Because of stay-at-home orders in Arizona and the problems it creates, we are lengthening our shipping time window to 20 business days. We regret the inconvenience and hope to return to ten days in the near future.

Once upon a time in magical kingdom by the sea, The Netherlands to be precise, there was a craftsman, one Mijnheer Koopman. This good gentleman made chess clocks by hand. Allan Troy told me that when he wanted clocks from M. Koopman, he would send a telegram with the number of clocks Troy wanted. M. Koopman would cable back when they were ready, saying "Send so many guilders for the clocks."  A few weeks later they would arrive.

These clocks are the Rolls-Royce of the old mechanical clocks. They have one design flaw: the long silver extension on the flag. If you tilt the clock just the right way (and it is easy to do) the extension will catch in the crevice between the clock face the white ring in the clock housing. I will include written instructions as to how you may correct this; it is an easy little thing to do.

Both movements work well. I have done a bench test on each side and the clocks keep accurate time. The right-hand clock is a little finicky, and sometimes requires a full winding to run properly.  I've also noticed that sometimes the right hand clock won't stop when the plunger is depressed. I suspect that is caused by the copper phlange that stops the flywheel; it is made of copper, and I live in the Arizona desert, so I think heat makes it bend very slightly. I don't want to try to fix it because the copper is very thin, and once bent won't bend back to its original shape. Both setting moves are a bit stiff. I haven't tried to fix that, because this is no longer a competition-level clock. Because of changes in the rules of U.S. Chess Federation, this clock, like all analog clocks, are now disfavored but still legal. This clock is primarily a mantelpiece clock. Because of the vagaries of shipping, I cannot guarantee that the clock will run when it arrives. 

With these older, mechanical, spring-driven beauties, it is a good idea to exhaust both clock movements when you are through using them. Most chess players are in the bad habit of leaving their clocks wound for months or years, which takes a toll on them.

A very similar clock to this one recently sold at auction for $275.

We will pay for insurance. Sadly, the warranty is no longer any good--M. Koopman has passed away.

 Follow us! This is only one of several old collectible clocks that we will be selling in the coming weeks. We combine shipping! To combine, place all your purchases in the shopping cart and press "proceed to checkout." These volumes come from the private library of Allan Troy, late owner of Troy's Chess Shoppe, Torrance, California. Follow us! We have an ongoing sale of 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st century chess books, sets and clocks!