[1976]from "CK"-- 25 April 2008:
I have in my possession an old jigsaw puzzle, hand-cut in solid wood, measuring 15"x11", including a narrow frame. It depicts three young girls lying among flowers in a countryside scene.

The only clue to its origin is a rather worn sticker on the back of the box, which says 'Father Tuck's Children's Frame Puzzle'.

My research has revealed that the name 'Father Tuck' was used by a member of the Raphael Tuck family in order to market educational cards for young people. I can't find anywhere a reference to a jigsaw being made and sold under this name.

I have now been trying for about four years to find out something about this puzzle, but to no avail. If you or any of your members could throw some light on it, I should be most grateful.

Many thanks.

"CK", England
***************
from Jim McW -- 27 April 2008:
How about it, folks? Does anyone have any information on this question? Any ideas, clues or leads?
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
from Jim McW -- 30 April 2008:
We did find this picture someone sent in, but we know very little about this maker's puzzles. We would venture a guess that the puzzle illustrated was issued before 1940.
Alice in Wonderland, FATHER TUCK [1920's - 1930's?]
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
from "CK" -- 30 April 2008:
Dear Jim

Many thanks for your response to my enquiry. Here's a picture of the puzzle I have.:
children with baby chicks, FATHER TUCK'S CHILDREN'S FRAME PUZZLE

Best wishes
"CK", England
***************
from Jim McW -- 1 May 2008:
The artwork and the cutting style, at first glance, suggests early 20th century, but we have a vague impression that Raphael Tuck may have retained older formats later than some other puzzle makers. I think we may be safe in estimating this puzzle was issued in the first third of the 20th century.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1977]from "VJ"-- 26 April 2008:
I have a 15 piece Children's puzzle. in the top left corner it has the number 3453, and in the lower left corner in has just the name LOWE. It is the kind of puzzle you put together on the cardboard holder. It is green background with candycane around the edges and a picture of Santa sushing a mouse as he is tiptoeing by him. I was just wondering if you could tell me anything about it, I'm guessing it's from the 1960's because it was mine as a child.
Thank You

"VJ", Michigan
***************
from Jim McW -- 27 April 2008:
This may have been published by the SAMUEL LOWE CO., which produced games and, we believe, children's puzzles, including frame trays, such as the one you describe. Here's another:
drummer boy, frame tray jigsaw puzzle, made by LOWE.

We are not sure when these puzzles were made, although we would guess late 1940's or 1950's.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1978]from "DC"-- 1 May 2008:
I have a puzzle that has approx 320 pcs. It is a non interlocking puzzle. It was discovered in the attic of my granfather wrapped in 1948 newspaper. The pieces measure 1/4 of an inch thick. The picture is a winter scene, that is either a sunset or sun rise. It is a bunch of trees along a winding river with several cabins in the back ground. It is signed W. M. Thompson. It does not have a box or any other markings. Any ideas? Thanks,

"DC", Michigan
***************
from Jim McW -- 1 May 2008:
There is probably several candidates to match the puzzle you have.:
" Autumn Sunset ", TUCO
" Snowy Countryside ", PERFECT PICTURE
" Silent Winter Night ", PERFECT PICTURE
" Winter's Crimson Sunset ", TUCO
" Winter Splendor ", TUCO
" Winter Sunset ", BIG STAR

There may be others.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1979]from "NM"-- 1 May 2008:
Hello:

I am trying to determine when the Advanced Children's puzzle, "We The People" was made. It is made of Upson Laminated wood-like fibre board and has 100 pieces.

I have been thru your web site and cannot find it there. Can you help ??

Thank you

"NM"
***************
from Jim McW -- 1 May 2008:
We are not familiar with that title, but we believe the Advanced Children's series was published during the late 1940's or 1950's.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1980]from "TC"-- 1 May 2008:
I have some real old and simple puzzles. The puzzle pieces are in actual shapes; star, moon, church, camel and chalice to name a few. As you may have guessed, these are of a religious theme.... I am trying to identify the printer of these puzzles and what kind of puzzle this is. Is this a certain name given to puzzles with pieces in actual shapes pertaining to the puzzle itself? The hallmark on these appears to be the capital letter "R" back to back. Thank you for your time.

"TC"
puzzle envelope, VERY COLORFUL RELIGIOUS PICTURE PUZZLE
" loaves and fish "[?], first puzzle
" Jesus and children "[?], second puzzle
logo

***************
from Jim McW -- 1 May 2008:
We found this picture in our database:
guardian angel, RELIGIOUS PICTURE PUZZLE

However, we believe this series was made by MacBeth [or McBeth?].

Does anyone recognize the logo or the puzzle series?
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1981]from "BP"-- 23 May 2008:
Hi, I have an old wooden puzzle that my great grandma kept in a box for I don't know how many years. I am trying to find a picture of it so I may work it. It has 350 pieces which are all there. Granny wrote on the box "Welcome Home Puzzle 350 pieces". I've tried to put it together so I can display and mount it to no avail. It looks like there are 2 children and 1 woman in the picture with a boat or 2 off in the distance and at the bottom are the words "welcome home". Do you have any idea where this came from or what it is? I've searched and searched and I'm at my wits end! Thank you so much!!!

"BP", North Carolina

***************
from Jim McW -- 24 May 2008:
We found this picture on our HUVANCO page:
" Welcome Home ", TUCO

and this on our main Big Ben page.:
" Warm Welcome ", MILTON BRADLEY BIG BEN

and another from our database:
" Welcome Home ", PERFECT PICTURE

We strongly suspect that there's at least a few others with similar titles. Even if you don't have a guide picture, don't get discouraged. If you have some of the puzzle together, and you can get the edge pieces assembled into a "frame", you may start to see a pattern emerge into which you can fit the rest of the pieces. It sounds like a great, old puzzle and well worth the effort. We would love to see a picture of the result, if you are able to get it assembled - even if it turns out to have a few pieces missing!
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
from "BP" -- 11 June 2008:
Mr McWhorter,
I am pleased to say that I was able to get a digital picture and send to you! ...at the bottom of the puzzle...it looks like it says "No 68 Welcome Home". Thank you for helping me to get excited about puzzles again.
" Welcome Home "
detail
"BP"
***************
from Jim McW -- 24 May 2008:
I don't remember seeing this picture before. The style of the cut and the art suggests early 20th century, probably 1910 to 1930, but that is only an approximate guess.
Very nice picture, indeed!
Thanks for sharing it with us all, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1982]from "MM"-- 1 May 2008:
Does anyone know who made [these puzzles]?

Hi, I have been fortunate enough to have been given 2 lovely old wooden puzzles. The information on the boxes is 810/14 F.R., London, printed in Great Britain "On the River" and M/237b F.R., London, printed in Great Britain "Near Montreaux". They come in red boxes, a picture on the front and a "quality seal" on the sides. The pieces are made of 3 ply wood, about 3/8" thick and the cut and style look identical to the pieces in one of my other puzzles by J Salmon Ltd, Sevenoaks. I love old puzzles and am very keen to find out some background history about these. If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,

"MM", England
***************
from "MM" -- 3 June 2008:
Hi Jim, since submitting my query I have found out that the number on the front of these puzzles refers to lithographs produced by F.R., London. The pictures depicted on the puzzles are prints of these. Unfortunately I still haven't been able to obtain any more information with regard to the artist or manufacturer of the puzzles and would still be grateful if anyone has any information about them.

Thanks very much
"MM", England
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1983]from "DR"-- 26 May 2008:
Hi Jim. Great website! I am very interested in the American themes (pioneers, history, indians, poetry, TV). Lately I got 4 puzzles of the sixties by Milton Bradley: 2 of Dr.Kildare (Emergency & We are going to call him Jimmy) and 2 of Ben Casey MD (She'll be going home soon & Operation) - each about 600 pieces with the reference 4318 on the box. Because I like such medical themes of yesteryear, I wonder about their artist. According to Google a certain artist called Charles Kerins could be probably the painter of (both?). Apart from [these], I got 5 other, smaller ones of 240 pieces, from Great Britain, again without any information about their artist. The only reference there is TM MGM Inc. Made in England. I have no further information about, but it would be interesting to learn more, i.e., which company made the puzzles and the name of the artist, of course. Google mentioned an English artist/painter called Walt Howarth. This one had obviously painted several TV related comics etc. Do you know more about [any of this]?
By the way: the puzzles framed look impressive!
Looking forward for your answer.

Regards,

"DR", Zurich, Switzerland
***************
from Jim McW -- 26 May 2008:
Here's some pictures someone sent us a long time ago.:
box   " Ben Casey ", MILTON BRADLEY [1960's?]
" Emergency, Dr. Kildare ", MILTON BRADLEY

We find the style of this art somewhat similar to that of the MB James Bond series' artwork. We have the impression these were all issued in the same period (1960's), or perhaps a bit later. The titles of this series include:
Bond's Battle ("Thunderball")
Bond's Bullets Blaze ("Goldfinger")
Spectre's Surprise ("Thunderball")
Fort Knox Finale ("Goldfinger")
We believe there were also at least one or two puzzles derived from "The Outer Limits", "12 O'Clock High", "Batman", "Bewitched", "MASH", "Cheyenne", and "Bonanza".
See no. 1778, Page 108 (but these are ARROW puzzles). See also our Radio & Television page.
We have looked at some of Walt Howarth's artwork, and we find it is very similar to the artwork in some of these puzzles.

Does anyone know any more about any of these TV-based MILTON BRADLEY puzzle series? What about the artist or artists who did the artwork for them? Please let us know, if you do.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1984]from "DM"-- 27 May 2008:
Back in 1993 I found a round puzzle that was a image of a stone island with a castle on the island. The island itself was in the shape of a human body. I bought the puzzle at Spencer's in the mall. I have called them and the maker of the puzzles they use to sell, but no one has any idea where I can find this puzzle. Can you help?

"DM"
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1985]from "FS"-- 2 June 2008:
What do you know about this "peter Pan" puzzle?

"FS"
" Peter Pan ", HG TOYS
***************
from Jim McW -- 3 June 2008:
We have that title listed on our HARETT-GILMAR page, in the STORYLAND series. Our best guess as to the approximate dating of this series is the 1960's. See our HG page for a little more background.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1986]from "FS"-- 2 June 2008:
RE: No. 1163, Page 75:
I have a Dragon's land jigsaw inherited from my mother's family. It was lovely to see a copy of the box on your site as ours disintegrated and was thrown away when I was a child.

I think I remember a story on the box, about the wicked dragon and a big dark wood, involving the characters represented in the jigsaw. Could anybody copy the story onto the site, please?

"KC", Newbury, UK
***************
from Jim McW -- 3 June 2008:
See also No. 1766, Page 108 and No. 1583, Page 99. Whether there was a story associated with the original box illustration or not, it does call for one, does it not?
Does anyone recall such a story?
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
from "JEA" -- 5 June 2008:
RE: No. 1163, Page 75:
My sister and I never forgave our mother who gave away our Dragonland jigsaw puzzle in the 50s - we'd never tired of it, it was magical. However, ours differed from the ones you illustrate because the individual character pieces fitted together to make the whole an outline of a dragon. It wasn't bound by a square or rectangle but I do recognize some of the characters in the pictures you have on your site.
I would love to purchase the puzzle if it ever came up for sale and wonder why it's not re-released. Little girls especially have always loved fairies and the like!
"JEA", Wales, UK
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1987]from "CS"-- 20 May 2008:
I have repeatedly looked for the difference between Rampart Street Parade 2000 and Rampart Street 2006. Everywhere I look, or pull up on puzzle sites, or internet auction sites, the 2 puzzles always look the same. Is there some way that I can find out exactly what each puzzle looks like, and where the best place is to find them? I appreciate your expertise on this subject, and look forward to an answer.
My thanks to you,

"CS"
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1988]from "A30"-- 30 May 2008:
I am searching for a puzzle of Pugh's Mill in North Little Rock Arkansas? The puzzle is made by Guild/Hasbro. My Mom worked this puzzle about 5 or 6 years ago & gave it to my sister-in-law for wall matting. I think my Mom purchased the puzzle at K-Mart & the UPC on the box is 73000 04710. Can u please let me know if u have any information in order for us to purchase the puzzle? Thank you!

"A30", West Virginia
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1989]from "K31"-- 31 May 2008:
I am looking for a puzzle I often put together in the 1960s. The picture was many lilac bushes in front of a house, the house may have been brick. The lilacs were lavender purple color. Thanks!

"K31", Maine
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1990]from "OBM"-- 9 June 2008:
You had a store in my vicinity but closed and would very much like to find some more unique puzzles. At the present I am looking for a puzzle by S Sundram called "Down Under" in the shape of Autralia. Would you possible have this puzzle [or] direct me to someone who would have this item...... I'd appreciate any information you can give me concerning this item.

Sincerely,

"OBM"
***************
from Jim McW -- 10 June 2008:
I'm not sure who you think we are, since we have never had a store, although we do sell off the occasional excess puzzle from our collection, on our SALE pages.

In any case, the only puzzle of which we have heard, which may fill that description would be this SPRINGBOK puzzle:
" Australia, Down Under Is Tops ", 1987 [?].
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1991]from "LW"-- 14 June 2008:
Does anyone know the name of the Heronim puzzle which features famous Philadelphia landmarks? (ex: Independence Hall, etc.,)

"LW"
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1992]from "MS"-- 13 June 2008:
Hello. I was browsing your website and just remembered a puzzle I used to have when I was younger (early 80s). The puzzle was a BIG group picture of Marvel Superheroes. It had dozens of them, on an plain orange-ish background, if I remember.

Also, I think it had around 300-500 pieces

Can you help me ?

"MS", Montreal, Canada
***************
from Jim McW -- 10 June 2008:
One reference we found was on our Best Puzzles page. The correspondent said "...puzzles I've been enjoying are ones with multiple characters on them. They are fairly recent and put out by Golden/Western and they are designed to display all of the characters of a particular theme. I have one that shows all the Disney characters, all the Looney Tune characters, and all the Marvel Superhero characters...."

Here's the only other possibility we could find in our database:
"The Marvel© Age of Comics",
PZL5000, 18" by 23.5", 1995.

Can anyone give us further information or clues?
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1993]from "LP"-- 15 June 2008:
Wow...I have been searching for info on a picture that hangs in my livingroom. It hung in my parents livingroom while I was growing up. Mother purchased it about 1946 - '50. On the back it says BrushMarked picture Sunshine and Shadows by R. Weber #GP1871. She may have gotten it with S & H Green Stamps. I guess the artist isn't famous as I have not been able to locate him elsewhere. I would love to have the puzzle, but would never part with the picture. Thank you for an interesting site.

"LP", Oklahoma
***************
from Jim McW -- 15 June 2008:
I think you saw this BURT puzzle from the 1930's:

"Sunshine and Shadows", 1930's, by Rudolph Weber.
According to Chris McCann's book, Master Pieces, the Art History of Jigsaw Puzzles, the artist was from Switzerland, 1858-1933. See his book for more information.
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1994]from "TP"-- 16 June 2008:
Hello,
I've spent some time on your wonderful site looking for an answer to this question, and maybe it's here, but if it is, I can't find it! So I hope you'll forgive me for posting this question if the info is somewhere on your site. My sister had a few puzzles from one series in the early 1970s. I could be wrong, but I believe they were manufactured by Milton Bradley. They were children's puzzles, probably less than 50 pieces each, and each featured a photo of a an essentially flat piece of fabric art of a little girl (or doll?) comprised entirely of fabric, different materials, yarn, etc. I seem to think the background of each image looked like light blue burlap. And I seem to remember the border of each puzzle was a bright orange. I've looked for them on other puzzle and toy websites as well as eBay for years, but without knowing the series name, or even if they were indeed from Milton Bradley, I've never come up with anything! If these are familiar to you, I would love to know their name or any information about them that you might have. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Best,

"TP", Los Angeles, California
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)

[1995]from "JH"-- 17 June 2008:
I have a question about puzzle glue. I glued a puzzle that I had to do for a school project. I realized that its a really cool puzzle and I want to be able to do it again sometime!! It wasn't very good glue and some pieces are coming loose already. Is there any way to un-glue the puzzle?
Thanks for your help!

"JH", Massachusetts
***************
from Jim McW -- 19 June 2008:
Of course, it would depend on what kind of glue you used, but it's not in our line of expertise, in any case. We've never glued a puzzle! Of course, it may be possible to find another puzzle just like it. Also, no matter how well you remove the traces of glue, it's unlikely ever to be as it was before the glue was applied.
Can anyone help with suggestions on this topic?
Thanks, Jim McW
***************
Respond or comment (note inquiry number)