Posted 10 years ago
HarleyHH
(1 item)
Old puzzle from around 1920's or 30's. Pieces are non-interlocking so it's as much work keeping it together as it is finding pieces. Also, there is not a picture of the puzzle on the box.
C. W. Busby Co. Puzzle Titled: First Lesson. | ||
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If anyone knows anything about C. W. Busby & Co. of Washington, Iowa we would like to hear. Guessing they were in business around the early 1920's.
It is cheating to look at the box picture anyway.
Hi Harley HH,
I don't know anything yet about this company, but I have had one of its puzzles for years, and am now just beginning to put it together. Like you said it's going to be a job just keeping it together, and I have no idea what the picture is, nor which way is up or down. All guesswork. I just signed on to reply to your question, and comment. I do not know how to post a picture once I get it together, but was looking to see if there was any information about this company. I live about 20 miles from Washington, Iowa.
Regards, Lakota
One more thing. It says on the box Autumn Color, so that will be a challenge.
Lakota
Hi Lakoa, Sounds like your puzzle will be fall leaves. On the box does it say "Manufactured by C. W. Busby & Company". If you live that close to Washington, Iowa, you should go there to check into it. Where did you get ahold of the puzzle. Ours was at a antique shop. Anyway, good luck with the puzzle.
Hi HarleyHH,
My box is exactly like yours. 216 pieces, and I suspect they used the same cut for all of their puzzles. Mine says Lot No. GP-178. I can't quite read yours, but it looks like a 4 digit number. Mine also is 12 x 15. I can't remember when or where I got mine, but feel sure it came in a box of items I may have bought at an auction. I thought at the time, it was an antique, and I would someday have to put it together. Last winter I began doing puzzles again after decades of not doing so. I find it so relaxing, even though at times frustrating, but that's the fun of it. Always a challenge, and a nice reward when finished. Today I began this unknown picture, and if it is just foliage of autumn, it will be a challenge along with, as you say, trying to keep it all together.
I do hope to try and look into this company whenever I take the time to drive to Washington and do some inquiring. I doubt it in itself is still in existence, but perhaps it has changed names over the many years. I got a bit of info online that points towards it being a hardware business, and perhaps it included the manufacture of these puzzles as well. I'll try to let you know if and when I find out anything.
Regards, Lakota
Hi there Lakota,
The lot number on ours is GH-1048 . What we've been able to find out about the company is they were listed in an engineering directory for 1922, found that on a Google search. Contacted the library in Washington Iowa, they had a little info on the company but haven't got back to us about it. Also, wanted to charge $10.00 an hour to research the info. Would go there but from North Carolina it's kind of a long drive.
Good luck with the puzzle, HarleyHH
Hi HarleyHH,
I can see you would be stressed to find out anything from way out In NC. I grew up in this county near Washington, which is the county seat. I too am curious about this company, so when I have time I will try to find out about it. If I get the scoop on it, I will send you word through this medium. I asked one person, but he doesn't know. We have a 98 year old man in my home town, who still works as an electrician (can you believe it?) His mind is sharp as a tack, so if I can visit with him before anything happens to him, that will be one avenue to check out. This puzzle I have is going to be a challenge. I breezed through getting one border side done.......don't know which, and then I drew a blank. I think it is the right side. I may have to just build it as I can fit a piece here and there. We just got about 7 inches of snow overnight and it is still snowing, so a good day to work the puzzle. Will reply if I can get info on the company.
Regards, Lakota
Hi Harley HH,
I finally got to Washington to pay my prop taxes, and stopped at the library. Capsulated I found out that the C.W. Busby Co. were stamping out 200 puzzles per day in the 1930's. I don't know if that was all year or not, as that would be a lot of puzzles. The founder of the company was Charles Wilson Busby, born in Ohio in 1858. He moved to Washington county at age 10 with his parents, and they farmed for some time. After some time on the farm, and when he got older, he began his company in 1910, in order to manufacture farm equipment of a smaller nature such as hog waterers and tank heaters and much used items of a smaller nature for farm use. Apparently he decided to also provide puzzles for family enjoyment, as in those days radio was likely the best vocal entertainment, and other family togetherness included puzzles. C.W. died in 1931, and turned over the company to his son Harvey E. who died in 1977 at age 86. I suspect maybe Harvey had more influence on the puzzle making, if the production was in the 1930's, but no date given as to when that began. Harvey owned the company until 1956. There is no evidence of it's dispersal, and under that name there is nothing today, so I don't know it's fate. Thus far I have no other detailed information on it, and most of this was from the two obituaries. The puzzle output came from a historical bit in a book on the town itself, and was just a tidbit. I guess this does give us a decent idea of what the company was and when and how much they produced of the puzzles, but not for how long. Yours and mine are the only two I have ever seen, and I wonder if I have another one somewhere from that box I got at an auction. I doubt it. You were right, about trying to keep it together being as much of a challenge as putting it together. The one border I got together easily turned out to be the bottom, and I simply had to work it from right to left on its side, before I discovered what it looked like. I took a picture of it, but am not skilled at how to transfer it from my new camera. It is a river bordered by trees and leaves in an autumn setting. I may donate mine to their historical society, if they want it. I hope this gives you some satisfaction on this company. Happy puzzling.
Best Regards, Lakota ( Bob )
Hey Lakota,
Thanks for the information. That's the most info we have heard since we started searching Busby Co. Glad you finally made it over there. I would like to find more of those puzzles, if anyone knows about them. Happy puzzling.
HarleyHH
Harvey E. Busby was my Grandfather! I knew about the water heater company but had no idea they also made puzzles!! Thank you so much! Marianne