Collector's Corner..On Collecting Dedicated Chess Computers

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Bryan Whitby
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Post by Bryan Whitby »

Here's the Poppy in a variety of colours.
http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... 08-1983%20[O-1401]%20Fidelity%20-%20Chess%20Challenger%20Poppy.pdf
Larry
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Post by Larry »

Very interesting stuff! Notice that the "Poppy" insignia that covers the
display screen is on the right side on all but the green one, which has
it on the left. That may have been mentioned in the text, but of course
it's in Dutch.
L
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pr1uk
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Post by pr1uk »

Dutch and German
==
08-1983 [O-1401] Fidelity - Chess Challenger Poppy
This item has been two years since first published. I was then only a
Chess Challenger Poppy show in a red case. There were multiple colorways
This model released? Some collectors doubted whether that was true.
Also on the Internet is not to find different color. But recently I came into possession of a
original image, and thus is proved. Another first for the internet!
==
Chess Challenger Poppy. An original innovation in the field of computer chess presented the
Messrs. Fidelity Electronics at this year's (1983) Toy Fair in Nuremberg.
Children and young people to the fun brought closer to the game of chess with the 'Poppy series'
be. The most striking feature is the electronic chess for kids
their brightly colored exterior thereof which the threshold afraid of the supposed 'adult game'
should take. Although the built-in computer satisfies no championship claims,
but long be a suitable playing partner for the beginner. The 'pop board'
is for about 298 Mark come on the market. Poppy is basically a colorful Sensory 8 for
Young people. Therefore, with film coating on the court for protection against contamination.
==
Chess Challenger Poppy with white, bleu and green housing!
(Copyright © 2014 by historian Hein Veldhuis)
The above picture is from the 34th International Toy Fair, Nuremberg 1983.
What is immediately striking is that the models depicted are not technically identical. the upper
two chess computers do not veldled 64's! And the sticker with the inscription 'Poppy' is
right to housing, while the lower model on the left is situated. There are also in addition to
see the controls 'chess figure symbols', which in the extremely rare series models
failing collectors! Would it here sometimes go to dummy or prototypes which
only for demonstration were presented? Let us not be too worried about this
question, but enjoy this illustration! I know of no collector in the world that a
Such a specimen in his collection has. But that is certainly not to say that they then
were not sold! A great collector from Germany (his name I do not know)
has seen these colorful models with your own eyes at Hertie department store in Bremen! the
authors Lutz Findeisen and Winfried Knobloch, who was employed by the German magazine
Elo, could tell you more about this. Unfortunately, I still lack the journal
Elo, no. 6/83 where a report on the toy is included. My question is;
Who has the magazine "Elo of 6/83" or in his possession, and would like to sell it to me?
==
Karstadt - Bremen
The Hertie goods and Kaufhaus GmbH until its acquisition by
Karstadt department store in 1994 one of the leading companies in Germany.
==
Produced only some 100 pieces and published only in white and red? No!
In Bremen Department Store (1983) White / red, blue / red and green / blue do !!
==
Gilbert Obermair
Chess Computer Report '84 (1983)
Chess Challenger Poppy
The Poppy is available in various bright colors, the name says it all. He is probably
reinforced introduce children and young people to the game of chess. If you him
considered in is the 'pop' a good old friend from the year 1980: the Chess
Sensory Challenger "8", a low-cost device for amateurs, provides some comfort.
==
Existence of a prototype?
In the magazine 'Video aktiv "I saw almost the same image and the text was stood
the Toy Fair in Nuremberg. The sticker with the name of 'Poppy' is on the here
left and different styled than in the standard model and stand next to the controls
also another chess figure symbols! It was me not noticed before until I today
(17.04.2012) really going to take this item into operation. Well ... it is remarkable.
==
Fidelity Chess Challenger Poppy Prototype?
(Bild: Gilbert Obermair)
==
The Sensory "8" was one of the first devices in which the move input by a pressure sensitive
Sensor board was dissolved. The Zugausgabe took place at that time already over 64
Diode array. Before the game you can turn off the alert tone, perform paging.
A push start the game with the white king, and the computer starts with white. various
Film contact points on the board edge are used to reset (reset) and
(CLEAR), the position control, the position correction and the input of problems
and analysis positions. Using the Delete button also one of the eight levels of play is selected.

A small opening book is saved, but the unit will play in the tournament setting
only about three half-moves deep. The Endspiellkenntnisse of Poppy are unfortunately
a bit poor. Therefore, the device is suitable primarily for beginners who then also the
will appreciate easy basic concept. The fact that
may withdraw no trains at Poppy, is the young chess player striking the
Principle of "touched-out" near the thing which leads to a certain self-discipline
the beginner can not hurt.
***
Source: Gilbert Obermair, Chess Computer Report '84 (1983).
==

could not do the last two pages and of course left photos out


Peter
King Performance Chess Computer M830
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Thanks for the translation Peter
personally I have never seen anything other then the Red Poppy
the marketing ad shows a Green one which is not even in the normal Poppy housing (which was a rehashed SC6 with the display screen covered over with the Poppy Sticker)
the program inside the Poppy is the SC8 so I think the Green Poppy is some sort of Prototype ?

anyway..until I actually see one or a collector admits he has one ..my guess is that no Poppy's were sold in any color other then Red
but you never know...

Green With Envy Regards
Steve
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

This Seller really wacked things up here

he lists a Mephisto Exclusive MMII as the " Amsterdam edition"
confusing the actual program with the fact that the box shows a sticker of Mephisto winning the 1985 Chess Computer Championship held in Amsterdam
he accounts for the MMII module which is in the board as "Exclusive II"

and all of this with a "Buy Now Price " of $1600

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mephisto-Exclus ... 2edc7d0cab

Someone Needs To Help This Guy Quick Regards
Steve
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vonderlasa
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Someone needs to help this guy...

Post by vonderlasa »

The joke will be on us collectors if some sap pays $1600 for an Exclusiv board with a MMII program...
Larry
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Post by Larry »

Steve B wrote:Thanks for the translation Peter
personally I have never seen anything other then the Red Poppy
the marketing ad shows a Green one which is not even in the normal Poppy housing (which was a rehashed SC6 with the display screen covered over with the Poppy Sticker)
the program inside the Poppy is the SC8 so I think the Green Poppy is some sort of Prototype ?

anyway..until I actually see one or a collector admits he has one ..my guess is that no Poppy's were sold in any color other then Red
but you never know...

Green With Envy Regards
Steve
I've got an idea...if I paint my regular Fidelity CC8 purple would one
of you guys give me $800 for it?
L :o
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

A modified Mephisto MMII in a beautiful board and pieces
i guess the idea was to replace the standard board and pieces and replace it with a fine chess set?
anyway...things go a bit downhill when you open up the module draw

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 3f45af37dd


Close But No Cigar Regards
Steve
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mclane
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Post by mclane »

And then the decision to use the boring mm2....
What seems like a fairy tale today may be reality tomorrow.
Here we have a fairy tale of the day after tomorrow....
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pr1uk
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Post by pr1uk »

Gross, a fine chess board ruined and as for the chess set may look good in a cabinet as show pieces but not on a working chess board

Peter
King Performance Chess Computer M830
xchessg
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Post by xchessg »

Steve B wrote:A modified Mephisto MMII in a beautiful board and pieces
i guess the idea was to replace the standard board and pieces and replace it with a fine chess set?
anyway...things go a bit downhill when you open up the module draw

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 3f45af37dd


Close But No Cigar Regards
Steve
Well, actually this seems to be an ORIGINAL modified one done by Hegener&Glaser, Steve... More info here
http://www.chesseval.com/RareBoard/Prot ... eMMIII.htm

One of the ultra rare, Steve...

Xavier
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

xchessg wrote:
Steve B wrote:A modified Mephisto MMII in a beautiful board and pieces
i guess the idea was to replace the standard board and pieces and replace it with a fine chess set?
anyway...things go a bit downhill when you open up the module draw

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 3f45af37dd


Close But No Cigar Regards
Steve
Well, actually this seems to be an ORIGINAL modified one done by Hegener&Glaser, Steve... More info here
http://www.chesseval.com/RareBoard/Prot ... eMMIII.htm

One of the ultra rare, Steve...

Xavier
Interesting Thanks
from what the link says the computer was a gift to a Mephisto employee and never actually released for sale..basically a Prototype
Prototypes and "one of a kind" chess computers are not really all that interesting to me
i remember when a Scisys Mark V Prototype came up for auction on Ebay
had no interest in bidding on it

Noncollectable Regards
Steve
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Now This is unusual...
the Mother Board for a Fidelity Dual Processor EAG V5
along with the back panel of the housing with the Fidelity model and serial number label(Number 08 )

the actual board/housing itself is missing...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schachcomputer- ... 19fad7b904

My Guess is someone used the housing and had one of those modified "V11" makeover jobs done

Homeless Regards
Steve
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Steve B wrote:Now This is unusual...
the Mother Board for a Fidelity Dual Processor EAG V5
along with the back panel of the housing with the Fidelity model and serial number label(Number 08 )

the actual board/housing itself is missing...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schachcomputer- ... 19fad7b904

My Guess is someone used the housing and had one of those modified "V11" makeover jobs done

Homeless Regards
Steve
someone bought the motherboard within minutes of the post above (usual for a post on Hiarcs)

Hiarcs ..Your One Stop for all things chess computer/computer chess Regards
Steve
xchessg
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Post by xchessg »

Steve B wrote:A modified Mephisto MMII in a beautiful board and pieces
i guess the idea was to replace the standard board and pieces and replace it with a fine chess set?
anyway...things go a bit downhill when you open up the module draw

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 3f45af37dd


Close But No Cigar Regards
Steve
Well now,

That made a pretty penny for the owner. :shock: . I guess people were convinced about the collective value of this odd-looking thing. I just hope that the bidder actually pays the sum, seems like a new trend, bidding astronomous sums and then no show...

Xavier
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