Friday, October 18, 2013

Chess Automaton the Turk in Wales Newspaper 1859 1873

Most famous early chess automaton "The Turk" as it appeared in the Welsh newspapers.

The Aberystwith Observer, Wales
16 April 1859
"Catherine II, of Rusia and the Automaton Chess Player"
Article about Catherine II meet the Automaton chess player , which most probably 'The Turk'. Von Kempelen was the owner of this mechanics. It was reported that the Empress have been highly entertained despite some embarrassing mis function on the mechanic. Read this interesting article.


The Aberystwith Observer, Wales Chess article
16 April 1859

The Aberdare - Wales
4 October 1873
"An Automaton Chess Play"
Article about the investigation on "the Turk" looking chess automaton. The article report that no person was in the cabinet which raises the cross-legged figure from the floor.... Can it be in 1873 this "mechanical puzzle" secret have not been revealed yet?

The Aberdare - Wales
4 October 1873 -  Welsh Newspapers Online 

tags: chess automaton, ancient chess mechanic, chess robot, chess column from the past, chess in past newspaper, romantic chess, chess invention, rare chess game

Chess Automaton Ajeeb - The Ohio Democrat 1888

The Ohio Democrat, 1888
25 August 1888

CHESS AUTOMATON AJEEB
Who Beats Everybody At Chess and Checkers
A Most Wonderful Piece of Mechanism That Astounds the World With Its Marvelous Intelligence and Skill

Article about chess automaton "Ajeeb". Created by Charles Hooper  and one of popular automaton at that time. The legend said it was Nelson Pillsbury who help operated the machine. The article comes with chess automaton illustration.

The Ohio Democrat chess article
tags: chess automaton, ancient chess mechanic, chess robot, chess column from the past, chess in past newspaper, romantic chess, chess invention, rare chess game

Chess Automaton in Australian Newspapers 1878 1908 1928

A sample of chess automaton articles that appeared in Australian newspapers.

The Record - Burra, Australia
20 September 1878

"Automatic Chess Player"
A Mechanical Chess Player has been constructed by Mr. C.G. Gumpel. Interesting chess automaton as described  in the article. The other source for C.G. Gumpel can be found in this Google book.

The Record - Burra chess article
20 September 1878

The Examiner, Launceston Tasmania Australia
16 May 1908
"An Automatic Chess Player"
Article about chess automaton that exhibited in Eden Musee, New York. The figure said the "Sketch" was invented by an Englishman, Charles Alfred Hooper. Little known on this inventor. The article also included an illustration that maybe represent the mechanical figure.


The Examiner, Launceston Australia chess column
16 May 1908

The Chronicle - Adelaide Australia
19 May 1928
"Mechanical Chess Player"
Article about chess automaton invented by Spanish mathematician. Since we already on 1928, I guess this chess automaton was quite real. It said although this automaton cannot play a full game of chess it works perfectly with half the usual number of chessmen on the board. Interesting.

The Chronicle Adelaide chess article
19 May 1928

sources:  NLA Newspapers
tags: chess automaton, ancient chess mechanic, chess robot, chess column from the past, chess in past newspaper, romantic chess, chess invention, rare chess game