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The following is what I wrote about 12 years ago now very out of date. The Timeline, as you see it in 2019, is much expanded and more detailed, and hopefully as accurate as I can make it bearing in mind the different release dates, model names and model numbers found in different countries. My guess is that there are still many (100?) chess computers not included on it. Often close replicas of mass market models produced by the bigger manufacturers. Usually made over the last 25 years in the Far East. Some marketed as toys and therefore largely unknown in chess circles.
I will continue to try to make the Timeline as comprehensive and accurate as possible whenever reliable information becomes available.
The Timeline is my attempt to place as many chess computers as I can in their correct position in chess computer history. The purpose, to provide an easy source of reference for my collecting hobby and to give a picture of chess computer development over the years.
When I set out on this task I sketched out a diagram of the chess computers I knew of from the early years (1977-1984). At the time I thought there may be 50 or 60. Those were the ones I was particularly interested in collecting. Little did I realise just how many chess computer models there actually were. Establishing release dates was also a bigger task than I anticipated. The various websites look comprehensive but in fact leave lots of gaps and do not always agree on dates.
I am posting the Timeline on the web as one of my contributions to general enjoyment of the hobby. Members of the chess computer community frequently help each other with information, advice and documents. A few of them may have better information than this offering of mine. If so I would ask them to make it available on the web. Anyway having started on the Timeline I could not leave it in the 1980s. I realise that many enthusiasts are more interested in the newer models. So I have tried to provide a date for as many chess computers as I have reliable information. It is most complete and accurate for the first ten years. An additional 250-300 models that I know of could not be placed in the diagram for want of a release date.
I have excluded the majority of clones which were sold under the brand name of subsidiary companies and retail distributors such as Radio Shack, Tandy, CGL, Eureka, Acetronic, Audio Sonic, Hanimex, Schneider, Tchibo, Systema, Prinztronic, Go, Next, Krypton and others. These models are either exact or close copies of machines made by Scisys/Saitek and CXG in particular. They are often difficult to find information for and with a few exceptions I do not collect them. (Note Radio Shack/ Tandy and Krypton/Systema are now included)
You will probably not find another source of information like the Timeline on the web at present. Schachcomputer.info is building up a Timeline through links to their Wiki Encyclopaedia articles but the task is huge and date information only a small part of it. In the Netherlands Hein Veldhuis is compiling a comprehensive database of all chess computers. His goal is far in advance of all other sources of information but sadly unavailable to other enthusiasts for now. Started in April 2001 the database now has well over 1000 entries and, as I understand it, Hein expects to reach around 1300 or so entries including clones, prototypes and all possible combinations of boards and modules.
These are the main sources I have used in compiling the Timeline :-
Selective Search/News Sheet published by Eric Hallsworth 1985-2008
Karsten Bauermeister’s Collection List (on www.schachcomputer.at)
Kurt Kispert’s Oldies Section etc (on www.schachcomputer.at)
Hein Veldhuis’s Collection List etc (on CSVN) plus recent research
Personal Computer World articles 1979-1985
www.schachcomputer.info / Wiki
www.alte-schachcomputer.de
Computerschach & Spiele 1983-2000 DVD.
“The Chess Computer Book” and “The New Chess Computer Book” by Tim Harding
“Schachcomputer Report ’84” by Gilbert Obermair
Various websites including those of Alain Zanchetta, Tom Luif and Ismenio Sousa.
Radio Shack Catalogues at http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/
Many other catalogues and publicity leaflets
Manuals, boxes, and even dates and datecodes on the chess computers themselves.
Please feel free to comment on the Timeline and if you have better information I would be very grateful for corrections and especially additions.
Release dates will vary from country to country and I have seen four different dates given by reliable sources for the same model. In general I have used the earliest credible date.
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