AMERICANA

US Sets have come a long way since the days of the imported era of the French Jura region sets and sold under the respective toy companies like E.S. Lowe, Parker Bros, Cavalier labels and some even carried by the prominent US departmental stores like Marshall Fields. 

My journey in US Sets started way back when I saw a good Cavalier 1491 set in a slide-top box which is used primary in the 70s by legendary players such as Bobby Fischer in his famous game vs Andy Soltis. 

There's a alabaster version of the Cavalier set which I own, though the box is rather worn. 

Through browsing chess.com's forum pages I realised that there is indeed a wooden Cavalier set that is made in the US. After some sleuthing I managed to bring it to Singapore.

Next comes the famous Player's Choice by Drueke - this is the set that is often branded as all American in that they were the choice pieces used in Fischer's Candidates' Match with Larsen in Denver 1971. 

I had this in mint condition all wrapped, from the Allan Troy estate which was a large chess supplier of books and equipment in the 1980s. This is the 35H which is weighted. The glue on the Knights' pedestal had come off and therefore required rework. I would not be using it as I managed to get hold of the Drueke 23 thanks to Mike Somers. I am using this set for analysis mainly, well paired with a Drueke 61 board. 

The other 2 famous sets that are extensively used in  US competitions are the W.T. Pinney Liberty set and the Piatigorsky. The Pinney saw action in the 1940's at the US Championship with Reshevsky and Horowitz often photographed with them. Here are some recent photos taken of them:

The characteristic Knight which is not easily reproduced. 

The Piatigorsky from OS was a gift from a friend which is stunning just to look at, let alone play!

Finally the Sinquefields - from the 2014 to the 2017 version. I had the 2014 version  ebonised and the 2017 version in blood rosewood for variey.

Astounding Knights

To be added to this family are the Havana 1966 Olympiad set from HOS which in my opinion is close to the original Rodriguez set (as opposed to the other Crumiller set).  It is also used in Fischer's 1st Candidates' match with Taimanov in Vancouver 1971.

The final set for display is the Campo set from Argentina, a cousin of the Olympico King which is used in the Buenos Aires Olympiad 1978.

I think that just about covers it for the sets used in North and South America which are of importance for me.