Jul 8 2009Do Want: Functional Vacuum Tube Chess Set
This is a chess set made with functional vacuum tubes that actually glow while you play, making it sweeter than sticky buns. And almost as fun to stare at. But not yours. No, not yours.
This wonderful vacuum tube chess set, by maker Paul Fryer, actually has electricity running inside the board so that the tubes can draw power and glow as you move them from square to square. It is called, somewhat appropriately, Chess Set for Tesla, and Paul actually made seven sets last year.
Nice, Paul, how about you send a set in this direction? I'll make it worth your while. Provided an all-you-can-eat wings buffet and mediocre conversation is "worth your while". ;) You sleep on it.
Hit the jump for a couple more shots.
Vacuum Tube Chess Set Flickers and Glows [wired]
Thanks to lucci, who can make a make a lightbulb glow in his mouth like Uncle Fester.
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Reader Comments
1. aa - July 8, 2009 3:32 PM
first
2. dylan - July 8, 2009 3:33 PM
i wanna put my nips all over it
3. catch22 - July 8, 2009 3:35 PM
i totally approve
4. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 8, 2009 3:36 PM
Do you have to play wearing neoprene gloves? Those things tend to get really hot.
5. red pill junkie - July 8, 2009 3:37 PM
Agree with #4. Maybe the main purpose of this board is to force the players to play as fast as they can ;-)
6. naas in southern cali - July 8, 2009 3:38 PM
They do shumway, good point. They also make old analog audio gear sound awesome
7. Billy Rapture - July 8, 2009 3:42 PM
GW, what ever you do, do NOT stick your penis in it.
8. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 8, 2009 3:43 PM
They also make guitars scream and basses fuzzy. I like teh tubes.
9. Timbo - July 8, 2009 3:45 PM
Is it just me or does every piece look the same??
10. FDSY - July 8, 2009 3:56 PM
ohhhhhhhhhh fizzle
I have giant chess board and have people for chess pieces
THAT'S my kind of chess.
I'll take it over stupid tiny vaccumed tubing.
11. TheChessmaster - July 8, 2009 3:59 PM
I officially call Check Mate!
http://binary-pirate.mybrute.com
12. Daisy - July 8, 2009 4:04 PM
FAKE!!!!
This is a complete photoshop job. You can tell itsd a fake because the shadow';sare all wrong.
This is exactly like that scene int he movie Never BAck down where Max was building something from vacuum tubes and Baja asked him about it. He said, "I am endeavoring, ma'am, to create a mnemonic memory circuit, using stone knives ... and bearskins."
13. proteon - July 8, 2009 4:17 PM
Daisy mah dear you must have quite an exciting life.
14. jaja - July 8, 2009 4:21 PM
@13 Oh she does, don't you worry about that. ;D
15. scurl - July 8, 2009 4:51 PM
this reminds me of the majority of the electronics in my living room. good old raytheon.
16. Beastman AIDS - July 8, 2009 4:53 PM
@Daisy
When you type the word "shadows" please refrain from going near any of the punctuation keys.
17. Jerry - July 8, 2009 5:48 PM
And what do you do when your Queen blows?
http://bootelicious.mybrute.com
18. NORM - July 8, 2009 6:03 PM
SCHWING
19. Gucci - July 8, 2009 6:08 PM
My question is this:
How the hell do you move them without killing yourself?
I work on guitar amps for a hobby, and you have to turn the amp off and cool down before even attempting to touch a tube. Otherwise, you're fried......
They must run at an extremely low voltage?
20. Jaded Icon - July 8, 2009 6:49 PM
I prefer RISK over chess any day.
21. Cesspool17 - July 8, 2009 7:16 PM
@19, I was thinking the same thing, but they're not power tubes used for amping a signal so they probably are using a much lower wattage than a tube amp. That being said it would be cool to see a checkers set using standard Marshall tubes against fender tubes.
22. lucci - July 8, 2009 10:15 PM
to daisy - it's not a fake, its a fully functional chessboard!
concerning heat, modern tubes work warmer than oldschool tubes, the ones your grandpa used to listen to!
23. scurl - July 8, 2009 10:50 PM
this reminds me, i'm your grandpa. say hi to ethel for me, that minx.
24. led display - July 8, 2009 11:41 PM
interesting ..!
25. Jaded Icon - July 9, 2009 6:52 AM
@ 22
Welcome to Geekologie, my young friend! If you are a hot girl or your sister is a hot girl or if you happen to have a pic of a hot girl, please feel free to post pictures.
BTW: Have you tried the n00bfish? It's delicious!
26. STOMPY - July 9, 2009 9:28 AM
@26
mmmm, I could sure go for a n00bfish sandwhich...
27. Hawk - July 9, 2009 2:58 PM
I built a sequential blinking nightlight setup out of vacuum tubes, but this tops even what I did!