🔵🔴RARE, Pastime Puzzle, Parker Brothers Inc. Vintage “Sam Weller” Series, over 300 Pieces. By Cecil Aldin, London. This is a Highly Collectible, Hand cut, Wooden, Mid 1900’s puzzle, featuring Sam Weller, a fictional character, humorous Cockney bootblack who becomes Samuel Pickwick's devoted companion and servant in The Pickwick Papers (1836–37) by Charles Dickens. The condition of this Vintage, Complete puzzle is Exceptional. While the Original box has storage wear the wooden pieces are in great condition. Includes unique figure pieces, and Non-interlocking pieces. No picture guides were included with these puzzles. There may be some light glare/reflection on some photos. The listed item is Exactly what you’ll receive. See pictures. Read below the history of this High Quality puzzle manufacturer.

Parker Brothers, a large game manufacturer in Salem, MA from the 19th century, didn't get started in the puzzle business until late in 1908. Almost immediately, its sales of puzzles, especially its top line, Pastime, took off and the Company ceased making games entirely in 1909, shifting all its facilities to the production of hand cut wood puzzles. Over the next 3 years they adopted several techniques which made their puzzles into the best of the commercially cut puzzles for the next 50 years. They adopted the prevailing style of color line cutting, mainly for the larger color areas. Within color areas, they incorporated numerous pieces we call "figure pieces". To support these cutting techniques they used sturdy 3-ply wood rather than solid wood of that era. The Company hired only women to cut puzzles, the common rationale being men lacked the manual dexterity needed to cut small pieces, and most women already knew how to use sewing machines. The best cutters would make their own designs and were able to cut some of the best puzzles made during the first half of the 20th century. By 1958 the Company had closed down its Pastime line.

This is a beautiful, challenging wooden puzzle, from a bygone era, that would be great for any collector or individual that enjoys high quality vintage puzzles.