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History Of The Jigsaw Puzzle Trivia Quiz

Jigsaw puzzles are a popular pastime...a great way to reduce stress...a harmless addiction !

A multiple-choice quiz by catnippin. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
catnippin

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
47,153

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
967

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. It is generally agreed that the first jigsaw puzzle was produced around 1760 by John Spilsbury of London. What was his occupation? Hint

physician

toymaker

engraver and mapmaker

school teacher

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Question 2 of 10

2. Up until about 1880, jigsaw puzzles were known as... ? Hint

cut-up maps

puzzle boards

dissections

map puzzles

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Question 3 of 10

3. Puzzles for adults emerged around 1900. Did they have a guide picture on the box, like children's puzzles did ? Yes or No....

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. In the early 1900's, both wooden and cardboard jigsaw puzzles were available. Which type was preferred by manufacturers and retailers?

Answer: (One Word (wooden or cardboard..))

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Question 5 of 10

5. When was the Golden Age of jigsaw puzzles? Hint

1950's - 1960's

1940's - 1950's

1920's - 1930's

1930's - 1940's

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Question 6 of 10

6. In mid-1932 there was a vogue for what type of puzzle? Hint

landscape puzzles

map puzzles

animal puzzles

advertising puzzles

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Question 7 of 10

7. The autumn of 1932 brought a novel concept, the weekly jigsaw puzzle. The die-cut 'Jig of the Week' retailed for 25 cents and appeared on the news stands on which day of the week? Hint

Saturday

Monday

Wednesday

Friday

8. With improvements in lithography and die-cutting, cardboard puzzles became more attractive, especially when which American jigsaw puzzle producer introduced high quality reproductions of fine art on jigsaws? Hint

Gibsons

Viking

Parker Brothers

Springbok

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Question 9 of 10

9. Experimentation with pop-up figure pieces led to what kind of jigsaw puzzle? Hint

trick puzzles

computer-controlled puzzles

personalized puzzles

three-dimensional puzzles

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Question 10 of 10

10. Jigsaw puzzles can now be done online with a computer...True or False?

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It is generally agreed that the first jigsaw puzzle was produced around 1760 by John Spilsbury of London. What was his occupation?

Answer: engraver and mapmaker

Spilsbury mounted one of his maps on a sheet of hardwood and cut around the borders of the countries using a fine-bladed marquetry saw. The end product was an educational pastime, designed as an aid in teaching British children their geography!

2. Up until about 1880, jigsaw puzzles were known as... ?

Answer: dissections

With the introduction of the treadle saw in 1880 what had previously been called 'dissections' came to be known as jigsaw puzzles, although they were actually cut by a fretsaw, not a true jigsaw.

3. Puzzles for adults emerged around 1900. Did they have a guide picture on the box, like children's puzzles did ? Yes or No....

Answer: No

They were quite a challenge! If the title was vague or misleading, the true subject could remain a mystery until the last pieces were fitted into place...

4. In the early 1900's, both wooden and cardboard jigsaw puzzles were available. Which type was preferred by manufacturers and retailers?

Answer: wooden

Manufacturers were convinced that customers would not be interested in 'cheap' cardboard puzzles. Of course, a second motivation on their part was that the profit from a wooden puzzle, which might sell for $1.00, was far greater than for a cardboard puzzle, which would usually sell for about 25 cents.

5. When was the Golden Age of jigsaw puzzles?

Answer: 1920's - 1930's

With the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, puzzles for adults enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, peaking in early 1933 when sales reached an astounding 10 million per week! Puzzles offered an escape from the troubled times, as well as an opportunity to succeed in a modest way. Completing a jigsaw puzzle gave a sense of accomplishment that was hard to come by when the unemployment rate was climbing above 25 percent.

6. In mid-1932 there was a vogue for what type of puzzle?

Answer: advertising puzzles

Retail stores offered free puzzles with the purchase of a toothbrush, a flashlight, or hundreds of other products. What better way to keep a brand name before the public than to have customers working for hours to assemble a picture of the product?

7. The autumn of 1932 brought a novel concept, the weekly jigsaw puzzle. The die-cut 'Jig of the Week' retailed for 25 cents and appeared on the news stands on which day of the week?

Answer: Wednesday

People rushed to buy them and to be the first among their friends to solve that week's puzzle. There were dozens of weekly series including 'Picture Puzzle Weekly', 'B-Witching Weekly', 'Jiggers Weekly', and 'Movie Cut-Ups' featuring popular films.

Answer: Springbok

In 1965 hundreds of Americans struggled to assemble Jackson Pollock's 'Convergence', billed by Springbok as 'the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle'.

9. Experimentation with pop-up figure pieces led to what kind of jigsaw puzzle?

Answer: three-dimensional puzzles

10. Jigsaw puzzles can now be done online with a computer...True or False?

Answer: True

Source: Author catnippin

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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