My I.C.D. Visit

[Cyberchess]

This was the first time I had visited the I.C.D. (Chess USA) North Massapequa, NY location, as I found myself in need of an extra rollup board for a custom speed chess set I’m putting together. While the selling floor isn’t quite as large and impressive as that of the now defunct Huntington Station, NY location, the remaining No. Massapequa location is quite spacious and replete with chess, chess related, and other types of gaming equipment to suit every taste. Back in the dedicated chess computer’s heyday, I.C.D. was the largest chess computer retailer in the United States. Today, the shelves that once displayed the latest in chess technology, now showcase chess sets of just about every conceivable size, quality and style imaginable. In fact, one has to tread through the isles carefully so as not to disturb the tightly packed array of chessboards and pieces throughout.

Upon entering the store I was cordially greeted by J.J. – a relative latecomer to I.C.D. J.J. had only heard of the enigmatic schachcomputer mogul, Steven Schwartz, as Quentin became the new owner prior to J.J.’s employment. For those of us that that may remember Robert Sostack, J.J. informed me of Rob’s retirement from I.C.D. sales, and of Rob’s current occupation as a full-time chess teacher. Chess, it seems, is being taught as an afterschool program in more and more schools these days, and I.C.D. carries a full line of teaching and playing equipment geared towards school aged children. I.C.D. has also always been known as a source of oversized chess equipment suitable for the backyard, the playground as well as luxurious oversized sets for the home.

My only regret was that I had forgotten to bring along my digital camera, so I snapped off a few photos of the facade with my smartphone.

Your Move Regards,
John

[Steve B]

Nice Review John
I Remember their humble early beginnings back in the early 1980's and their tiny little store in Wantagh/Seaford NY..small parking lot of 6 cars with Schwartz's Jag parked in the spot in front of the door
the "showroom" consisted of one table set up with 2 or 3 of the latest dedicated computers..I lived within a 5 minute drive from their shop and
I fondly remember spending many Saturday morning's there where I would come in and buy whatever was new on the table
one transaction in particular stands out in my mind to this day...
ICD was advertising a sale of their remaining stock of ARB's ..
I come in all eager to buy one and Schwartz informs me they are all sold out and don't intend on getting any more
the disappointment on my face was clear as I was struggling to hold back tears
Schwartz then points to the "table" and asks me to take a look at their latest addition...a shiny brand new Novag Conny Expert....smaller then the ARB but man did it look beautiful..you could smell the wood..had a price tag in front of it of $450
Schwartz tells me he will let me have it for $350 including a brand new ..in box ..Novag Clock.. given he is out of the ARB
I grabbed it
the deal would have made Donald Trump proud

Sostack was always very helpful and he was the guy who would upgrade the Mephisto modules by replacing the eproms right in front of you
Gerry the bookkeeper ..a very nice older woman would handle the payments while Steve would sit back in his recliner chair counting the profits
Never visited the Huntington store but I have been to the Massapequa store a few times

Sigh...Those Were The Days Regards
Steve

[Cyberchess]

Those were indeed the days, Steve!

You certainly got an awesome deal on that luxurious Novag Conny Expert with the Avant-garde thermal printer no less. This makes you wonder what he paid for the equipment in volume.

Being completely neurotic about chess pieces, I more than once insisted that Schwartz allow me to swap the included magnetic sets on my Novag Forte/Diamond units for an earlier version that was molded more accurately. He was always eager to acquiesce, and on both sales included a single socket surge protector at no additional cost. What I always enjoyed about the cheesy pressure sensory units was the option of running them on batteries and playing computer chess in the great outdoors. When diverted by one of my other outdoor pursuits such as archery and barbecuing, I would simply switch off the unit to save the batteries. Upon resumption, I was in the habit of giving the machine extra time to accrue RAM data before making my move. There exists a Zen-like quality to games played with the birds chirping and a light breeze in one’s hair.

Back in the early ‘80s, I fondly recall a full-page raffle contest featured in Chess Life & Review whereby the complete line of I.C.D. chess computers was shown, and the contestant would need to correctly name each unit to be entered to win a state-of-the-art Conchess auto-sensory unit. I will see if my Chess Life archivist friend can produce a photocopy for us at some point.

I.C.D. Musings Regards,
John

[Steve B]

There exists a Zen-like quality to games played with the birds chirping and a light breeze in one’s hair.

LOL Good Stuff

Back in the early ‘80s, I fondly recall a full-page raffle contest featured in Chess Life & Review whereby the complete line of I.C.D. chess computers was shown, and the contestant would need to correctly name each unit to be entered to win a state-of-the-art Conchess auto-sensory unit. I will see if my Chess Life archivist friend can produce a photocopy for us at some point.

hope you can find that..would love to see it

Readers Digest Sweep Stakes Winner Regards
Steve

[Fernando]

In an occasion when I went to NYTwith my elder daughter, now married, mechanic engineer and mother of two girls, I somehow convinced her -Mariana, which Steven here knows, as also her husband- to go with me to this last location of ICD, still owned by Steven S. He knew I was on the way and he also knew I wanted the last chessmaster program, so when I face the entrance of the shop the first thing I saw was a notorious forall to see cardbox of chessmaster with abig legend saying something like "this one is just for Fernando".
I think this old lady mentioned by Blincoe was there and also, of course, Steven, whom I only knew trough phone and mail. He was and probably he still is a nice, funny guy, that showed to me everything and at last, when the shop was closed, invited me and my daughter to a restaurant and then after that dropped us in front of our hotel, in Manhattan.
It was in the middle of the dinner in the restaurante that Steven and me developed the idea of a special department of the already existent CCC for a CTF, which still exist.
Also, but in other trip to NY I met personally Steven Blincoe, who also invited me to a lunch and what is even more, gave me SEVERAl chess computers of the highest value.

I HAVE BEEN LUCKY IN NY REGARDS
fERN

[Cyberchess]

Fern,

It’s a pity that I didn’t know you back then, as it would have been nice to get together with all of you for a night on the town – especially if Steve S was footing the bill!

Geri Elman was the I.C.D. accountant from the get-go, and I recall seeing her at the Bellemore/Wantagh retail stores. There are some photos of the old guard here.

Hopefully we can summon Steve S from his remote island paradise for your next visit to New York.

Looking Forward to a Reunion Regards,
John

[Fernando]

Fern,

It’s a pity that I didn’t know you back then, as it would have been nice to get together with all of you for a night on the town – especially if Steve S was footing the bill!

Geri Elman was the I.C.D. accountant from the get-go, and I recall seeing her at the Bellemore/Wantagh retail stores. There are some photos of the old guard here.

Hopefully we can summon Steve S from his remote island paradise for your next visit to New York.

Looking Forward to a Reunion Regards,
John

It was a lot of people!!!
Steve S. handled an empire.
I wonder often how things go now for Quentin, that boy in the photo, now the owner.
I hope OK

[Fernando]

Fern,

It’s a pity that I didn’t know you back then, as it would have been nice to get together with all of you for a night on the town – especially if Steve S was footing the bill!

Geri Elman was the I.C.D. accountant from the get-go, and I recall seeing her at the Bellemore/Wantagh retail stores. There are some photos of the old guard here.

Hopefully we can summon Steve S from his remote island paradise for your next visit to New York.

Looking Forward to a Reunion Regards,
John

No problems with a meeting, provided Steve not only pay de meal but the planes, hotel and of course the girls that will perform as secretaries, one for each of us.

dreaming regards
F

[Cyberchess]

Fern,

It’s a pity that I didn’t know you back then, as it would have been nice to get together with all of you for a night on the town – especially if Steve S was footing the bill!

Geri Elman was the I.C.D. accountant from the get-go, and I recall seeing her at the Bellemore/Wantagh retail stores. There are some photos of the old guard here.

Hopefully we can summon Steve S from his remote island paradise for your next visit to New York.

Looking Forward to a Reunion Regards,
John

No problems with a meeting, provided Steve not only pay de meal but the planes, hotel and of course the girls that will perform as secretaries, one for each of us.

dreaming regards
F

He could even have soon to be chess mogul, Quentin, chip in for our entertainment/secretarial expenses. Nothing is too good for I.C.D.’s devoted longtime customers.
In fact, we’ll play much better chess after a deep tissue Shiatsu massage followed by a great meal at The Four Seasons.

Customer Rewards Regards,
John

[Fernando]

Fern,

It’s a pity that I didn’t know you back then, as it would have been nice to get together with all of you for a night on the town – especially if Steve S was footing the bill!

Geri Elman was the I.C.D. accountant from the get-go, and I recall seeing her at the Bellemore/Wantagh retail stores. There are some photos of the old guard here.

Hopefully we can summon Steve S from his remote island paradise for your next visit to New York.

Looking Forward to a Reunion Regards,
John

No problems with a meeting, provided Steve not only pay de meal but the planes, hotel and of course the girls that will perform as secretaries, one for each of us.

dreaming regards
F

He could even have soon to be chess mogul, Quentin, chip in for our entertainment/secretarial expenses. Nothing is too good for I.C.D.’s devoted longtime customers.
In fact, we’ll play much better chess after a deep tissue Shiatsu massage followed by a great meal at The Four Seasons.

Customer Rewards Regards,
John

Damn, man, you awaken my apetite. But before that, I know in NY of an Irish bar where we could first put some heat in the engines...

[Larry]

No problems with a meeting, provided Steve not only pay de meal but the planes, hotel and of course the girls that will perform as secretaries, one for each of us.


F

And of course, since Steve is paying for the girls, he will also be
paying for the viagra so we can service the said girls.

[Fernando]

No problems with a meeting, provided Steve not only pay de meal but the planes, hotel and of course the girls that will perform as secretaries, one for each of us.


F

And of course, since Steve is paying for the girls, he will also be
paying for the viagra so we can service the said girls.

Of course. There he is, stocking the stuff, half a dozen per head at least.

[Steve B]

Schwartz then points to the "table" and asks me to take a look at their latest addition...a shiny brand new Novag Conny Expert....smaller then the ARB but man did it look beautiful..you could smell the wood..had a price tag in front of it of $450

Speaking Of Which...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novag-Constella ... SwCGVX2Mgc

Still Crazy After All These Years Regards
Steve

[Fernando]

Schwartz then points to the "table" and asks me to take a look at their latest addition...a shiny brand new Novag Conny Expert....smaller then the ARB but man did it look beautiful..you could smell the wood..had a price tag in front of it of $450

Speaking Of Which...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novag-Constella ... SwCGVX2Mgc

Still Crazy After All These Years Regards
Steve

I will see if I can muster money enough to purchase queen rook pawn

[Steve B]

Schwartz then points to the "table" and asks me to take a look at their latest addition...a shiny brand new Novag Conny Expert....smaller then the ARB but man did it look beautiful..you could smell the wood..had a price tag in front of it of $450

Speaking Of Which...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novag-Constella ... SwCGVX2Mgc

Still Crazy After All These Years Regards
Steve

I will see if I can muster money enough to purchase queen rook pawn

Save your money for this instead...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/chess-computer- ... OSwNRdX2Ev~

V2 Regards
Steve