A Hand Cut Masterpiece

Wooden  jigsaw puzzles hand cut by a master of the craft have a great affinity with officianados of our hobby, and in comparison with cardboard equivalents have a proven status as family heirlooms. For this post, 17th May 2013, I am using just one picture featuring a wooden jigsaw of over 1100pcs hand cut by a lady of great expertise, Sara White. Sara, who sadly passed away in 2012, was revered among jigsaw puzzle collectors and a keenly anticipated supplier to the British Jigsaw Puzzle Library. I am lucky enough to own three examples of her work, each featuring steam trains. For biographical details of Sara look up Tom Tyler's book British Jigsaw Puzzles of the Twentieth Century.

Steam Trains is the title of a 1160 piece jigsaw expertly cut by Sara c1998; many whimsies are included to increase interest. Eleven steam locomotives heading passenger and freight stock are integrated into a tapestry of railway landscapes including infastucture such as bridges, a viaduct, signal boxes, stations and halts. In the picture all human beings,  in terms of passengers and staff, are replaced with rabbits in the style of Beatrix Potter. The jigsaw thus appeals to steam railway enthusiasts and those who like children's stories based on animals. The artwork is illustrative in style but the artist is unknown to me. The steam train illustrations are more than acceptable as accurate representations.

For interest, a second puzzle cut by Sara can be found in the post of 21st March 2011.

St Pancras and Waterloo

Today's post, 30th April 2013,  comprises two pictures of jigsaw puzzles featuring major railway stations in London,  in steam days naturally.
 

The first shows a 150-piece wooden jigsaw puzzle titled St Pancras, part of a 'GLEVUM' SERIES of puzzles. According to the Glevum Games website "Glevum Games was the principle trade name used by a firm established in Gloucester in 1894 by Harry Owen Roberts and his younger brother John Owen Roberts. Roberts Bros manufactured a vast range of products at their factory in Upton Street, Gloucester. The factory was built in 1902 and provided state-of-the-art workplace for the worforce of up to about 700 employees........". The company manufactured a huge range toys and games and some of the latter are often available on Ebay. A book about the company was published in 2003. The St Pancras jigsaw puzzle features several Midland 'Compound', 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed originally by Samuel Waite Johnson and updated by Richard Deeley. The locomotives/trains are static in the station with passengers and station staff prominent also.

The majestic St Pancras Station was completed for the Midland Railway (MR) in 1868. The railway had secured an Act of Parliament for the station five years previously - the site was adjacent to the Great Northern Railway’s Kings Cross Station. Before the new station was built the MR was using other London stations, particularly Euston, but had built its own London line from Bedford for the opening of St Pancras; the MR had become disillusioned with constant delays on lines into Euston. The 243ft span was exceptional for an interior and covered the magnificent trainshed of engineer William Barlow - the world’s largest enclosed space. 
 

 

The second picture shows a 500-piece jigsaw from Waddingtons titled Waterloo Station. Helen Madeleine McKie painted two posters for the Southern Railway in 1948 to commemorate the Centenary of the opening of the rebuilt Waterloo Station. Britain in the grip of war is contrasted with the station in peacetime in the two posters. The posters show hundreds of busy passengers in exactly the same positions and poses in each, but with clothing and roles changed to match the time. The distinction between red tunics and khaki uniforms of the guardsmen in both posters is particularly interesting as is the wartime camouflage and post war decor of the station. The jigsaw replicates the peacetime poster.

 

Waterloo Station was opened by the London & South Western Railway in 1848 as Waterloo Bridge Station comprising just four platforms and six tracks. It was built on an extension from Nine Elms Station which was the L&SWR London terminus. The station was extended in 1860, 1878 and 1885. In 1886 it was named Waterloo Station but the three earlier extensions had ceated total chaos for passengers resulting from eighteen platforms and only ten platform numbers. The terminus was completely rebuilt by the same railway company between 1900 and 1922 into a new, twenty-one platform station, opened by Queen Mary on 21st March 1922. 

Three from Arrow

Today's post, 5th April 2013, comprises three pictures of jigsaw puzzles replicating the artwork of Terence Cuneo. The trio were made by Arrow, one of the huge manufacturers of the 1960's/70's.

 

Many of Cuneo's paintings were the result of commissions and his portfolio of  subject material was immense. However, he is probably most famous for his railway paintings which are highly sought after by collectors. Several of his paintings were commissioned by the model railway companies Tri-ang and Hornby for use in catalogues, leaflets etc including the three that are pictured below.

 

 

Picture number one shows the first of three 320-piece puzzles from Arrow, this one titled Class 4 Diesel-electric at Saltash (later designated as class 40). This painting was used on the 1963 Triang catalogue. A class 4 diesel- electric locomotive is shown heading a main line express across the famous, single line bridge while a 'Grange' class 4-6-0 steam locomotive waits to cross in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second puzzle is titled Night Scene at Crewe. This painting was used on the front of the Triang-Railways - Hornby Dublo leaflet describing their amalgamation in 1965 and again on the Triang Hornby catalogue of the following year. In his book The Railway Paintings of Terence Cuneo the artist titles this painting Voltage versus Steam. Shown in contrast to each other are a small, steam tank locomotive and a class 'AL5' electric locomotive E3077, later re-numbered 85022, heading a speeding express.

 

 

 

 

 

The third jigsaw of 320-pieces is titled M7 at Stratford.  Arrow was owned by Lines Brothers who also owned Triang Hornby and the jigsaw manufacturer marketed this third puzzle with the other two as a short series or set. Hornby Railways continued to use Cuneo paintings for catalogues, leaflets etc into the 1970's. The small class 'M7' 0-4-4 tank locomotive No.245 is pictured standing outside Stratford Works. This ex Southern Railway locomotive is part of the National Collection in York and was originally built for the London & South Western Railway.

Engine Spotter's Jigsaws

This post, 19th March 2013 and the first for some time, (apologies if you are a follower) comprises four pictures, showing two jigsaw puzzles and their boxes, an unusual diversion for me. 

  

The two jigsaws pictured are from the Tower Press Engine Spotter's Series of six, 200 piece examples. The quality of the puzzles is not of the higher standard of other Tower Press puzzles with the poor quality repeated in the box manufacture. The boxes clearly indicate the main purpose of manufacturing the puzzles - to assist train spotters with the correct identification of steam locomotives. The printed description on each box reads "Famous Engines in Authentic Detail".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first jigsaw is titled Midland Region Class 7P. 4.6.2. 'Pacific' type. No.46255 City of Hereford. The class of thirty-eight was the brainchild of Sir William Stanier of the LMS and was constructed at Crewe over an eleven year period, originating in 1937. The locomotive is 'dressed' in BR 'Express Passenger Blue', a livery carried for variable lengths of time by twenty-seven members of the class, from c1949. The power class of these 'Pacifics' was later revised by BR to '8P'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second jigsaw is titled Western Region "King" Class. 4.6.0. type. No.6000 "King George V". The class of thirty-one 'Kings' was designed by Charles Collett and initially power-classed as 'Special', later revised to '8P' by BR. This engine is also shown in BR 'Express Passenger Blue', a livery short-lived on the Western Region of BR. Artistic renditions of this locomotive have been extensively used by jigsaw manufacturers over many years, a trend started by the Chad Valley Company in 1928.

 

Two from Victory

In today's post, 9th February 2013, I am using photographs of two Victory wooden jigsaws which can be described as children's examples because of their size. Both feature Great Western Railway (GWR) scenes. This is also our 100th post since we began in July 2010. Many thanks to everyone who email me with support,  comments and queries.

 

First up is a picture of a 30-piece puzzle featuring a GWR 'Star' class 4-6-0 locomotive designed by George Jackson Churchward. There is no title on the box, just the number P.O. Churchward embraced engineering principles from abroad (mainly France)  when building his 'Stars'. The prototype, provisionally numbered 40 in 1906, was later named North Star and was of 4-4-2 wheel configuration. The wheel configuration was altered to 4-6-0 in 1909, and the number, to 4000 in 1912.  The last member numerically of the class, No.4072 Tresco Abbey, was built in 1923. One 'Star' class locomotive, No.4003 Lode Star, has been preserved in the National Collection at York. In the picture the F. Moore name appears as the artist but there was never an artist by this name. Thomas Rudd was the main artist for the Locomotive Publishing Company in the early 20th Century and it was this company that used the 'F. Moore' name for its published pictures and prints. The carriages are also early 20th century designs of a crimson lake colour which appeared c1912.

 

Picture number two shows a 45-piece jigsaw titled Birmingham & North Express, at Hatton Summit, GWR. The artist is not named. A 'King' class 4-6-0 locomotive of Charles Collett is pictured heading the express but the number, and the corresponding name, are unclear. The carriages in this picture are of post 1922, chocolate and cream vintage. The class of thirty-one, the most powerful 4-6-0s ever built, appeared on  GWR metals  between 1927 and 1936. The prototype No.6000 King George V, is described in several previous posts, but particularly in that of 3rd November 2010.

 

These two jigsaws are less common than other children's railway jigsaws from Victory. Wooden puzzles of this vintage inevitably suffer from paper loss, broken lugs etc. so don't be too disappointed if your examples are  less than perfect.

Artist George Heiron

This post, 4th February 2013, follows on from others I have put together describing jigsaw puzzles replicating paintings by some of my favourite railway artists. John Austin, Barry Freeman, Malcolm Root and Don Breckon have already featured and George Heiron (1929-2001) is next. 

 

George was born in 1929 not far away from the famous Temple Meads Station. The Great Western Railway was in its heyday and it must have been inspiring growing up as a Bristolian prior to the Second World War. Those magnificent Churchward and Collett locomotives must have impressed George in his formative years as he became a freelance photographer and artist following his National Service; steam railways were his passion. Bristol was known as the ‘crossroads of the west’ and George described the railway as “this most noble form of transport”.  His most prolific photographic period was the last decade of British Railways when he shot the final throes of steam in his native West Country. His images epitomise the very essence of the period and were mixed with his fine efforts with brush and canvas. He was an original member of the influential  Guild of Railway Artists where he was in illustrious company mixing with other railway artists at the top of their profession. He was part of the first National Exhibition of Railway Art in 1977 when 18 artists exhibited 150 pictures.  In terms of railway paintings being transformed into jigsaw puzzles, George Heiron’s paintings were very popular with manufacturers Victory, Arrow and Falcon.

 

 

My first picture features the Falcon De-luxe jigsaw of 500 pieces, The Golden Arrow - SR. George painted this picture in 1991, and along with three others it was issued as a series titled Steamtrains in 1992. The Golden Arrow luxury service from London Victoria to Dover was terminated in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, but was re-introduced in 1946. It had been operating from 1929 starting as an all-Pullman service hauled by a 'Lord Nelson' class 4-6-0 locomotive or, occasionally, by a 'King Arthur' class 4-6-0. In the picture the 'Golden Arrow' is headed by a Bulleid 'Merchant Navy' class 4-6-2, No.21C1 Channel Packet.

 

 

The second picture shows another jigsaw from the same series, this one titled The Cornish Riviera Limited - GWR. This express resulted from an improved Paddington to Penzance (via Plymouth) service in 1904 and the returns from a subsequent competition to find a name for the train. As the express gained in popularity and inevitably, weight, it required larger motive power in the form of 'King' class 4-6-0 locomotives to Plymouth where 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotives, took over haulage duties. The scene painted by George and by many others features the famous red 'Parson and Clerk Rocks' (known otherwise as 'Pulpit and Clerk Rocks') at Dawlish, in Devon.  

Steam and Dockyards

For this first post of the new year, 16th January 2013, I am using photographs of two jigsaw puzzles showing steam locomotives working in dockyards. The first jigsaw features a freight working and the second, two different passenger services. For the more general jigsaw enthusiast these two puzzles may be more attractive as the steam trains are not the main focus of attention. 

The first photograph shows a Good Companion jigsaw of 400-pieces titled The Last of the Cargo. A British Railways (BR) 'Standard' class '4' 2-6-0 locomotive, designed by Robert Riddles, is pictured heading cargo vans while being held at a set of points. The locomotive was built in 1952 and withdrawn from service just thirteen years later. In the background is a passenger liner (?), a working tug and another ship, possibly a ferry. A line of flat wagons loaded with drums (chemicals or oil etc) is also included in the foreground. Two war planes are included by the artist T. E. North.

The second pic also shows a 400-piece jigsaw from Good Companion, this one titled Train Ferry. The setting is a dock terminal featuring Pullman cars, possibly from an overnight sleeper service, being loaded onto the ferry.  The locomotive pushing the cars is indistinct. To the fore is a second passenger service comprising BR carmine and cream livery coaches, headed by what appears to be a BR 'Standard' class '7' 4-6-2 locomotive. A tug and another passenger craft add to the nautical theme of the puzzle. The artist is T. E. North once again.

Stanier and Gresley 'Pacifics'

This post, 11th December 2012, comprises two jigsaw pictures showing large 4-6-2 ('Pacific') express locomotives designed by two of the greatest mechanical engineers, Sir William Stanier and Sir Nigel Gresley. The knighthoods give some indication of the huge contribution made by both of these men to locomotive engineering.

 

The  first jigsaw picture shows a Stanier 'Princess Coronation' class 'Pacific' locomotive, No 46229 Duchess of Hamilton in an engine shed setting, at a coaling plant; the artwork was by Terence Cuneo (1907-1996). The locomotive was one of Cuneo's favourites and is, of course, part of the National Collection in York. Cuneo was the most famous railway artist of the twentieth century. His slightly impressionistic style was favoured by many art lovers - railway enthusiasts or not - including the most discerning of art critics. Although I remain a Great Western Railway (GWR) man at heart, I must admit that this London Midland Scottish (LMS) 'Pacific' design, introduced in 1937, is my favourite among many handsome contempories. The jigsaw is a 500-piece wooden example from Wentworth titled Duchess of Hamilton on Shed. Apologies for using this picture for a second time on the blog but I think it is justified in this context.

 

The second jigsaw picture shows an equivalent locomotive from the LNER, one of Gresley's 'A4' class of 'Pacifics'. These locomotives, introduced in 1935,  were very fast with one of the class, No.4468 Mallard, holding the world speed record at 126mph. The jigsaw is a 500-piece example from Moat House Products replicating excellent artwork from David M. West. The locomotive in the picture is No.60017 Silver Fox heading the Kings Cross - Edinburgh, non-stop, 'The Captals Limited' service. The scene is painted in British Railways (BR) days, after 1948.
 

Two Wooden Puzzles

In today's post, 9th November 2012, I am showing two photographs of wooden jigsaws, both featuring artwork by one of my favourite artists, Don Breckon. I have described other examples from the same series in previous posts - 24th January 2012 and 22nd July 2012.

Wooden jigsaws are obviously more expensive than cardboard equivalents and pre-date them by around 120 years. It is widely believed that the first jigsaw puzzle, or 'dissected puzzle' as it would have been called originally, was made by London engraver and  map maker John Spilsbury c1760. Although more expensive, wooden jigsaws don't lose value at the same rate as cardboard examples and are more appropriate to pass on as family heirlooms.

The first picture, showing a 155-piece puzzle, is titled Changing Trains. Ex GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0, No.5098 Clifford Castle, is waiting in Cornwall's Lostwithiel Station in the late 1950's with a Penzance bound passenger service. This train comprises main line chocolate and cream passenger coaches. Also in the picture is a branch line train of BR maroon suburban coaches waiting to take passengers to Fowey (as indicated on the station name board). Heading this local service is one of the little 'workhorses'of the old GWR, a '14xx' class 0-4-2T tank locomotive. 

 

 

The second picture shows a 238-piece jigsaw titled Racing the Train. The jigsaw features a superbly typical Breckon country painting showing a branch-line in the West Country.  A suburban service, headed by GWR 2-6-2 '45xx' or 'Prairie' class locomotive, No. 4570, is travelling on a single line beside a dirt track. On the track two young boys, on foot, appear to be racing the train.

The origin of these superbly cut wooden puzzles is unknown to me but they are part of a series; of the series, six puzzles are in my collection. 

National Railway Museum Jigsaws

Ryco Crafts of Ripon produced jigsaw puzzles for the National Railway Museum (NRM) in 2004 and two of them are featured in today's post, 20th October 2012.
 

 

Both puzzles comprise 500 pieces. The first, titled Steamfest, features a reproduced photograph of  two locomotives at this gala event. On the left is David Shepherd's BR class '9F' 2-10-0,  92203 which he named Black Prince. This name was not carried by any locomotive for BR.  The famous wildlife artist purchased two steam locomotives from British Railways (BR) in 1967 - No.92203 and BR 'Standard' class '4MT' 4-6-0 No.75029 which he subsequently named The Green Knight. Following a diligent search for land in south west England on which he could build a railway, David found a derelict area at Cranmore in 1971. Together with enthusiastic friends, David purchased the site and the East Somerset Railway was opened two years later. On the right hand side in the jigsaw picture is SR 'King Arthur' class 4-6-0, No.30777 Sir Lamiel, part of the National Collection.


The second jigsaw photograph depicts (Sir) Nigel Gresley's class 'A1' (later 'A10' and 'A3') 4-6-2, No.4472 Flying Scotsman, also the title of the jigsaw.The locomotive has been immortalised in many forms, not least in jigsaw puzzles. Most jigsaw manufacturers / retailers pictured Flying Scotsman  in pre-1960 form, without smoke deflectors - Falcon, Ravensburger, Arrow, Victory, Hope, W. H. Smith and Tower Press for example.The NRM issued the puzzle replicating a photograph of the locomotive with German-style smoke deflectors (affectionately known as 'blinkers') attached. The icon of UK railways became part of the National Collection in 2004, purchased for the nation with private, public and Heritage Lottery funding.

A third Ryco Crafts / NRM jigsaw puzzle published at the same time is described in the post of 11th January 2011.