Lot #42. Vintage Gallant Knight Red Student Plastic Chess Set

Vintage Gallant Knight Red Student Plastic Chess Set.

Offered here is a Gallant Knight red Student plastic chess set, Authentic Staunton design, weighted and felted.  The set has a 2-3/8″ King with a 1-3/16″ diameter base. Included are a folding cardboard chessboard measuring 15-3/4′ with 1-3/4′ squares and instructions. The chessmen, board and box are in excellent condition. The inset formed plastic trays show signs of age cracking.

The chessmen are produced by The Gallant Knight Company at 147 Grand Avenue, Lake Villa, IL. The sets first appear in The Chess Review magazines in the early 1940s. The early sets were offered in the Student size with a 2-3/8″ King and a 1-3/16″ diameter base; and the Standard size with a 2-3/4″ King and a 1-5/16″ diameter base. They later moved to 228 West Kinzie Street, Chicago 10, IL, and added the small, Travel set No. 100(M) with a 2-1/8″ King having a 15/16″ diameter base; and a large Tournament set with a 4-7/8″ King and a 2-0″ diameter base. The sets were produced in a Mottled plastic as well as a Black or Red and ivory colored plastic. the Travel and Student sets were housed in simple cardboard boxes (No. 100, No. 35 and No. 36). The Standard sets were housed in cardboard boxes, hinged leatherette cases and a very attractive wooden chest (No. 75 and No. 76). The large Tournament set was housed in a hinge-top leatherette covered cardboard box.