en computerschaak
On April 12, 2003 I filmed Karsten Bauermeister's beautiful collection of chess computers at wholesaler Niggemann. So this was before the opening of Karsten's museum at his mother's house on August 23, 2003. I dare not say for sure, but surely the exhibition at Niggemann's must have been there from 2000 to 2008 (or longer). Niggemann must have needed space at some point, but it is also possible that the display was no longer interesting enough to continue presenting it.
I was fortunately there in time to capture on film the collection of old chess computers from the 1977-1984 era. There is a small blemish because I filmed for about 16 minutes at the time and was able to capture about 60 chess computers. And what turns out now? I am missing about 9 minutes of film, so unfortunately I can only show 6 minutes. I do still have the original recording on Hi8 (8mm tape), but it is stored in a rented unit. For now we have to make do with this shortened recording. Nice to still get a glimpse of Niggemann's entrance.
What do we get to see in those 6 minutes? You may judge for yourself. Probably there was someone who occasionally wiped a duster over the chess computers, and therefore couldn't remember which nameplate belonged to which chess computer? Because here and there you can clearly see that some nameplates are not with the correct model. Is all not so bad. For me as a historian it is disturbing that some of the models do not have the date of issue correct! I don't blame Karsten, because it wasn't easy to catalog all the data (before the year 2000) correctly! A nice bonus is that I described all the chess computers at the time from my complete 16-minute video recording. I am therefore happy to give you a complete overview.
Fidelity Chess Challenger (1) - Fidelity CC 3 - Fidelity CC 10 (A) - Fidelity CC 10 (B) - Fidelity CC 7 - Fidelity CC 10 (C) - Fidelity CC Sensory Voice - Fidelity CC Sensory 8 - Fidelity CC Champion -Fidelity CC Elite Champion 'Custom Crafted for Karsten Bauermeister' - Fidelity CC Super 9 - Fidelity Elite A/S (Glasgow) - Fidelity Playmatic S - Applied Concepts Boris - Applied Concepts Boris Diplomat (A) - Applied Concepts Boris Diplomat (B) - Applied Concepts MGS III Boris 2.5 - Applied Concepts Sandy Encore - Applied Concepts Morphy Encore - Applied Concepts ARB Sargon 2.5 - Applied Concepts Grand Master Series 3 (module) - Applied Concepts Grand Master Series 4.0 - 50 S (module) - Applied Concepts Destiny Mini Master - SciSys Chess Champion Super Systen III - SciSys Intelligent Chess - SciSys Chess Partner 2000 - SciSys MK IV (with book) - SciSys Senator Chess - SciSys Junior Chess (silver edition) - SciSys MK V - SciSys MK VI + Sensor Board - SciSys Sensor Chess - SciSys Mini Chess - SciSys Explorer - SciSys Travel Mate - SciSys President Chess - Novag Chess Champion MK 1 (A) - Novag CC MK 1 (B) - Novag CC MK II (A) - Novag Delta-1 - Novag Savant - Novag Micro II - Novag Robot Adversary - Novag Super Sensor IV - Mephisto I - Mephisto Mobil A + Mirage module - Mephisto Mobil + MM I module - Mephisto Teufelchen - Mephisto Junior - Mephisto Excalibur - Mephisto ESB 3000 - Chess King Master - Chess King Mighty Midget - Conic Master I - Hanimex HMG 1200 - Conchess Ambassador - Data Cash Systems Compuchess II - Promedic Chessmaster Problemlöser - Conchess Monarch - TEC Schachcomputer - Tandy Computarized Chess - Cassia Chess Mate - Commodore Chessmate - Tryom Electronic Chess - CXG Computachess
The firm Niggemann has been in Münster for several years now. I have not been there yet, so a visit is on my wish list. The most beautiful thing they ever showed was a catalog with many chess computers.
See: Niggemann Sonderkatalog Schachcomputer
With best regards from Hein Veldhuis, dated December 14, 2024