Jigsaw Puzzles from
Puzzles
on Parade
Jigsaw puzzles have come a long way
throughout the years. What started as an educational aid for
the few, around 250 years ago, has developed into a popular pastime
and entertainment for the masses. From the humble map all those
years ago we now have a huge subject range from letters,
numbers and nursery rhymes (for children), to favourite TV shows,
film heroes and country scenes (for adults).
Jigsaw puzzles
date back to the 1700s with the first known puzzle being attributed
to John Spilsbury. He was a renowned mapmaker and engraver from
London. In around 1760 he had the idea of mounting one of his
maps on a hardwood sheet and then cutting around the borders
of the countries, using a fine bladed marquetry saw. The result
was an educational aid, which could be used for teaching geography
to children. The notion that learning could actually come form
play and recreation meant that the idea spread and jigsaw puzzles
were established as educational tools.
Those early creations were known as
"dissected puzzles" and were really toys of only the
rich, costing around 10 shillings each (50p of today's money)
more than a labourer's weekly wage. Quite unlike today,
when jigsaw puzzles are priced so they can be enjoyed by all.
These early puzzles did not have interlocking pieces as we know
now, and would, most likely, be made from mahogany or cedar wood.
These were clearly substantial creations quite removed
from the modern mass produced equivalents. A high society, weekend
house party would often have a jigsaw puzzle on the table for
communal completion, before the guests left on the Sunday evening.
By the mid 1800s the emphasis was moving
away from education, and a more widely recognised pastime started
to evolve. The invention of the jigsaw (the tool) in the 1870s
allowed manufacturers to cut more intricate pieces and the "dissected
puzzle" became the jigsaw puzzle, which we know it as today.
It has to be said that the modern name is altogether more palatable
than the old. Using woods such as plywood the illustrations were
either painted or glued on. Pencil tracings were then made on
the back to indicate where the cuts were to be made. These pencil
tracings can be seen on examples of jigsaw puzzles from this
period.
Cardboard jigsaw puzzles first appeared
in the late 1800s, but they were poor in quality and aimed at
children. It wasn't until the turn of the century that versions
for the adult market started to emerge, but they quickly grew
in popularity. It was at this time that the die cutting process
was developed. This involved the creation of a "die"
which consisted of thin strips of metal with sharpened cutting
edges twisted into intricate patterns and then fastened to a
plate. The die was then placed in a press and with the cardboard
below the die, the pattern could be cut into the cardboard. It
is this process, which continues as the preferred manufacturing
method of jigsaw puzzles right up to this day.
The jigsaw puzzles of the time were
quite a challenge. Pieces were often cut along the colour lines
and many pieces would only contain a single colour. Often there
would be no guide picture on the box, and with the title being
purposely vague the subject of the jigsaw puzzle would often
remain a "mystery" until the last pieces were being
assembled. Although things became easier with the advent of pictures
on the box, today with the likes of Wasgij and mirror image puzzles
the difficulty of yesteryear has returned (but this time only
for those who choose it). The next development to appear was
the introduction of interlocking pieces made possible by
the new and more flexible cutting method. Not only did this make
the puzzle more interesting to do, it also greatly reduced the
risk of spilling or losing pieces while completing it. Remember,
this was a long time before the invention of the Puzzle Board
which makes life so easy for today's puzzlers.
Writers of the time describe the development
and transition of the puzzle addict as - moving from the sceptic
who at first pokes fun at jigsaw puzzles, as being silly and
childish, to the perplexed puzzler who allows time to pass in
a mantra of "just one more piece", and finally to the
bleary eyed victor who finally pushes in the last piece to create
the masterpiece they have been working on.
Jigsaw puzzles boomed during the 1920s
and 1930s. In these difficult years, even though money, for many,
was scarce, a jigsaw puzzle could be bought relatively cheaply
and then provide hours of enjoyment for the whole family. What
is more, because of the "re-usable" nature of the jigsaw
puzzle, it could be broken up, put back in its box and passed
on to someone else to enjoy.
In America jigsaw puzzles boomed in
the Great Depression, reaching sales of a staggering 10 million
per week. This was partly attributable to the concept of the
weekly jigsaw puzzle. Titles such as Jig of the Week and Picture
Puzzle Weekly appeared on the newsstands every Wednesday and
became a huge hit. Jigsaw puzzles were certainly right for the
times, they "hit the spot". They offered an escape
from troubled times and gave the puzzler the opportunity to achieve
something a small success in an otherwise depressing time.
With high unemployment and very low incomes a jigsaw puzzle was
a perfect form of relaxation. With no money for restaurants etc.
a cheaper alternative entertainment in the home was at a premium.
Add to this the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing
a jigsaw puzzle something an out of work person was sadly
short of and you can see why they were so popular. No doubt
due to this popularity, companies saw an opportunity and offered
"free" jigsaw puzzles with their products. This was
smart business, because not only were their customers getting
something for nothing, but the pictures were also quite often
an advert in themselves.
This commercialisation and cut-price
competition was making life for the quality producers hard. However,
top quality products form the likes of Parker Pastimes retained
a loyal following. Par Puzzles of New York also emerged at this
time. Started in 1932 by Frank Ware and John Henriques, two out
of work young men, they concentrated on quality. They marketed
their puzzles to the affluent sections of the population and
specialised in customized jigsaw puzzles. They also perfected
"irregular edge" jigsaw puzzles, designed to frustrate
the traditional puzzler who always starts with the corners and
edging. They soon became known as the Rolls Royce of jigsaw puzzles
and the company continues to this day producing fine quality
wooden jigsaw puzzles, which are still individually cut by skilled
craftsmen and have the finish of fine cabinet work, wood backed
polished mahogany. In England, the Victory puzzle company also
thrived, by producing high quality wooden jigsaw puzzles.
In the years after World War II the
wooden jigsaw puzzle went into decline. Costs rose, as wages
increased for this hand made product, and this pushed the price
to unaffordable levels. At the same time the cardboard puzzles
were benefiting from improved production techniques, which raised
the quality at the same time as keeping costs down.
In 1964, Springbok Editions launched Jackson Pollock's "Convergence"
which was acclaimed as the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.
340 pieces of abstract painting certainly provided a stern challenge.
The steady decline of the wooden jigsaw puzzle continued and
by the 1980s they were a rarity. However, cardboard jigsaw puzzles
were still going strong, with new, professional companies such
as Falcon and Gibson taking over the mantle from those early
pioneers, who were gradually dying out.
Modern day jigsaw puzzles are cut to
suit the target audience. For instance large pieces with simple,
brightly coloured pieces for children to much more elaborate
cut, smaller and "vaguely coloured" pieces for adults.
The use of the die, mass production and cardboard has reduced
costs significantly from the earlier "hand made" dissected
puzzles, making jigsaw puzzles a readily available purchase.
From what started out as a flat and
fairly simple idea, the jigsaw puzzles of today come in many
forms including double sided puzzles, 3D puzzle balls and
mystery puzzles (where the picture is unknown).
Over the last 250 years the popularity
of jigsaw puzzles has waxed and waned but today they are as popular
as ever. Whether it is for the very young ones to develop life
skills or for adult enjoyment and relaxation, there is a jigsaw
puzzle for everyone. Whether it is on a wet winters afternoon
in front of a log fire, or on a cloudless summers day sitting
in the garden, a jigsaw puzzle is a great form of relaxation.
A release from stress, even recommended by doctors as an aid
to alleviate the effects of arthritis, it is always a good time
to immerse yourself in a puzzle. But beware, you may not want
to leave it until it is finished oh the satisfaction of
pushing home that final piece because, even after 250 years,
they are addictive.
Professional Service
Puzzles on Parade
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Telephone: 020 8295 0688 Fax: 020 8295 1061
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Email: contact@puzzlesonparade.co.uk
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