Tower Press

Tower Press was a British jigsaw puzzle and games manufacturer, most active from the 1930s until 1969 when they were bought by Waddingtons. By the early 1960s they were the largest jigsaw puzzle maker in the world.

History

The company had its origins in the Isle of Man.[1] They began making cardboard wearings in the 1930s but were best known for their jigsaw puzzles and later children's games. They made a jigsaw puzzle range named "Riders of the Range",[2] and also made games such as Ask Pickles (1948),[3] Inspector Brown,[4] and many others. By the early 1960s they were the world's largest maker of jigsaw puzzles.[5] They purchased Budgie Toys, which was said to also be a serious competitor to the Dinky and Corgi lines in the 1960s.[5] In 1969, shortly before the acquisition by Waddingtons, Tower Press were cited as "the most impressive example of the QE2's selling power" when they sold over 150,000 jigsaw puzzles of Queen Elizabeth II and were expected to sell a further 50,000.[6]

References
  1. "Tower Press". Boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. World's Press News and Advertisers' Review. World's Press News Publishing Company, Limited. February 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  3. "Ask Pickles". Boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  4. Williams, Anne Douglas; Shortz, Will (1 November 2004). The jigsaw puzzle: piecing together a history. Berkley Books. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-425-19820-9. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  5. Achievement. World Trade Magazines Ltd. 1962. p. 31. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  6. British Industry Week. CBI/INI. January 1969. p. 39. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
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