Happy Valentine’s Day from York Chess Club! To all the chess widows and widowers out there, thanks for treating your partners like kings and queens and allowing them to enjoy their frequent visits to chess club!
Tim Myers of Thomasville, a chess club regular, hasn’t been to a meeting for several months. Now we know what he has been up to!
Roadside Attraction
Myers has been busy working on his large steel chess sculptures and creating a special Valentine’s Day display across the street from his workshop on Lake Road in Thomasville.
The chess-themed roadside attraction features a 12-foot king and corresponding queen, bishop, and pawn. Nestled between the larger pieces is a smaller set with a 6-foot king and matching queen, bishop, knight, pawn, and rook.
Each piece is painted glossy black — with red and gold highlights — and ornately decorated with ribbons and hearts. A larger size rook with a rusty patina, yet-to-be-painted, stands beside the display, offering a glimpse of Myers’ work in an unfinished state.
Mechanic turned sculptor
The chess pieces are made of scrap steel and used parts like tire rims, PTO shafts, and oil filters. Myers cut, bent, and welded them into form using skills and tools acquired from years working as a tractor mechanic.
He started sculpting metal about a year ago. His first project, a chess-themed mailbox mount, was a king and queen with a long metal shelf between them. The shelf currently holds his mailboxes and a sign with Myers’ name; phone number; address; and the messages, “I support U.S. Chess” and “1985 York Chess Club Champion.”
Myers is currently working on a large knight and someday hopes to build the world’s largest chess piece, topping the current record holder in St. Louis. He plans to include a geared mechanism with a crank to increase the height of the sculpture.
See them in person
You can see Tim Myers’ sculptures in person at 323 N. Lake Road, Thomasville, PA.
Read more about Tim Myers and his creations: chess sculptures, lawn tractor roller coaster.
If you’d like to join up with other chess players in the York, Pennsylvania area, come to one of our meetings or sign up for our email list.
