Beautiful chess clock, created by Vaclav Vesely in times of Austro-Hungarian Empire (ca 1900-20). First evidence of the Vesely clock (with Roman numerals) appears in 1905 (F.Marshall vs S.Tarrasch, Nuremberg), first known Ad in 1911 (Wiener Schachzeitung). Information on the paper sticker indicates the address ‘Jungmannova 49’, advising that this clock produced <1920 (after 1920 ‘Jungmannova’ street was renamed to ‘Fochova’). Number ‘208’ indicates clock’s serial number. Photo: Jaromir Dubsky (1938).

'Schlenker & Kienzle' takes its history from Germany (1883); a subsiduary in Czechoslovakia was established in 1888 (to reduce the export taxes to the Austro-Hungarian Empire). There is a broad variety of known Czechoslovakia Kienzle chess clocks, produced between 1918 (when Czechoslovakia was founded) and 1939 (when it was broken up by Nazi). This model should be an early generation: antique design elements, rare market presence as well as the least evidenced and described type of Kienzle label on the movement. Presumably produced in the late 1920s.

Classical early Czech chess clock with a characteristic design, typical for the ex. Austro-Hungarian region. According to the plaque, it has been manufactured by a watchmaster August Lamprecht from a very small city Lom u Mostu. Dates on the wooden block refer to 1932 (which sounds quite plausible). Difficult to say if Nimzowitsch, Tietz and Alekhine used in Karlsbad (1923) exactly this model, however optical similarity and a plaque in the middle might give a small hope :)

Prim Gambit is a product of Chronotechna, established in Liberec in 1946. Its production started in 1960th, slightly after German Ruhla Garde was introduced. Similarities between Garde and Gambit are obvious: it is not only about visual aspects (size, shape, position of flags and second hands) but also technological ones (position of movements as well as switching technology). Prim Gambit hasn’t found a huge international recognition, nevertheless it was quite popular in Czech and used even until now. Photo: Pachman vs. Hladik (Pardubice, 1993).