Model: COMPUTER CHESS (Model #1992)
Manufacturer: Mattel Electronics
Year: 1980
Est. ELO rating: n/a
Levels of play: 4
Type: LCD - cursor keys
(click on pictures to enlarge them)
Mattel Computer Chess.
I believe this was the world's first LCD chess computer. There are no
pieces or boards. Just the LCD screen and the buttons to enter the
moves by selecting the pieces and placing them in the desired square.
This was endorsed by US Chess Master Bruce Pandolfini.
Mattel was originally founded by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler who
created the name 'Mattel' from the beginnings of their last and first
names. The company started out selling picture frames out of a garage
workshop in 1945. Elliot started a side business of selling doll house
furniture from the scraps of wood from the picture frames, and with the
success of the doll furniture, the emphasis was turned to toys. Mattel
started making electronic games in 1976 with the handheld Missile
Attack game (which lived only a short time), and soon followed by
Football and Auto Race. All are LED based games unless noted. Mattel
has been re-releasing several of their classic games, look for the
white re-release labels.
