Still in the 1940s

And following yesterday's post I dug out this catalogue featuring two more of my jigsaws.

The Flying Scotsman was really difficult, but the Horse was described as being, "cut into a few simple pieces with the background left entire so that there is an outline of the object to be made up." 

Rather astonishingly it suggests that,

 "when the jigsaw becomes too easy it can be cut into more pieces." 

Luckily I was never told this was an option or I would have certainly had a go at it with my trusty penknife.

I still mourn the loss of this knife with its mother-of-pearl handle.

 I dropped it out of the apple tree I was perching in and never saw it again.

I also deeply regret missing the opportunity to visit schools in Sweden in May 1939.

The brochure tells me that Paul Abbatt conducted a party of parents and teachers to find out at first hand about the educational system. 

The tour was to last 10-14 days and ' the fees will be kept as moderate as possible.'

Fourth of the fourth

This is what I found in the fourth position in the fourth folder - 

an old Abbatt jigsaw from my childhood. 

Actually it was probably bought by my mother for her Nursery school

 which was run from our house in the late 60s and early 70s.

Paul and Marjorie Abbatt were pioneers of children's educational toys in the 1930s.

 They opened a shop in Wimpole Street designed by their friend,

 the modernist architect Erno Goldfinger.

Jane Audas has more information in her trenchant blog 

Shelf Appeal.

I wasn't overly keen on jigsaws.

They spelt boredom on a Sunday afternoon listening to the syrupy medleys on Sing Something Simple.