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UNIQUE AND HISTORICAL BOARDS AND PIECES PAGE 2

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EXHIBIT 207AV
"HALSAM CHECKERS"
  SHOWN IS A SET OF "HALSAM CHECKERS", SET NO. 518/30, SENT FOR EXHIBIT BY MR. ALLAN VAVROCH. HE DISCOVERED THIS SET OF CHECKERS WHILE CLEANING OUT HIS PARENTS HOUSE.
  THE HALSAM COMPANY WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TOY MAKERS OF THE 1920-1950'S ERA, MAKING WOODEN BLOCKS, DOMINOES AND CHECKERS, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NEVER KNOWN TO MANUFACTURE OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT STANDARD SIZED AND SHAPED CHECKERS, AS SOME OF THE OTHER CHECKER PIECE MANUFACTURERS WERE DOING AT THE TIME.
  ALSO INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT IS A RARE COPY OF THE MERCHANDISING OFFER FOR A BEAUTIFUL "TOURNAMENT TYPE" FLEXIBLE CHECKERBOARD, AVAILABLE FOR 25 CENTS IN COIN.
SUBMITTED BY A. VAVROCH. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 202JH
"WILLIE RYAN'S MASONITE MASTER PLAYER CHECKERBOARD"
  EXHIBITED HERE IS THE FABLED "CHECKERBOARD OF CHAMPIONS", SOLD EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE PAGES OF WILLIE RYAN'S AMERICAN CHECKERIST MAGAZINE.
   THESE BOARDS WERE MADE TO REPRESENT THE OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED SIZE AND COLORS OF AMERICAN TOURNAMENTS. 
   IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MANY OF THESE WERE PRODUCED AND/OR SOLD, AND IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY HAVE SURVIVED.
  WHAT IS KNOWN IS THAT THESE BOARDS ARE VERY SCARCE, AND RARELY TURN UP FOR SALE ON THE OPEN MARKET, IN ANY CONDITION.
  THE BOARD SHOWN HERE AT ONE TIME BELONGED TO PAUL OTTEY, OF PENNSYLVANIA. AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE IMAGE, IT HAS SEEN MUCH "ACTION", WITH RUBBING AND WEARING AMONG THE PLAYING SURFACE, UPON WHICH ARE PRINTED SQUARES. THE BOARD COULD STILL BE USED IN SANCTIONED EVENTS.
  IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY THAT OTTEY PURCHASED IT FROM ONE OF THE CHECKERS RELATED DEALER-SELLERS THAT HE DEALT WITH DURING THE 1950'S-80'S, ALTHOUGH HE MAY HAVE PURCHASED IT DIRECTLY FROM RYAN THROUGH THE AMERICAN CHECKERIST.
  OTTEY BEQUEATHED HIS COLLECTION OF CHECKERS ITEMS TO EARL HANGEN UPON HIS PASSING, AND EARL RETAINED THIS BOARD FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL IT WAS SOLD AT THE HANGEN ESTATE SALE IN 2006. THERE IT WAS PURCHASED BY JAY HINNERSHITZ, AND REMAINS IN HIS COLLECTION.
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 170JO
"CHINESE DECORATED BOARD"
  SHOWN IS A BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED BOARD OWNED BY JIM O'BRIEN, ORIGINALLY FROM IRELAND, NOW OF CANVEY ISLAND, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
   FROM JIM...
  "My brothers friend, moving from New York to California and wanting to offload some of his stuff, invited us to his house. It was full of all sorts of collectable items. We were free to choose whatever we like and I choose the draught board and ivory pieces, another draught player might have gone for something more valuable.
  The draught board may well have a bit of history. With hindsight I should have asked questions. I am not in touch with Alen any more but he did say that the board was paper mache  and of Chinese origin. He inherited it from his ancestors who emigrated from Russia."
  THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN BY LIAM STEPHENS DURING THE WELSH OPEN IN 2009.
SUBMITTED BY J. O'BRIEN

 


 
 
 

 
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EXHIBIT 127RW
"REX WOOD EXHIBITION BOARD"
   SHOWN IS THE BOARD USED AT EXHIBITIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY REX WOOD.
   THIS IS A CUSTOM MADE, GIANT SIZED BOARD THAT COULD BE VIEWED FROM A DISTANCE.
   THIS WOULD BE NECESSARY, AS, AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME (1920'S-40'S), EXHIBITIONS HELD BY WOOD (AND OTHERS) WOULD ATTRACT MANY PLAYERS AND/OR SPECTATORS. 
   WITH A BOARD SUCH AS THIS, THE MOVES BEING MADE COULD BE SEEN FROM ANYWHERE IN A ROOM WHERE AN EXHIBITION WAS BEING HELD.
   THIS EXHIBITION BOARD REMAINS IN THE WOOD FAMILY.
SUBMITTED BY R. WOOD   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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EXHIBIT 111AM
"SIGNED KING-KONDLO BOARD"
  EXHIBITED HERE IS AN OFFICIAL BOARD THAT WAS SIGNED BY INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTERS, RON "SUKI" KING OF BARBADOS, AND LUBABALO KONDLO OF SOUTH AFRICA.
  FROM ALAN MILLHONE....
  "This is the actual board used for games 1-12 of the GAYP (Freestyle) World Championship Match played at the Roadway Inn,in Medina, Ohio on September 8-13, 2008. Final score score 1-0-23 draws, Kondlo losing the last game played."
   ALAN MILLHONE WAS THE REFEREE FOR THIS MATCH, WHICH DREW MUCH INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.
  THIS UNIQUE PART OF THE GAMES HISTORY IS PART OF THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ALAN MILLHONE, BELPRE, OHIO.
SUBMITTED BY A. MILLHONE  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HERBERT SPENCER HANDMADE BOARD
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EXHIBIT 107AM
"HERBERT SPENCER HANDMADE BOARD"
  SHOWN IS A UNIQUE HANDMADE BOARD.
  THIS BOARD, AND THE SET OF CHECKERS IN THE PHOTO, ARE FROM THE COLLECTION OF ALAN MILLHONE.
   FROM ALAN.....
  "A Handmade board made by the late Herbert D. Spencer of Belpre, Ohio. Pieces are interlocking and inside top lid written in pencil...
"HERBERT SPENCER 1930 ".
   Pieces seem to be Bakelite composition. Board was hand made by Mr. Spencer as a youth. His widow Mrs. Mildred Spencer gave me the set after he passed."
SUBMITTED BY A. MILLHONE
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
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EXHIBIT 102AM
"WALES GAME SYSTEMS SET"
  EXHIBITED IS THE RARE FOLDING BOARD (AND PIECES) 
PRODUCED BY  WALES GAME SYSTEMS,INC. OF NEW YORK, USA.
  THE SET SHOWN IS FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF AMERICAN CHECKER FEDERATION PRESIDENT ALAN MILLHONE, OF BELPRE,OHIO.
  FROM ALAN...
  "Dr. Tinsley had one when I knew him many years ago. This is the only other one I have seen."
SUBMITTED BY A. MILLHONE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 092JH
"KING KENTHEON CHECKERS WITH ROYAL CROWNS"
  ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE NOVELTY SETS  EVER MADE WAS THE "CHECKERS WITH ROYAL CROWNS AND MAHOGANY BOARD" SET FROM THE KENTHEON CORPORATION, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, MODEL H-2200.
 THE BOX IS ALSO STAMPED WITH THE HERITAGE GAMES INSIGNIA, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO IS UNKNOWN.
 THE SET CAME WITH A 12 INCH X 12 INCH X 1/2 INCH THICK MAHOGANY BOARD THAT HAS PRINTED 1 7/16 INCH SQUARES.
 THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THIS SET ARE THE PLAYING PIECES.
 THEY ARE 1 INCH TALL X 1 3/16 INCH AT THE ROUND BASE, AND ARE MOLDED IN PLASTIC , IN THE SHAPE OF A BEARDED MAN'S HEAD, PRESUMABLY TO HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF A MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN KING.
 THE PIECES HAVE A GROOVE AROUND THE TOP OF THE HEAD, IN ORDER TO PLACE A "ROYAL CROWN" UPON IT WHEN THE PLAYING PIECE IS PROMOTED TO A KING.
 THE EXAMPLE SHOWN WAS PURCHASED ON EBAY BY JAY HINNERSITZ, WEST READING, PA. 
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 082EVL
"XYLONITE DRAUGHTSMEN SET NO. 2451"
  SHOWN IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF XYLONITE DRAUGHTSTMEN.
  XYLONITE IS A TRADEMARK OF THE  BRITISH XYLONITE COMPANY, WHICH BEGAN ITS EXISTENCE IN THE 1870'S, AND IS STILL IN OPERATION . 
  THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE PIECES IS UNKNOWN.
  THE  MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE PIECES IS CELLULOSE NITRATE, WHICH WAS LATER CALLED CELLULOID.
  THE PIECES ARE ADVERTISED AS 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER, BUT THE MEASURED SIZE SHOWS THEM TO BE CLOSER TO 1 3/8 INCHES. 
  THIS SPARKLING SET , WHICH IS CONTAINED WITHIN A WOODEN BOX WITH A SLIDE ON TOP, WAS PURCHASED ON EBAY AND IS NOW  PART OF THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ERIC VAN LAER, NORWALK, CT. USA.
SUBMITTED BY E. VAN LAER 
 
*EDITORS NOTE: MR. VAN LAER WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS SET. IF ANY ONE HAS ANY MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT JAYHINNERSHITZ@YAHOO.COM . ANY INFO WOULD BE FORWARDED TO MR. VAN LAER, AND USED TO UPDATE THE EXHIBIT.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CLASSIC GAMES NO. CXB1
EXHIBIT 073JH
"CLASSIC GAMES COMPANY,INC. ITEM NO. CXB1"
  SHOWN HERE IS A RARE 1976 PRODUCT ISSUED BY THE CLASSIC
GAMES COMPANY OF DEER PARK, NEW YORK.
  IT IS THEIR ITEM NUMBER CXB1, COMPLETE SET OF "THE CLASSIC GAMES OF CHECKERS AND BACKGAMMON".
   THE SET INCLUDES A 15 1/4" X 15 1/4" DELUXE NOTED FOLDING PLAYING BOARD, AND 30 HEAVY, FINGER-GROOVED, INTERLOCKING CHECKERS IN "OFFICIAL COMPETITION COLORS."
   ALTHOUGH NOT ENDORSED BY ANY OF THE CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS GOVERNING BODIES OF THE DAY, THE COLOR SCHEME OF THE BOARD ITSELF IS VERY CLOSE TO THE OFFICIAL COLORS USED IN TOURNAMENTS.
   THUS, WITH THE OFFICIAL COLORS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS SET IT COULD HAVE (POTENTIALLY) BEEN USED IN "OFFICIALLY" SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS. 
  HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RECORD OF THIS SET BEING USED BY ANY PLAYERS AT THIS TIME.
   THIS FINE EXAMPLE EXHIBITED HERE WAS PURCHASED ON EBAY, AND IS NOW IN THE COLLECTION OF JAY HINNERSHITZ, WEST READING, PA. USA.
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 070 JH
"IVORY CHECKERS"
  SHOWN ARE TWO SETS OF IVORY CHECKERS.
  IVORY CHECKERS PIECES ARE PERHAPS THE RAREST AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL OF ALL CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS SETS, REGARDING THE NATURE OF THE MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THEM.
  THE FIRST SET IS MISSING ONE OF THE WHITE PIECES, MAKING IT INCOMPLETE.
  THE SECOND , SMALLER SET IS COMPLETE, WITH A WOODEN BOX USED FOR STORAGE.
  THE RED PIECES ARE DYED, AND WITH USE, THE DYE WOULD WEAR OFF, CREATING A "BULLSEYE" EFFECT, COMMON IN OLDER USED SETS.
  THESE SHOWN ARE CARVED IN A BASIC CIRCULAR PATTERN.
  THERE ARE SETS WHICH ARE BEAUTIFULLY CARVED BY EXPERT CRAFTSMEN, WITH HIGHLY DETAILED, ORNATE SCENERY. THESE CAN COMMAND PRICES OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WHEN SOLD, AS THEY ARE PRIZED BY MORE PEOPLE THAN THE AVERAGE CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS PLAYER.
  THE TWO SETS SHOWN WERE PURCHASED ON EBAY FROM AUCTIONEERS WHO HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS.
FROM THE COLLECTION OF JAY HINNERSHITZ, WEST READING, PA. USA.
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 066JH

SELCHOW & RICHTER ACF ENDORSED CHECKERS SET

   SHOWN IS THE "APPROVED AND ENDORSED (EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE SELCHOW & RICHTER CO.) BY THE AMERICAN CHECKER FEDERATION" TOURNAMENT CHECKERS NO. 84 SET.

   THE SET CONSISTED OF A GREEN AND BUFF UN-NUMBERED BOARD, 12 EACH OF THE STANDARD RED AND WHITE PLAYING PIECES, AND A "BASIC RULES OF CHECKERS" PAMPHLET, THAT WAS "CONDENSED FROM OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES OF THE AMERICAN CHECKER FEDERATION".

   THIS SET IS REGULATION SIZED, AND IS STILL USED ( BY SUCH A LEGENDARY AMERICAN PLAYER AS LOUIS COWIE) IN TOURNAMENT PLAY.

   THE BOX BOASTS AN ACF EMBLEM THAT WAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, NOR SINCE.

   TO THIS DAY, IT IS THE ONLY ACF ENDORSED COMPLETE SET THAT WAS EVER MASSED PRODUCED, PACKAGED AND MARKETED BY A MAJOR GAMES MANUFACTURER IN THE USA. 

  THE EXAMPLE SHOWN IS FROM THE COLLECTION OF JAY HINNERSHITZ, WEST READING, PA, USA, AND WAS PURCHASED ON EBAY.

SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT 062JH
"LALLEMENT'S BOARD"
   EXHIBITED HERE IS A BOARD DESIGNED BY  J.G. LALLEMENT IN 1802. 
    THIS EXAMPLE IS PRINTED ON STIFF PAPERBOARD, AND IS SHOWN PURELY AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DESIGN ITSELF.
   INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT IS THE ENTRY IN  W.T.CALL'S "VOCABULARY OF CHECKERS", PUBLISHED IN 1909.
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ 
 
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE OF THESE BOARDS, CLICK
FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET ONE !!
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 048LS
"CUSTOM MADE DOUBLE SIDED WOODEN BOARD"
  SHOWN IS A HAND MADE, WOODEN BOARD WITH A DIFFERENT BOARD ON BOTH SIDES.
  THIS BOARD WAS CRAFTED BY DAVE HARWOOD , WITH *POLISH DRAUGHTS(10X10) ON ONE SIDE AND CANADIAN (12X12)ON THE OTHER.
  FROM LIAM STEPHENS "It was made by David Harwood probably in the early 1980's or thereabouts . He was very good at that sort of thing."
  THIS BEAUTIFUL BOARD IS FROM THE COLLECTION OF LIAM STEPHENS, IRELAND.
SUBMITTED BY L. STEPHENS
*PLEASE NOTE, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE ARE PROMOTING THE ENGLISH PLAYING STYLE OF CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS ON THIS SITE. HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IS EXHIBITED HERE BECAUSE OF IT'S FINE CRAFTMANSHIP AND BEAUTY. IT SCREAMS TO BE DISPLAYED, AND CANNOT BE IGNORED.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 037JH
"MILLARD HOPPER ENDORSED CHECKERS SET"
   PICTURED IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF A "PLAY WINNING CHECKERS BY HOPPER THE CHECKER KING" SET, FROM THE NOVEL TOY CO., NEW YORK CITY.
   THE SET INCLUDED AN "EDUCATIONAL" NUMBERED BLACK AND RED BOARD, WITH BLACK AND RED CHECKERS, AND A BOOKLET BY HOPPER "PLAY WINNING CHECKERS", COPYRIGHT 1939
FROM THE COLLECTION OF JAY HINNERSHITZ, WEST READING, PA. USA.
SUBMITTED BY J. HINNERSHITZ
 
 
 
 

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WANT TO DISCUSS THESE BOARDS ? VISIT OUR FORUM BY CLIKING HERE !

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