The Hayter/Victory history is interesting. I feel amazed by the depth of your research. Often, when I feel motivated to research something on the Internet, I quickly get sidetracked because some unusual phrase will remind me of a song recorded by, say, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and I will then spend the subsequent hour tracking down and listening to golden oldies! However, I admire your level of research. The photo of the table tennis set looks awfully familiar. I don't recall the brand name on the box that was "archived" in my parents' home, but it was the set with which I learned that game/sport. It may well have been a Victory product. Besides a few minimal-piece, cardboard-tray jigsaw puzzles with images such as Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse, the first "serious" jigsaw puzzle I can remember was given to me at Christmas the year I was five. It was a plywood puzzle of perhaps 100 pieces made by Knightsbridge. I can see that vintage puzzles by that company are still advertised on-line. I haven't yet seen any history of the company, though. Thanks for your latest posting, Bill.
Great stuff, Bill. Just a footnote about the end of Victory. After Spears & Co folded in 1988, the Victory name was purchased by Waddington's, and they put out a series of 8 laser cut wooden jigsaw puzzles under that name in 1989. This was a short-lived experiment though. You will find some examples on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/140550140@N03/29100976892. Best wishes, Wout, Groningen, Netherlands.
Bill - I want to thank you for the time and effort that you have put into this piece. It certainly is a much more full account of the history of the business than has previously been available. As a founder of Victory 2.0, we look forward to uncovering more details of the Victory brand history and will ensure that we share everything we find with you. Thank you! Kindest regards, Andrew Knowles
I bought a Victory Plywood Jigsaw Puzzle V 2265 The Tiresome Sitter. I would love to know what year it is from. It says Series P 6, Popular Series. The box has a picture of the puzzle on it. Around it a design of red and gold on an off-white background. If you can help me that would be terrific.
Thank you so much for this detailed answer! I will continue my quest on some Facebook pages. Meanwhile I started putting it together and am enjoying just “feeling” the history of it in the pieces.
The Hayter/Victory history is interesting. I feel amazed by the depth of your research. Often, when I feel motivated to research something on the Internet, I quickly get sidetracked because some unusual phrase will remind me of a song recorded by, say, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and I will then spend the subsequent hour tracking down and listening to golden oldies! However, I admire your level of research. The photo of the table tennis set looks awfully familiar. I don't recall the brand name on the box that was "archived" in my parents' home, but it was the set with which I learned that game/sport. It may well have been a Victory product. Besides a few minimal-piece, cardboard-tray jigsaw puzzles with images such as Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse, the first "serious" jigsaw puzzle I can remember was given to me at Christmas the year I was five. It was a plywood puzzle of perhaps 100 pieces made by Knightsbridge. I can see that vintage puzzles by that company are still advertised on-line. I haven't yet seen any history of the company, though. Thanks for your latest posting, Bill.
Great stuff, Bill. Just a footnote about the end of Victory. After Spears & Co folded in 1988, the Victory name was purchased by Waddington's, and they put out a series of 8 laser cut wooden jigsaw puzzles under that name in 1989. This was a short-lived experiment though. You will find some examples on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/140550140@N03/29100976892. Best wishes, Wout, Groningen, Netherlands.
Bill - I want to thank you for the time and effort that you have put into this piece. It certainly is a much more full account of the history of the business than has previously been available. As a founder of Victory 2.0, we look forward to uncovering more details of the Victory brand history and will ensure that we share everything we find with you. Thank you! Kindest regards, Andrew Knowles
I bought a Victory Plywood Jigsaw Puzzle V 2265 The Tiresome Sitter. I would love to know what year it is from. It says Series P 6, Popular Series. The box has a picture of the puzzle on it. Around it a design of red and gold on an off-white background. If you can help me that would be terrific.
Thank you so much for this detailed answer! I will continue my quest on some Facebook pages. Meanwhile I started putting it together and am enjoying just “feeling” the history of it in the pieces.