[1275]from "AD"--14 June 2004:
Good day,
I have a jig-saw puzzle which I do not know if it has any "antique" value. It is made by Ritz, labeled Aladdin fairy tales No. 1, contains over 220 interlocking pieces in stout cardboard, 14"x9.5" size. The only other markings on the box are:
1) A. & Co.
2) Liverpool, I.
Do you have any information on this puzzle or what do you advise that I do to find information.
Your reply is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
"AD"
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[1276]from "AC"--18 June 2004:
Great website!

I was wondering if you would know how to tell if puzzles are cut from the same die without actually comparing pieces. Is it coded in the model #, UPC code, etc? Or are there a known series or years of a particular brand that uses the same dies?

Thanks so much for your help.

"AC"
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from Jim McW--27 June 2004:
We know of no way to predict whether the cuts of two puzzles will match exactly. What little we have learned so far suggests to us that even two puzzles cut within seconds of each other may have had their borders cut differently. For this reason, and perhaps for others, they might be "out of register", even if their die cuts are exactly the same. In other words, two identically-shaped pieces might have somewhat different portions of the picture on them.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1277]from "HC"--20 June 2004:
I am looking for a puzzle for the yankee baseball team. Do you know where I can buy one?

"HC"
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from Jim McW--4 July 2004:
We are not aware of such a puzzle, except for the HASBRO 3D puzzle, which may still be available on [ See MISSOURIPUZZLE.COM. ].
See no. 32, Page 3, and no. 320, Page 23.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1278]from "MM"--30 May 2004:
Dear puzzle history,
I have a puzzle I found at an antique store. It is a Guild puzzle, it has no dates or place it was made. It is titled Washington and Nellie Justice. There is six puzzles in the series; it is series T . It is a picture of George playing a flute and Nellie playing the piano.
I would love to know the year it was made.... Any other history would be welcome as well (such as the other puzzles in this series). I have searched the puzzlehistory site you have available with no luck. Or maybe you can tell me who can tell me about my puzzle.
Thank you so much for your help!
"MM"
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from Jim McW--27 June 2004:
Chris McCann, in his book,Master Pieces: the Art History of Jigsaw Puzzles, identifies this as a work of J.L.G. Ferris.
We include an illustration of a similar jigsaw puzzle from our own files:
" Washington and Nellie Custis ", by J.L.G. Ferris.
It is impossible to date the puzzle without seeing the box, but I would guess the 1950's or thereabouts.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1279]from "DK"--24 June 2004:
Hello,

Could you please save my sanity?

I'm trying to find a site where I can look up any information on a Waddingtons jigsaw puzzle I have.

I have used many search sites, hunted though endless websites, pressed link after link............. but come up with nothing!!

The puzzle states Ullswater, Cumbria printed and made in England, the Ref number is #10605. The picture is a lake on a winter's day.

Does Waddingtons have a website? Or could you possibly offer any information as to where I can look.

Thank you for any help possible.
"DK"
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from Jim McW--29 June 2004:
We too have been unable to find a Waddington website. Waddingtons are among our own personal favorites.
Does anyone know of such a website?
Thanks, Jim McW
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from Nancy Ballhagen [MISSOURIPUZZLE.COM] --29 June 2004:
I was told that Jumbo bought Waddington's and they are no longer putting puzzles out under that name....
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[1280]from "RPW"--27 June 2004:
I have enjoyed reading all the comments on Frank M. Hamilton. I have a painting called "The Autumn Days". It is a rather large painting. It shows an old rock house - behind the house are trees. An old wagon is parked next to the house. The colors are very dull, yet the detail of the painting is wonderful. Would like to hear from anyone who is familiar with this painting.:
" The Autumn Days "
"RPW"
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from Jim McW--29 June 2004:
Our Frank M. Hamilton page is continuing to grow, thanks to people such as yourself, who contribute comments, images, and information.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1281]from "E28"--28 June 2004:
I have a plywood jigsaw puzzle made by Selchow & Righter, NY.. It is labeled: Pandora Jig Saw Puzzle, in a very plain box. It has figurally shaped pieces. I was wondering if you could date it for me. Thank you,
"E28"
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from Jim McW--30 June 2004:
You don't give us a picture or title, so we don't have much to go on, but I would suspect the 1930's.
Thanks, Jim McW
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from Anne Williams--5 August 2004:
I can confirm that Selchow & Righter did indeed make the Pandora puzzles during the Great Depression puzzle craze in the early 1930s.
Anne Williams. puzzles@bates.edu
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[1282]from "MH"--28 June 2004:
RE: No. 541, Page 39.
I recently bought this puzzle intact with the paper works still there. There is a secret solution sealed inside - here it is, if you are still interested. I don't want to know it yet.
[instructions, A], " Sweet Cherubs "
[instructions, B], " Sweet Cherubs "
"MH"
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[1283]from "L25"--25 June 2004:
Hi...
I recently acquired about 10 puzzles which I think look old...but know nothing about them. They have no dates on the cans. They are in a can with metal screw lid (the size of an oatmeal can)..."Deluxe Guild Picture Puzzle" by Whitman Publishing Company. There is an oval price of 49cents. Puzzle size is 18" x 15.5"... 340 peices. One is series 205 Title: Mountain Campers. Can you tell me what year these are from???
Thanks so much,
"L25"
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from Jim McW--2 July 2004:
If you do a SEARCH of our site for ' Whitman ' or ' canister ', you may find more information, as well as pictures of similar puzzles. At any rate, your puzzles sound as though they are probably from the 1950's or, perhaps, the early 1960's.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1284]from "JC"--26 June 2004:
I have a print of the Night Rider picture by norm saunders. I found it on your website as a puzzle. I was wondering if you know anything about the artist? The only Norm Saunders I can find on the internet painted the Mars Attack pictures. Thanks
"JC"
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from Jim McW--3 July 2004:
We believe that is the same artist, prolific in several genres of popular art.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1285]from "NLR"--27 June 2004:
I have several wooden puzzles that were given to my mother several years ago. I haven't worked them in quite a while so cannot tell you the condition yet.

I am curious though about the puzzle I am getting ready to work. The box is white and on the lid has Ideal for Idlers over a picture of a woman in Gibson Girl dress and hair style with a Jack Russell Terrier sitting on the table watching her. Under the picture is the word Puzzle. On each side of the picture is New York and under the picture is Brentano's 37, Avenue de l'Opera, Paris.

On the box is a label with the following printed information, reading from left to right:
Ner Pieces; 18th, Century Picture Puzzle Brentano's 37, Avenue de l'Opera, 37 Paris Telephone 105-62; This PUZZLE cannot be exchanged or returned. Handwritten under the Ner Pieces is the number 424 and handwritten under 18th, Century Picture Puzzle is Les bacchantes emaornires(?) by Boucher.

I have searched the web and cannot come up with any information about the puzzle or the painting that it is based on and if I remember correctly this is one of the puzzles that you don't dare knock the table or sneeze because the pieces are not interlocking.

Thank you
"NLR"
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from Jim McW--3 July 2004:
We suspect that this is from a work by Francois Boucher, 18th century painter of France.
According to Anne Williams, in Jigsaw Puzzles: An Illustrated History and Price Guide", Brentano's were handcut wooden puzzles produced in the 1930's in Paris, France.
Of course, 424 should be the number of pieces.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1286]from "K29"--29 June 2004:
My Grandmother recently passed away and we found these great puzzles in her attic. I looked on the web and could not get ANY information on them. Do you recoginize them? The bottom of each puzzle says THE WATKINS-STRATHMORE COMPANY and each has the number 4964 printed in the upper right hand corner. Would these be worth selling? Or will they just be great "playing puzzles" for our kids?

THANKS!
"K29"
unknown title, babies - bears and birds
unknown title, bears and chipmunks
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from Jim McW--3 July 2004:
We have heard of this company and seen a few of their puzzles. I think we even have one in our own collection, but we know very little about the company.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1287]from "SDM"--29 June 2004:
RE: No. 1097, Page 71
I am also looking for these old Bits & Pieces puzzles. I have the Purple Passion (big purple dot) and I also have the Red Alert puzzle that I found in a resale shop. The Red Alert puzzle is red/pinks/whites puzzle pieces that are all thrown together in a messy pile. This is also a circular puzzle that probably came from the same line. I am looking for others like these. Another circular puzzle of a different color. These are so cool and I would like to have more that Bits and Pieces manufactured back in the early 1990's. Thanks, "SDM"
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[1288]from "MNG"--2 July 2004:
I am looking for a particular puzzle, and was wondering if you knew where I could locate one? It is titled "Boy oh Buoy", and is of an old fishing shack covered with lobster buoys. I know the photo was taken in Mystic or Noank Connecticut. Thank you for your time. "MNG"
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[1289]from "DT"--2 July 2004:
When I was about 8 years old I had a sickness that required me to stay flat in bed for 3 months. My parents both worked so my Uncle would come and stay with my brother and I while my parents were gone. My Mother worked at a Novelty Factory where they made jigsaw puzzles. She ran the press that cut the puzzles. One day she asked her boss if she could bring some of the rejects home for me to work while she was at work. He told her Absolutely Not. That she was to bring home a good one every evening for me which she did. The next day my Uncle would bring the piano bench over to my bed and I would lie on my stomach crosswise of the bed while he sat on the other side of the bench and we would work the puzzle. I remember some of them had a different picture on each side so we had to figure out which side of the piece went to the puzzle we were working. When we got one side done we would tear it apart and work the other side. That is what got me started working jigsaw puzzles. I am now 80 years old and still love to work the puzzles. The ones back then were probably only about 150 pieces. I prefer at least 1000 piece ones now.
"DT"
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[1290]from "FC"--29 June 2004:
how can i get assembly instructions for a 3D ANTIQUE PUZZLE VERSAILLES CLOCK ?

thank you
"FC"
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[1291]from "WJM"--4 July 2004:
Hi! I am new to the internet and found your site on puzzles. I have a Milton Bradley puzzle, approx. 24x36 signed by an Edward or Edmund somebody( the frame is covering the name) It is a picture of two girls and a boy in an old room feeding a bird in a birdcage. The colors are not very vibrant but more muted. I estimate it to be dated somewhere between 1920-1930? It has between 1500-2000 pieces. My daughters great great grandfather put it together. The house they use to live in was bought years ago by a local vet. The owner said it was found in the basement and hung the puzzle in the lobby because of the bird in the cage and the children feeding it some bread. We asked to buy the puzzle but he gave it to us as it was made by family.The puzzle is all intact, all pieces included. I think it is cardboard. I had it re framed last year by a professional. I am sorry, I do not have the means to send you a picture via e mail. Are you familiar with this item? I appreciate any help you can give me. I never found a picture of one like it on any sites I've seen so far. Are there any sites with pictures of early Milton Bradley puzzles? Do you know how old it is and its value?

Sincerely

"WJM"
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from Jim McW--4 July 2004:
We can only guess, of course, without a picture (which you are welcome to send by regular post). However, look at this picture:
"Yellow Bird", MILTON BRADLEY "OLD MASTERS"TM, [1960's or 1970's?]
The puzzle is based on a painting of unknown date, by Edmund Adler.
Thanks, Jim McW
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from "WJM"--8 July 2004:
Wow, thanks! Yes that is the picture I have. Are you saying it is from the 1960's or 70's? I am really surprised. My family thought it was very old. Did all the puzzles come so large? As I said, mine is somewhere around 1500-2000 pieces. The girl on the left in your picture has a blue ribbon above her head. Is that part of the puzzle as I do not have that. To the right of my picture is a door and to the left is a high table with bread and a knife on it. Thanks for all your help!
Sincerely
"WJM"
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from Jim McW--4 July 2004:
It was not unusual for the major puzzle companies to publish more than one puzzle, using the same original artwork. The guide picture we include above is probably a detail from a painting. The puzzle may well include more of the original painting than the box illustration.
The main reason that I estimated the age of your puzzle as the 1960's or 1970's is that carboard puzzles of more than 1000 pieces were not very common before the 1960's. Today I think they must be in the majority.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[1292]from "MP"--5 July 2004:
RE: question #882, 994, and 1191 - Cider Time Hidden Cat
Hi there. It's been a long time since I've been to your site and it has taken quite a while to catch up on all the questions and answers. You must devote a lot of time and effort to keeping up with everything and this is surely appreciated by all who find puzzles interesting and fun.

Re the hidden cat. I think you are all looking too hard. If you lean or stand back from the puzzle you can see the cat's head which fills nearly the whole picture. It is sort of a picture behind the picture. He is looking to the left and the ears are the house to the left of the lighthouse at the top and the church steeple a little bit right of the lighthouse. The dark tree line between the lighthouse and the church is the top of his head and the long slanting roof line of the house and garage in the middle toward the bottom is the jaw line.

If you put a piece of tissue paper over the puzzle and draw these lines out you can see where the outline is a little better and when you look at the puzzle itself the cats head will pop right out at you. Hope this helps and good luck.

Regards,
"MP"
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from Jim McW--5 July 2004:
Thanks for the kind words and the help with a line of puzzles with which we are not very familiar.
Jim McW
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from Jim McW-- 2 August 2008:
LATER UPDATE:
For what may be the "final word" on this, SEE cat.
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[1293]from "JM"--5 July 2004:
Hi,
I'm an avid puzzle collector and have been putting Jigsaws together for the last 50 years and I have two questions about two wooden puzzles I found at a yard sale. The first one is about the Talisman Puzzle Company. I feel that it's British by the subject matter, " The Skipper's birthday " by Margaret Doveston. It's a great puzzle with numerous figurals and unusual cutting. What time frame is it from ? Secondly, the other wooden puzzle was issued by John Wannamaker Co. However, the box has Philadelphia, New York, London, and Paris listed on it. There's no puzzle company named on the box. So who produced the puzzles for Wannamaker, and also, when is the puzzle from?. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
"JM"
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from Jim McW--5 July 2004:
According to Anne Williams, in Jigsaw Puzzles: An Illustrated History and Price Guide", Talisman puzzles were produced by the Shut-In Society, Philadelphia, PA, in the 1930's. Of course, American producers have used a great deal of European material for their puzzles.
She also says that John Wanamaker, New York, NY, sold hand-cut wooden puzzles and die-cut advertising puzzles, circa 1933.
Jim McW
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[1294]from "L6"--6 July 2004:
I have been looking for hours on several links. I have the fishing for rainbows puzzle made by Marlboro and I was just curious about the year it was made. Any suggestions available would be appreciated.
"L6"
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from Jim McW--8 July 2004:
I am not sure of the years for Marlboro, but I believe they were all made during the 1930's and, possibly, into the 1940's.
Jim McW
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from Jim McW--30 December 2007:
There's also a PICADILLY version of this same picture!
Jim McW
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[1295]from "PN"--9 July 2004:
Hello!

Back in the 1960s, I had this puzzle: "Copper Queen", Whitman Gold Seal Series 525.
All I have left of it is the picture which I cut out from the top of the box.

I would dearly love to know the name of the artist who painted "Copper Queen".
Also, if anyone has a copy of this puzzle for sale, I am interested!
Thank you,
"PN"
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from Jim McW--12 July 2004:
See No. 197, Page 14 and No. 529, Page 38. If anyone hears of such a puzzle for sale, please let us know!
Jim McW
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from Jim McW--1 August 2004:
Chris McCann has informed us the artist was Ruth Ray.
Jim McW
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