Excalibur Knight picture taken from a box.
Shane Samole worked in his dad's firm Fidelity Electronics Inc. until they sold the business in 1989 to the German chess computer manufacturer Hegener + Glaser for around $7 million.
Shane remained working for the new proprietors as a Sales Manager until the early 1990's when Hegener + Glaser abandoned electronic games from the Fidelity portfolio and resolved to release Shane from his services.
This prompted Shane to solicit counsel from his father Sid Samole who encouraged him to start a venture. Shane borrowed $25.000 from his parent to incorporate Excalibur Electronics in 1992.
Excalibur Corporate Headquarters Address in Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
Picture taken from an Excalibur Electronics Product Catalog.
Shane Samole started by importing chess games from Eric White in Hong Kong. Initially from CXG which Eric White was closing down having produced its last computers in 1992. It seems that during the year 1993, CXG only sold and produced chess computers exclusively for Excalibur Electronics which were either branded or co-branded by both companies on the packaging. This was quickly followed in 1994 with Excalibur Electronics buying from Timorite Ltd, which at that time was the Hong Kong manufacture name behind the new startup Krypton brand of chess computers from Eric White.
It seems at that time both Excalibur Electronics and Eric White needed each other.
According to comments from Ron Nelson, Sid told Shane his firm needed to produce their own products and sell them to be successful.
Shane asked Sid to talk to Ron Nelson and work out a hiring contract. Ron's contract allowed him to work at home 3 days per week. The other 2 days Ron worked at the Pop Up Tent, Inc. offices which were shared with Excalibur.
This allowed Ron to take care of his four children as his spouse had recently succumbed from cancer.
Ron's agreed contract with Excalibur Electronics was for royalties on any chess computer sold by Excalibur including the Eric White Krypton line of computers.
Ronald C. Nelson
Inventor, Programmer, Developer & Designer at Fidelity Electronics and Excalibur Electronics
Excalibur successfully worked out agreements with the Hong Kong firms Same Time Limited and EWIG to make their games and chess computers.
Both companies manufacturing operations were in Guangdong Province, China, were production cost was much lower than Timorite.
This culminated in Excalibur Electronics severance of the Eric White Krypton connection.
At around this same time that Excalibur were building their own Brand, the United States Patent and Trademark Office turned down the Pop Up Tent inventors patent application
This forced Sid to close Pop Up Tent and join Excalibur Electronics full time. Sid Samole assumed command of the Excalibur enterprise until his death on July 30th, 2000.
After Sid's death Excalibur relocated their operations into a smaller building in Miami, Florida.
Sidney Samole 1935-2000
Founder of Fidelity Electronics and CEO of Excalibur Electronics
Ron Nelson took a 9 month sabbatical between June 15, 1999 and March 1, 2000 to work full time on a new 4-bit chess program with a new LCD segmented chess display and an innovative new housing design. Years later Sony would emulate this design and call it the Walkman Bean.
Ron returned to Excalibur with the new LCD Chess (Model 375) design where he worked out a new more advantageous contract for himself.
Excalibur, because of mechanical build issues with Mirage and EWIG's shortage of experience in assembling a robotic computer, were at that time suffering severe hardship.
The Ron Nelson designed LCD Chess was a tremendous success during the 2000 Winter Holiday period, due to its cheap manufacturing cost and significant profit margin.
This ensured Excalibur would get through its economic stress and proceed to trade another year.
Shane Samole
Founder of Excalibur Electronics
Shane continued activities as proprietor and CEO after Sid's death.
Ron Nelson remained as chief designer, developer and programmer until the Firm eventually went broke and were sold to EB Electronics on July 1, 2009.
His 4 and 8 bit programs were the pillar of Excalibur computers until he was laid off by EB Excalibur on October 24th, 2010.
For further reading on Ron Nelson and Excalibur go to: Hiarcs Forum.
908 - 2003
129E - 1995
119-E - 1995
902E - 1997
807E - 1993
Alexandra the Great
Avenger
Chess Express
Alpha 2-in-1
Chess Wizard
Table Top
Travel
Travel
Table Top
Table Top
975 - 2002
Chess Station
Travel
903 - 1997
Crusader
Table Top
118E - 1994
Cutlass
Travel
901E-4 - 2005
Deluxe Electronic Chess
Table Top
404D - 2004
Deluxe Talking Touch Chess
Travel
EXCALIBUR ELECTRONICS -- PIONEERS AND ON-GOING LEADERS IN COMPUTERIZED CHESS!
Chess is fun -- why else would so many people down through the centuries have played it? And Chess gives you that rare combination of something thats truly fun and truly beneficial. Chess keeps your mind sharp. Numerous studies from around the world have shown that students improve their grades by playing chess. Adults can improve their problem-solving skills by playing.
Excalibur's computer chess partners stand reliably ready for a game whenever you are -- any time day or night!
You can count on Excalibur to expand the abilities, user-friendly features, and even the personalities of these computer trainers and partners. Excalibur has sustained spectacular growth over the last few years because its given more and more people around the world the high-quality, thought-provoking fun thats become our trademark.
EXCALIBUR ELECTRONICS... WE MAKE YOU THINK!
The above is an introduction that Excalibur used in some of their early User Manuals.
New in 2008 Einstein Brain Games Logo used for the new range of chess computers used under license. Represented exclusively by Corbis.
Early Excalibur Logo - picture taken from a box.
410-3-CS - 2004
410X-CS-RS - 2005
E714 - 2008
E-Chess & Checkers
E-Chess Express
Einstein Chess Wizard
Travel
Travel
Table Top
E123 - 2008
Einstein LCD Chess Wizard
Travel
775 - 1997
Electronic Glass
Table Top
ET404 - 2008
Einstein Touch Chess
Travel
410 - 2001
E-Chess
Travel
E951 - 2008
Einstein E=MC2 Master
Table Top
127E - 1995
Escort
Travel
-
Express
Travel
EXCALIBUR BRAIN GAMES
This was the last theme that Excalibur used for their branding of intelligent games. Picture taken from a box.
711E-2 - 2000
Igor II
Table Top
310E - 1997
Karpov 2294
Table Top
701-E - 1996
Ivan The Terrible
Table Top
747P - 1997
Grandmaster Platinum Edition
Table Top
711E - 1997
Igor
Table Top
747K - 1997
Grandmaster
Table Top
712-1 - 1997
Ivan The Terrible 2nd Gen.
Table Top
712-2 - 2002
Ivan II The Conqueror
Table Top
915-2 - 2001
King Arthur 1.7
Table Top
915 - 2000
King Arthur
Table Top
Gentleman playing chess wearing a Excalibur Nicole Miller designer tie.
169E-2 - 1997
Kingmaster II
Table Top
911E-2 - 1997
Kingmaster II
Table Top
375-1 - 2001
LCD Chess (Universal)
Travel
This TEACH MODE Logo can be seen on the boxes of many Excalibur Chess Computers. Picture taken from a box.
“I TALK” Excalbur has produced more Talking Chess Computers than any other manufacturer of chess computers. Picture taken from a product brochure.
375V - 2005
LCD Kingmaster 375V
Travel
702E - 1996
Mirage Black Finish
Table Top
Excalibur produces chess computers and games for the enjoyment of kids and adults. Picture taken from a box.
901E-3 - 1997
Saber III
Table Top
638E - 1993
Stiletto Deluxe
Table Top
Excalibur Innovations Product Catalog.
375V - 2002
Talking LCD Chess
Travel
404-2 - 2003
Touch Chess and Checkers
Travel
The World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum is the last endowment of the great chess computer pioneer Sidney Samole. This picture is today used by Excalibur Electronics as an endorsement for their chess computers. Picture taken from an Excalibur Chess Computer Box.
404ET-CS - 2006
Touch Chess II
Travel
169E-2 - 1997
Travel King Master II
Travel
120E - 1997
Viper
Travel
922E - 1995
The Explorer
Table Top
932ED-2 - 1997
The Excalibur
Table Top
5T 969WE - 1995
The Explorer Deluxe
Table Top
404 - 2001
Touch Chess
Travel
5T-932WE - 1994
Stiletto II Deluxe
Table Top
5T-932E - 1994
Stiletto II
Table Top
932ED - 1996
Stiletto III
Table Top
410V - 2007
Talking E-Chess
Travel
901E-2 - 1995
Sabre II
Table Top
901E-4 - 2001
Saber IV
Table Top
117 - 1997
Squire
Travel
328E - 1993
Stiletto
Table Top
974 - 2003
New York Times
Travel
NY22 - 2007
New York Times Deluxe
Travel
740D6-ML6-US - 2007
Phantom Force
Table Top
923ENM - 1995
Nicole Miller
Table Top
303E - 1995
Legend III
Table Top
301E-2 - 1993
Legend II
Table Top
323E - 1995
Merlin
Table Top
311E - 2000
Mentor
Table Top
375-2 - 2003
LCD Chess & Checkers
Travel
375X-JC - 2005
EI5316RE - 2010
LCD Chess Express
LCD Chess Wizard Keychain
Travel
Travel
410K - 2007
LCD Keychain Chess
Travel
375 - 2000
LCD Chess Model 375
Travel
K215- XC5547BK - 2010
Kingmaster III
Table Top
911E-3 - 2003
Kingmaster III
Table Top
911E - 1994
Kingmaster
Table Top
915-W - 2005
King Arthur Deluxe
Table Top
915-3 - 2002
King Arthur (Universal)
Table Top
119E-CS - 1997
Chess Express
Travel
702E - 1996
Mirage Marble Finish
Table Top