JIGSAW PUZZLES

There are many kinds of puzzles. Puzzles like crosswords, riddles, and word searches use language but a very popular form uses pictures. This is the JIGSAW PUZZLE.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

It is generally agreed that John Spilsbury, a print shop owner and map maker in London, England created the first jigsaw puzzle in about 1760. He glued a map onto a piece of wood, and cut along the borders of the countries with a fine-bladed marquetry saw. This was done to help teach British children about geography. The idea caught on and, until about 1820, puzzles remained an educational tool.

These early puzzles were called dissection. The introduction of the treadle saw in 1880, saw the name change to the now familiar jigsaw puzzle.

Cardboard puzzles were first introduced in the late 1800's, and were primarily used for children’s puzzles but, around 1907 they moved into the adult market and by 1908 a full blown craze had developed starting in the Eastern United States. The golden age of jigsaw puzzles stared in the 1920's peaking in 1933. The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 caused people to spend more time at home. It might seem odd at first glance that a non-necessity like a jigsaw puzzle would sell so well in the Depression. But the appeal, then as now, was that one bought a good deal of entertainment for a small price. People found that working on a puzzle reduced stress and completing one gave a feeling of accomplishment. Something that was hard to come by at that time.

In the early days puzzles made of wood or plywood were expensive-costing as much as a weeks wages for the average worker. The 1930's saw the development of mass produced die-cut cardboard puzzles, cut on giant industrial presses by companies such a Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley. Libraries and drugstores then started offering puzzle rentals at 25 cents for 3 days.

Colour photocopiers and ink jet printer technology, have reduced printing costs. The huge industrial press problem was solved with the advent of our roller press. Pressures required are enormous. The 308 piece puzzle requires 150 tons of pressure to cup the cardboard.

The popularity of jigsaw puzzles has waxed and waned since the Depression. They are still, just like the first ones, sometimes used to teach geography. They are still available in both wood and cardboard and a lot of entertainment for a small price. You can even do jigsaw puzzles online. Just go to: http://www.jigsawland.com.

Clementoni Jigsaw Puzzles

Clementoni is an Italian-based manufacturer of jigsaw puzzles - some of the highest-quality puzzles in the world, and also maker of the world's largest jigsaw puzzle. Materials used are top-notch, pieces fit together extremely well, and puzzles come with a packet of puzzle glue powder that can be mixed with water and used on the puzzle.

Photomosaics Jigsaw Puzzles

Photomosaics is a method of arranging thousands of tiny photographs that, when viewed from a distance, combine to form a single larger image. 1,000 pieces.

Something to ponder:

At the Crayola Crayon web site you can create your own jigsaw puzzle in their activity section. Visit them at http://www.crayola.com.