Fidelity Electronics

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Fidelity Logo [1]

Fidelity Electronics (Fidelity International Inc.),
was an American hearing-aid manufacturing company, founded in 1959, and in March 1970 purchased by Sidney and Myron Samole [2] . Among its other cutting-edge technology, Fidelity Electronics produced high-tech, bio-medical products, such as myo-electric hands, prostheses that could actually be controlled by the brain impulses of amputees. Since 1976, Fidelity Electronics developed and produced dedicated chess computers.

Photos

[3]

NelsonEngineer.jpg

Director of Engineering: Ron Nelson

SpracklensAppleICE.jpg

Kathe and Dan Spracklen debugging Challenger with Apple II in-circuit emulator [4]

History

Sidney Samole was the man who dreamed, patented and produced the first commercial chess computer. He closely cooperated with Ron Nelson and later with Dan and Kathe Spracklen. He was credited with inventing the first commercial electronic chess game in the 1970s after watching a Star Trek episode [5] . It seems that he actually had the idea but it was Ron Nelson who really created the machine, called Fidelity Chess Challenger 1 [6] [7] . After building three working models and four non-working models, Sidney Samole decided to promote his new brainchild at Chicago's Consumer Electronics Show in January 1977 [8] . Fidelity prospered. In fact, it seems that the success of the Fidelity Chess Challenger 7 computer [9] , which sold about 600,000 units was responsible for the move from Chicago, Illinois to Miami Florida in January 1981. Fidelity also produced computerized Bridge, Checkers, and Othello games. Fidelity manufactured all its games in the US.

By 1989, a recession was in the wind, and Sidney Samole was sensitive to its warning breezes. He sold Fidelity Electronics at the top of its value to Hegener & Glaser. Sidney's son, Shane Samole, who already started Fidelity Canada in 1984 [10] took a loan from his father and started Excalibur Electronics in 1992. Sidney Samole died on July 30, 2000 [11] .

Achievements

Fidelity chess computers won the first four World Microcomputer Chess Championships: Chess Challenger won in London 1980, Fidelity X in Travemünde 1981, Elite A/S in Budapest 1983, and Elite X in Glasgow 1984. Moreover, they won the four United States Open Computer Chess Championships, all held in Mobile, Alabama, in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 (Chessmaster 2100) . A remarkable performance is its first place in the ACM 1988 Championship, tied with Deep Thought.

People

Programmers

Ron Nelson, Kathe and Dan Spracklen were Samole's protégés and "house" programmers. Nelson programs were all Intel 8080 or Zilog Z80 based, while the Spracklens relied on MOS Technology 6502 and later on Motorola 68000 and successors. Soon after Samole sold Fidelity to Hegener & Glaser, some more programmers were associated with Fidelity chess computers.

Author List of computers [12]
Kaare Danielsen Danielsen, Kaare
Frank Duason
Ed English
Richard Lang Lang, Richard
Ron Nelson Nelson, Ron
Frans Morsch Morsch, Frans
Eric van Riet Paap Van Riet Paap, Eric
Dan Spracklen Spracklen, Dan & Kathe
Kathe Spracklen Spracklen, Dan & Kathe
Mark Taylor Taylor, Mark

Misc

Fidelity Computers

Fidelity had various brand names for their chess computers, most notably Chess Challenger. While competing at official tournaments, development- or experimental versions were called Fidelity X or Challenger X.

See also

Publications

Forum Posts

Fidelity and Fast Hardware by ChessChallenger, Hiarcs Forum, December 31, 2015

External Links

Fidelity

ICGA Tournaments

Chess Computers

Year Product Link(s) [15] [16] Author(s) Processor Tournaments
1977 Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
Fidelity Chess Challenger (CC1)
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1 		Ron Nelson 8080
Fidelity Chess Challenger 3
Chess Challenger 3, CC1 vs CC3 		Ron Nelson 8080, 2 MHz
1978 Fidelity Chess Challenger 10 Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
1979 Fidelity Chess Challenger 7 Ron Nelson Z80
Fidelity Chess Challenger Voice Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
1980 Fidelity Sensory 8 Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
Fidelity Voice Sensory Chess Challenger Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
Fidelity Decorator Challenger Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
1981 Fidelity Chess Challenger Mini Sensory Ron Nelson 80C50, 6 MHz
Fidelity Champion Sensory Chess Challenger Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 2 MHz WMCCC 1980, 1st
1982 Fidelity Super 9 Sensory Chess Challenger
Fidelity Super 9 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 2 MHz
Fidelity USCF Special Edition
Fidelity USCF Special Edition 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 2.5 MHz
Fidelity Elite Champion Sensory Chess Challenger
Fidelity Elite Champion 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 4 MHz WMCCC 1981, 1st
Fidelity Elegance Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3, 3.6 MHz
Fidelity Prestige
Fidelity Prestige 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 4 MHz
1983 Fidelity Playmatic S Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3.1 MHz
Fidelity Elite A/S Budapest Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3.2 MHz WMCCC 1983, 1st
Fidelity Poppy Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
1984 Fidelity Elite A/S Glasgow Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3.6, 4 MHz WMCCC 1984, 1st
Fidelity Sensory 12 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3, 4 MHz
Fidelity Septennial Chess Challenger
Fidelity Champion Septennial 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3 MHz
Fidelity Elite Privat Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 5 MHz
1985 Fidelity Classic Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
Fidelity Excellence Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3, 4, 5 MHz
1986 Fidelity Silver Bullet Ron Nelson Z80
Fidelity Elite Avant Garde Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 5 MHz
Fidelity Elite Avant Garde 2100 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 6 MHz
Fidelity Par Excellence Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 5 MHz
Chess Challenger X Dan and Kathe Spracklen
Ron Nelson, Danny Kopec 		Z80, 16 x 68000 ACM 1986, 7th
Fidelity X Dan and Kathe Spracklen
Danny Kopec 		68020 ACM 1986, 10th
1987 Fidelity The Gambit Ron Nelson 80C50, 6 MHz
Fidelity Gambit Voice Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
Fidelity Excel 68000 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68000, 12 MHz
Fidelity Excel 68000 Mach II Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68000, 12 MHz
1988 Fidelity Excel Display Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3 MHz
Fidelity Designer 2000 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 3 MHz
Fidelity Phantom Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 5 MHz
Fidelity Designer 2100 Display Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 6 MHz
Chess Challenger X [17] Dan and Kathe Spracklen
Ron Nelson 		68030 ACM 1988, 2nd
Fidelity Excel Mach III Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68000
1989 Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V2 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68000, 16 MHz
Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V6 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68020, 20 MHz
Fidelity Excel Mach IV Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68020, 20 MHz Aegon 1989
Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V9 Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68030, 32 MHz
Fidelity X [18] Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68030 [19] WCCC 1989, 6th
Fidelity Chess Card David Levy, Mark Taylor HMCS40, 0.5 MHz, 4 Bit
Fidelity Chess Pal David Levy, Mark Taylor HMCS40, 0.6 MHz, 4 Bit
1990 Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V10 [20] Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68040, 25 MHz
Fidelity Chesster Challenger, Kishon Chesster
Fidelity Chesster Phantom Eyeball 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 6502, 5Mhz
65C02, 3.6 MHz
Fidelity Designer 1500 Ron Nelson Z80, 4 MHz
Fidelity Designer 2265 Master Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68000, 16 MHz
Fidelity Marauder Eric van Riet Paap M50743, 8 MHz
Fidelity Genesis Kaare Danielsen 6301V, 7.2 MHz
1991 Fidelity Tiny Eric van Riet Paap M50743, 8 MHz
Fidelity Chess Challenger Micro David Levy, Mark Taylor HMCS40, 0.6 MHz, 4 Bit
Fidelity Designer 2325 Master Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68020, 20 MHz
1992 Fidelity Travel Master Frans Morsch H8/330, 10 MHz
Fidelity Eldorado Ron Nelson 80C49, 6 MHz, 8 Bit
Fidelity Elite Premiere
Fidelity Elite Premiere 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen,
Richard Lang 		68000, 16 MHz
1994 Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V11
Fidelity Elite Avant Garde V.11 		Dan and Kathe Spracklen 68060, 75 MHz

References

  1. ↑ Fidelity Electronics from Wikipedia
  2. ↑ The Fidelity Story, Image hosted by Schachcomputer.info Wiki
  3. ↑ 16.Fidelity ..The Golden Years | Flickr - Fotosharing by Chewbanta
  4. ↑ John D. Ferguson (1983). In-Circuit Emulation for the Apple II Computer. Byte Magazine, September 1983, pdf
  5. ↑ Göran Grottling (1988). Thank you Mister Spock! Ein Interview mit Sid Samole. Modul 4/88, pp. 36-38 (German), pdf hosted by Hein Veldhuis
  6. ↑ Fidelity Chess Challenger 1 from chesscomputers.org
  7. ↑ Fidelity Chess Challenger (CC1) from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
  8. ↑ Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence (2000). "How About a Nice Game of Chess?" - Any Time. Sidney Samole (1935-2000). Chess Café, October 17, 2000, pdf
  9. ↑ Fidelity Chess Challenger 7 from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
  10. ↑ Fidelity Electronics Inc. - About Us
  11. ↑ The Editor (2000). SIDNEY SAMOLE (1935-2000). ICGA Journal Vol. 23, No. 4 - December 2000
  12. ↑ Schachcomputer.info Wiki
  13. ↑ Furstenberg (Dutch)
  14. ↑ Levy, David from Schachcomputer.info Wiki
  15. ↑ Fidelity from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
  16. ↑ Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
  17. ↑ Monty Newborn and Danny Kopec (1989). Results of The Nineteenth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship, in The Twentieth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf
  18. ↑ Fidelity X chess computer at the 6th World Chess Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, The Computer History Museum
  19. ↑ Kings Move - Welcome to the 1989 AGT World Computer Chess Championship. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Courtesy of Peter Jennings, from The Computer History Museum, pdf
  20. ↑ Frederic Friedel (1990). Elektronischer Sekundant ein Fidelity-Computer bei der Schach-WM in New-York. Computerschach und Spiele 6/90 (German)

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