GWR jigsaws
1934 to 1937 puzzles
Sir Francis Drake at Plymouth/Drake Goes West 1934 until 1939
This puzzle is based on a painting by Claude H.Buckle and was first published with the title 'Sir Francis Drake at Plymouth’, then from about 1935 as 'Drake Goes West'. We have yet to find an example with the earlier name however.
The picture depicts the quayside at Plymouth in 1572 with an un-named ship with its sails set being loaded with stores, whilst a second ship is almost hidden behind and another has already left port. The figure in the bright blue cloak looks to be checking the inventory, although it is not certain whether this is Sir Francis Drake himself. Our later example retains its original packing slip
Click or tap link for a larger image and the original pamphlet
Click or tap link for a larger image which tells the story of Sir Francis Drake.
400 pieces (approx. 23" x 15½") early GWR motif
400 pieces (approx. 22¾" x 15⅛") later GWR roundel
Locomotives Old and New 1934 until 1939
It is not known which artist painted this fictional scene depicting the broad gauge 'Lord of the Isles' being overtaken by a train hauled by the locomotive 'King George V'. First published with about 200 pieces, this puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938.
200 pieces (approx. 19½" x 9½")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 19⅝" x 9½")
London Highways 1934 until 1937
Painting signed by Claude H.Buckle and dated October 1934.
This rare (and short lived) puzzle is branded '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 is nonetheless part of the GWR promotional jigsaw series and was 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, and in the November 1934 edition of Literature of Locomotion. Thought by some to have stopped being sold at the end of 1936, it was still shown in the Literature of Locomotion in early 1937 but disappeared from later ones of that year. We have two examples in our collection which serve to illustrate how the cut of jigsaws differed between operators. Clicking or tapping on the jigsaw thumbnail will open a gallery showing both examples.
We have in our collection a later version of this puzzle published by Chad Valley under their own brand consisting of 150 pieces contained in a green marbled book type box. 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 lost the aeroplane and Tower Bridge in the process!
Carter Paterson had a long history, being constituted as a limited company in 1887. In October 1933 the Big Four railway companies (Southern Railway, Great Western Railway, London, Midland & Scottish Railway, and London & North Eastern Railway) took control in equal shares of Carter Paterson. The company continued to operate but as a subsidiary of another carrier the Big Four had bought at the same time, the Hay's Wharf Cartage Company which was better known as Pickford's. Following railway nationalisation in 1948, Carter Paterson was absorbed by the British Transport Commission which adopted the name 'British Road Services' for its road haulage operations. The red and green 'CP' device on the jigsaw box echoed the design of a card which customers would display in a window to indicate that a parcel awaited collection. So well known were the company that for a very short period in 1948 the airlift of supplies to the British garrison and the civilian population of West Berlin was named 'Operation Carter Paterson'.
200 pieces (approx. 19⅞" x 9¾")
The Night Mail 1934 until 1937
By an unknown artist.
As the mail train speeds past, two men can be seen through the open door and light just catches two mailbags hanging on the apparatus ready to be caught by the net extended under the watchful eye of one of the men. Only a small bar across the door prevents him from falling out! There is a red letter box in the side of the coach with 'G.R.' above. When the train was standing at intermediate stations, letters could be posted using this box. A descriptive leaflet would have originally come with the puzzle.
The Streamline(d) Way 1934 until 1938
This picture, painted by an unknown artist, is believed to be set in front of the Dartmoor hills. It shows the very new streamlined A.E.C. streamlined diesel railcar number 4 and 'ghost' of the locomotive 'King George V'. Clearly intended to illustrate where the future of passenger rail transport lay. The original design featured streamlined bodywork, which was very much the fashion at the time. The rounded lines of the first examples built led to their nickname: "flying banana", later had much more angular bodywork. The GWR first introduced what was to become their very successful series of diesel railcars in 1933, many of which survived in regular use into the 1960s and a few examples can still be found in preservation. The railcar from the puzzle is on static display at the National Railway Museum in York, whist number 22, built in 1944, operates at the Didcot Railway Centre.
First published with about 200 pieces, the puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938. A descriptive pamphlet would have been included with the puzzle.
200 pieces (approx. 17" x 10¾")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 17" x 11")
200 pieces (approx. 17" x 10¾")
In our collection, we have this 200 piece version of the puzzle bearing the title The Streamlined Way, with the extra 'd'. We are not too sure if this was simply an error in printing, or if this was the name used on just the very early edition of the puzzle. So far we have not seen a 150 piece version with this name, so it remains a mystery. However, the label on the front bears the early ornate GWR initials, whereas the later GWR roundel appears on the spine label. This suggests that it may well have been produced during 1934 when labels were being changed, with old box front and name label stock being used up, and the new labels with GWR roundels starting to be used on the spine.
The Fishguard Army, 1797 1934 until 1939
This painting, signed by Claude Buckle, celebrates the last (and failed) invasion of the British Isles. French troops and ships which can be seen in the distance came to Fishguard in 1797 hoping that the Welsh would join them. They mistook a body of Welsh ladies who had come to oppose them dressed in their national costume for Redcoats and surrendered without firing a shot! First produced with about 200 pieces, the puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938. Our earlier 200 piece example contains a copy of the booklet 'The Literature of Locomotion' dated July 1934 and the original pamphlet
Click or tap link for a larger image describing the story behind the jigsaw.
The label on the front of the second example of the 200 piece version below bears the early ornate GWR initials, whereas the later GWR roundel appears on the spine label. This suggests that it may well have been produced during 1934 when labels were being changed, with old stock being used up on the box fronts and the latest labels starting to be used on the spine.
200 pieces (approx. 16¾" x 11¼")
200 pieces (approx. 16⅞" x 11⅛")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 16⅞" x 11¼")
The Model Railway 1934 until 1939
The original painting is by A.Duncan Carse whose signature is just legible in the shadow of the girl's dress. Having first been published with about 200 pieces, this puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938. So far, we have been unable to obtain a complete example of the later version. Sadly, three pieces have been lost and two are broken in our example seen below.
The picture shows two children who stop playing with their 'O' gauge tin-plate train to watch as an express passenger train passes by on the main line. The view through the window is believed to show Dawlish Warren looking towards Exmouth, with a Castle Class locomotive hauling the Cornish Riviera Express. The model railway looks to be based on Chad Valley items and this picture was certainly used by them on a number of their train set boxesClick or tap link to see four of the train set boxes. Whilst the model locomotives and passenger coaches seem to be drawn from various railway companies, the goods wagons are all marked 'G W'.
200 pieces (approx. 15⅜" x 12¾")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 15¼" x 12⅝")
200 pieces (approx. 15⅝" x 12")
G.W.R. Locomotives In The Making 1937 until 1939
Based on a photograph, the painting is signed by the artist Murray Secretan. Having first been published with about 200 pieces, this puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938. So far, we have been unable to obtain an example of the later version.
The picture shows a large group of schoolboys and their teachers, all but one being male, on a visit to the locomotive works at Swindon. No hard hats and high vis jackets in those days! A Pannier tank number 1268 is being hoisted overhead whilst they all stand next to a Castle class which is under construction. We have found a copy of the original photograph upon which the painting is based. In 1934 the GWR published a book titled Cheltenham Flyer - A new Railway Book for Boys of All Ages . This 232 page book contained chapters covering not only the route of the named train itself, but also many topics of engineering and operational interest. No fewer than four chapters were devoted to the railway works at Swindon, and one double page photographClick or tap link to see the photograph turned out to be the original for this jigsaw. The January 1935 edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine carried a photograph of another school visitClick or tap link to see the photograph.
Included in the box for our 200 piece version is the original packing slip
Click or tap link for a larger image, a copy of the booklet 'The Literature of Locomotion' from late 1937, and a small double sided leafletClick or tap link to see the leaflet advertising 'Other publications for Railway Enthusiasts'.
Cornwall - - Preparing for a Catch 1937 until 1939
Signed by Ronald Lampitt, this painting was used on a poster simply titled CORNWALL. The first version of this puzzle was produced with about 200 pieces and was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938.
This puzzle has hints of a coloured border and is painted in an unusual 'tapestry' style. The location is probably fictitious and shows fishermen preparing their boats which have their sails set ready, and the inevitable seagulls overhead. Seen across the harbour are some of the cottages from the village and cliffs beyond.
200 pieces (approx. 11½" x 16¾")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 11½" x 16½")
Windsor Castle from the air 1937 until 1939
Image overpainted on an aerial photograph. First published with about 200 pieces, the puzzle was reduced to about 150 pieces in 1938
This aerial view looking west shows the State Apartments, Round Tower and St. George's Chapel in the background, behind which are the Thames and road bridge to Eton. In the foreground two Guards bands are formed up and there are many people enjoying the formal gardens.
200 pieces (approx. 16" x 12¼")
150 pieces from 1938 (approx. 15⅞" x 12⅛")
