin >>

This Staunton set is a classic example of a generic plastic set

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

To the right are reproductions of a patent taken out by ALPSCO in 1976

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

AMBRITE INDUSTRIES, LTD. INC

AMERICAN CHESS COMPANY

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

ARE-JAY GAME COMPANY, INC

I have found little information regarding this company. I did

ARRCO/Saxon was the Canadian division of the ARRCO

I tend to believe the latter whenever I have seen the two

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

Artecnica is a Los Angeles-based design company that currently

ATHOL RESEARCH COMPANY

This set was commissioned by the Ketchum, McLeod, Grove Ad

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

Aluminum & Anodized Bronze >>

Both sets were designed by Austin E. Cox and manufactured by

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

BAR-ZIM MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Bar-Zim appears to be another company that sold chess sets it did

BEN-HUR PRODUCTS, INC

BEAULAH NOVELTY COMPANY

Reference to chess sets from this company was found in the

Reference to chess sets from this company was found in the

Civil War) with small game kits containing checkers, backgammon,

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

No 44568, Wood, 1936 >>

<< No 4279, Wood [wood sets courtesy of John A. Mazzucco]

No 4028, 1 King, Wood >>

<< Beginners Chess, by Bobby Fischer, 1966, Plastic

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

The Bredemeier Company was established in 1895 as a button

Chess Teacher, 1979 >>

<< 1998, Plastic

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

<< Chess set with instructions on Hi-Fi Record, 3 King, Plastic

Ad above was in 1967 USCF Catalog, November 1966 Chess Life

CHAFFEE AND SELCHOW

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

The first ad for the Aristocrat Pocket Set appeared in the

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

CLASSIC GAMES COMPANY, INC

Ancient Rome, Edition I >>

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

1776 No 1425, Plastic, 1967

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

The Norman Conquest, 1979, Limited Edition of 3000

Information and photos courtesy of Corey Wilson

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

COLLINGWOOD SALES COMPANY

COLUMBIA ALUMINUM EXTRUSION GROUP

CRISLOID PLASTICS, INC

<< Snap On, Plastic

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

VINTAGE CHESS SETS OF THE UNITED STATES

Cybis chess set displayed on its custom board >>

Close-up of the plaque fastened to the exterior lid