Besides collecting vintage and antique chess sets, there was a time in the 1980’s when I also enjoyed repairing and collecting analog chess clocks.
As technology progressed through the early ‘90’s, however, more and more tournaments began to first offer, then mandate, that the time control be set for a 5 second delay. The advantages of playing blitz and tournament chess with a digital clock became obvious, and a good digital chess clock offered additional playing modes such as “Fischer Clock;” “Byoyomi Clock;” “Bronstein Clock,” etc. Batteries are inexpensive, and, unlike their analog counterparts, a digital clock is maintenance free, so I soon began experimenting with different makes/models. While more expensive digitals offered luxurious housing, more features and such, there was one commonality amongst all units: every manufacturer designed their digital clocks around low power consuming LCD display technology. These LCD displays are all quite readable in the chess club, tournament hall or even outdoors on a sunny day, though not very good when playing on the chess tables after dark without a battery powered table lamp. Depending on where you’re seated relative to the park’s street lamps, an old fashioned analog chess clock might be much easier to read at night.
Well, the other day I had been perusing the chess listings on the bay when I came across the entire line of these ZMF II digital chess clocks. I was immediately awestruck, as these clocks were designed with beautiful LED displays – just like the 1970’s digital watches and early dedicated chess computers. If there’s anything that I really miss about those early units, it’s the bright red LED displays, and the way that the Chess Challenger units would strobe while the machine was thinking.
Could this be the start of a retro trend in chess clocks?
Rolling Back the Years Regards,
John
Time For a New Clock Regards,