Chad Valley jigsaws
ex 'GWR' puzzles
Between 1924 and 1939 Chad Valley produced 44 different jigsaw puzzles for the Great Western Railway. Some of these puzzles were published by Chad Valley under their own name after the war and those examples in our collection are shown below. We have also seen the 'Historic Totnes', 'Mountains of Killarney', 'Springtime in Devon' and 'St. David's Cathedral' puzzles published by Chad Valley in a box matching that of 'Glorious Devon' below.
150 pieces (approx. 17⅜" x 10⅞")
This view of London Bridge and the distant waterfront is signed by Claude H.Buckle and dated October 1934. Although the puzzle was initially produced for the GWR it carried no GWR branding but 'CP' which stands for 'Carter Paterson' who were a major parcels carrier at the time and one of their vans is featured crossing London Bridge. Whilst not carrying any reference to the GWR this was nonetheless part of the GWR promotional jigsaw series being advertised on a small leafletClick or tap link to see the original leaflet from 1934 with three other new GWR jigsaws all to be published on 21st September 1934. This puzzle was also sold with British Railways branding. That version was heavily cropped on the right to remove the Carter Paterson van, but also loosing the aeroplane and Tower Bridge in the process!
Our example of this puzzle comes in a standard size marbled green book type box with a coloured guide picture. We are not sure when this Chad Valley branded version was published, possibly in 1946-8 before the BR one was commissioned.
225 pieces (approx. 15½" x 12¼")
This puzzle was originally published by the GWR between 1930 and 1933 with 150 pieces. The location for the original photograph upon which this puzzle is based is not known, but it has been suggested that it could have been Clovelly Bay. The gorse in flower lightens the foreground and the cliffs on the far side of the bay recede into the distance.
This first version is contained in a traditional lift-off lid type box about 11½" x 7½" x 1½" and probably dates from the early 1950s. The full size guide picture continues round onto the sides of the lid. The box is untitled, other than having small a Chad Valley sticker attached. A large standard Chad Valley label
Click or tap link for a larger image is attached to the base of the box. ABOUT 225 PIECES has been rubber stamped onto this label.
175 pieces (approx. 14" x 10¼")
This second version is contained in a slightly smaller lift-off lid type box about 11" x 7" x 1¼" deep. It might be a later edition perhaps being smaller and cut into fewer pieces to save on production costs. The full size guide picture again continues round onto the sides of the lid and the box is untitled, other than having small a Chad Valley sticker attached. A large standard Chad Valley label
Click or tap link for a larger image is attached to the base of the box. ABOUT 175 PIECES has been rubber stamped onto this label.
