MIlton Bradley Phantom...

[CHVL]

A Milton Bradley... not the "Grand Master" sold in USA... not the "Milton" sold in Germany and France... but the "Phantom" sold in UK.
For sure, coming from UK. It seems in good shape, but... no box.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1983 ... SwYwJaDE7i

Always missing something.

Maurice

[berger]

Hi Maurice,

Is there any internal variation? Maybe the software is different?

Best regards,
Berger

[CHVL]

Hello Berger,

I think they are similar.
The same is true for the Milton Bradley made for the rest of Europe: the band "Grand Master" was removed and replaced by Milton.
http://chesseval.com/Robots/MiltonGrandMaster.htm

In total, they were 3 models of Milton Bradley:
- the Grand Master for USA;
- the Phantom for UK;
- the Milton for the rest of Europe;
http://chesseval.com/Robots/MBMilton.htm

Some time after, Fidelity bought the rights on the Grand Master and sold it under the name Phantom adding a led display and a different software,
The Fidelity Phantom was sold in Europe and in Germany,
http://chesseval.com/Robots/Fidelity6100.htm

After buying Fidelity, Mephisto changed the name of the Robot for "Mephisto" in big red lettering and in smaller white lettering "Phantom".
Have a look to the 2 photos.

Here, the temptation was high to change or, at least, to improve the performances: Hegener was owning the first prototype, was loving it. kept it in his personal collection and never released it.
I don't know if the Mephisto Phantom was a modified version or if this one owned by Hegener was a modified version of the Fidelity Phantom 6100.

I am sure you want that I open it

Maurice

[berger]

Hi Maurice,

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation.

In total, they were 3 models of Milton Bradley:
- the Grand Master for USA;
- the Phantom for UK;
- the Milton for the rest of Europe;
(...)

It would be nice to know the details about why that name for each place. In other words... what motivated them to choose different names, and in particular those and not others, depending on the distribution market. We could speculate a lot. For example 'Phantom' for UK, with their passion for ghost literature, especially in Victorian era.

I don't know if the Mephisto Phantom was a modified version or if this one owned by Hegener was a modified version of the Fidelity Phantom 6100.
I am sure you want that I open it

Of course I do! LOL

But I don't think that's necessary. Maybe with a few test games...

Best regards,
Berger