No.7 - 'Jigsaw' Isn't it weird?
To most people, when you say 'jigsaw,' the immediate image that comes to mind is a 500 or 1,000 piece die-cut puzzle made out of cardboard.
However, a jigsaw puzzle is called a "jigsaw" because of the type of saw originally used to cut the pieces.
In the 1760s, the first jigsaw puzzles were made by mounting maps or pictures on thin wood and cutting them into pieces.
These were cut using a fretsaw, but by the late 1800s to early 1900s, puzzle makers like Victory's founder, Gerald Hayter, began using a jigsaw—a type of reciprocating saw with a fine blade.
Even though fretsaws and scroll saws were more commonly used for intricate cutting, the name "jigsaw puzzle" stuck because the term "jigsaw" was more widely recognized at the time.
Despite the fact that modern cardboard jigsaw puzzles aren't cut with an actual jigsaw, the name remains from the historical method of production.
Today, our wooden puzzles are made using laser beams, which allow us to create wonderfully intricate, irregularly shaped pieces and delightful whimsies!
If he were around today, I wonder what Gerald would have thought about this modern technology.
Personally, I think he would be amazed and enthralled - and especially delighted that the brand he created over 100 years ago in his garden shed with his own jigsaw is still being enjoyed by thousands of puzzle enthusiasts like you!
To learn more about the origins of the Victory brand - check out our About Us page.