Parker Brothers Puzzles

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ESCAPE FROM FRAMES

Parker Brothers marketed its first puzzle in 1887. The most highly sought of Parker puzzles are the wooden Parker Pastimes. Parker also produced children's puzzles, as well as the Climax, Jig-A-Jig, Jig Wood, and Paramount lines.
According to Jigsaw Puzzles: An Illustrated History and Price Guide, by Anne D. Williams, Parker Bros. closed the Pastime line in the 1950's and their die-cut puzzles were phased out in the late 1970's.

Parker Pastime Puzzles

Two Unopened Parker Pastime Puzzles , sold recently on the internet!	"Restful Moments"
"A Wooden Box for a Pastime Puzzle"	Some Figural Pieces From "Restful Moments"
"Upsetting Their Calculations"	"Upsetting Their Calculations"[Label].
"Arabs On the March"	"Arabs On the March"[Label].
Production label, " Arabs On the March "	" Sunny Days at Mount Vernon ", issued 12-12-1927. [courtesy "NCG"]
"Gallant Days of Yore"	portrait - unknown title
"On The Alert"	"Return of the Husband"
"Tea Time in Pekin"	"A Friendly Squirrel"
"Letting Him Go", 1929.	"Letting Him Go", the figural pieces.
This picture appears to me to be a portrait of mother and son, or possibly, wife and husband. For some reason, it was difficult to keep the pieces together while taking the photo. The inside label says, "Sawed by 16 [-DI ?]; Polished and finished by MOD; 6/11/29." See this puzzle in our SALE section.
" The Monastery ", appears to be a scene in late Roman times, issued December 11, 1926.	" The Monastery ", appears to be signed by William L. Dodge.
another view, " The Monastery "	another view, " The Monastery ", over 200 pieces.
This picture appears to me to be a scene in a late Roman setting. I think it may bear the signature of William L. Dodge. The inside label says, "Sawed by 19; Polished and finished by S.B.; 12/11/26." Thanks to "NCG" for these pictures.

" In the Hills of Devon "	outside label	inside label
The inside label says, "253 pieces Sawed by 484 Polished by 489 Inspected by 486[?] 8/26/35[?]. Thanks to "NCG" for these pictures.

from Anne Williams--30 October 2005:

The labels inside the lids of the Pastime boxes changed over the years.
The earliest ones circa 1908-09 read:
      Sawed by.................
      Polished by..............
      Counted by..............
      Inspected by............
The next labels (circa 1909-14) read:
      Sawed by .................
      Polished and
      Counted by................
      Inspected by..............
The next labels (circa 1915-30) read:
         this puzzle
      Sawed by.....................
      Polished and
      finished by...................
Later labels (circa 1930-58) are larger and read:
      This puzzle contained ............
      pieces when shipped from the factory.
      Sawed By...............................
      Polished By...........................
      Inspected By.........................
      Date.......................................
However, after 1935, they usually did not fill in the date.
Other indications about date include:
    Size: for example, they made 60 piece puzzles only in the first 10 years, 1908-17.
    Box color: non-white boxes are mainly pre-1925;
    Patent date: appears on boxes from 1917-32; patent number or registered appears after that;
    Copyright 1932: appears on end labels and/or box tops after 1932;
    Address: Salem, Mass. is on all boxes; Flatiron Building, NY appears 1919-1937 only; 12 Whiteley Road, London appears 1931-37 only; Chicago appears only after 1939;
    End labels: titles in all upper case letters are almost all 1925 or later.
    I am currently working on a compilation of known Pastime puzzle titles and dates. I welcome additional information with details on titles owned by readers of this question. Anne Williams (puzzles@bates.edu)
***************

SEE Later Parker Puzzles

Chris McCann's book,Master Pieces: the Art History of Jigsaw Puzzles.

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