Production of
The Age of Steam series of steam railway jigsaw puzzles, by Arrow Games, began in the same year that the company was formed - 1965. All the series of four, 500-piece puzzles were made between 1965 and 1980. The jigsaws were made in Ireland even after Arrow became part of the Milton Bradley Group in 1972. A series of 300-piece puzzles was also produced in 1985. This post (22nd January 2011) comprises two pics showing examples from the the first and third series, and a third showing a printed description of series one.
The first pic shows No.6105
Cameron Highlander of the LMS, climbing Camden Bank, after exiting Euston Station with the 'Royal Scot' express. Details of each of the four jigsaws in this first series were included with every puzzle, as an A5 printed sheet. It is important to preserve this sheet with each puzzle; pic number two shows the printed sheet.
The provision of such details meant that each jisaw had no box title. The original artwork for this jigsaw was by George Heiron, who in my view, was one of the best artists at replicating exhaust.
The third pic in the post shows a jigsaw from the 1980 series titled
LMS Compound. The artist is not named. The class 4P 4-4-0 locomotive, No. 41125, heading a rake of BR carmine & cream coaches is depicted passing through a distinctively rural scene. One hundred and ninety five of the class were built by the LMS between 1924 and 1932. The Midland Railway had previously built forty five which were integrated into the LMS batch.
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The provision of such details meant that each jisaw had no box title. The original artwork for this jigsaw was by George Heiron, who in my view, was one of the best artists at replicating exhaust.