Jaques of London

Jaques of London, formerly known as "John Jaques of London" and "Jaques and Son of London" is a long-established family company that manufactures sports and game equipment.
History.
Dating itself from 1795 when Thomas Jaques, a farmer's son of French Huguenot descent, set up as a "Manufacturer of Ivory, Hardwoods, Bone, and Tunbridge Ware", the company gained a reputation for publishing games under his grandson John Jaques the younger.
The popularity of chess during World War II helped MI9 construct escape item hidden in chess games sent to British and American prisoners of war. Because the chess sets were made of wood, especially the Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London. The inside walls of the chess pieces box were hollowed out "...to secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses." The large chess boards were perfect for supplying to prisoners "...counterfeit documents, maps, currency and other contraband." The chess pieces themselves were hollowed out and used to hold messages, compasses, maps and dye to help turn uniforms into civilian attire. The base of the piece was often screwed in with a left turn screw, so any attempt to unscrew the base normally would only make it tighter.
The company moved its offices and showroom to Edenbridge, Kent, in 2000.