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Wayne
For LARGER view
click on pictureDESCRIPTION
SM01 - Box Style
In the fall of 1932
the first TUCO puzzles appeared.
They were in orange boxes with no guide pictures on the box lids.
LG01 - Box Style
Enchanting Bouquet
The first 'large' TUCO puzzles appeared in December, 1932, for the Christmas season.
SM02 - Box Code
Winter Moonlight
LG18
THE LAST SUPPER
Some puzzles had religious themes.
LG15
Coast Guard
Some war time puzzles had military themes.
LG13
DUTCH BARGAIN
Most TUCO puzzles were labeled
"approximately 16 by 20 inches"
but measured closer to 15 by 19 inches.
SM26
The Last Straw
Most smaller TUCO puzzles were labeled 12" by 16"
and measured approximately 11" by 15."
SM35
Safe Guardian
DUBL-THIK puzzles were made by TUCO.
They were even smaller puzzles.
The first (SM31) DUBL-THIK were "about 11 by 13 inches"
and measured about 10" by 12".
The others were "about 9 by 12 inches"
and measured about 8.25 x 11.375 inches.
LG30
The King-Size TUCO puzzles were among
the last of the non-interlocking puzzles.
They were "approximately 20 by 26 inches."
by R. Atkinson Fox
TUCO used a variety of artists; some are now well-known.
suggests the style of Maxfield Parrish.
by G. B. Fox
See our Gallery to learn other artists of TUCO puzzles.
to visit a gallery of selected artists.
IS
THE
TITLE?
To determine your puzzle's title,
Begin by determining the code for your box.
If your puzzle is 12 by 16 inches or smaller,
go to the bottom of this page and click on SMALL PUZZLES.
If it is 16 by 20 or larger, click on LARGE PUZZLES.
Then at the bottom of this page,
click on GALLERY to begin your search.
for the answer!
just by counting its pieces.
HOW MANY PIECES
can your TUCO puzzle have ?!?
(Briefly: check the 4 corner pieces!)
Even when two puzzles of the same title were cut with the same die,
which may or may not have occurred,
their pieces were probably not interchangeable.
See our UPDATED
Missing Pieces web-page.
The earliest TUCO puzzles were cut with a simpler geometry -- curve segments were more linear and corners were more straight-sided.
While representing neither human nor animal shapes, some pieces were figural in the sense that they represented geometric or alphabetic figures.
While TUCO puzzles are known by their thick pieces which were never abandoned, they are also characterized by their rich pink back-sides.
But during their early years, they utilized a variety of colors and even a texture for their backs before settling on that pink.
A PEACEFULL RETREAT (notice the misspelling)
In 1939 or 1940 TUCO released this "landscape" puzzle by the French artist Charles Edmond Reni-His.
LG13 Autumn On The Seine
Shortly after, TUCO released each half as a "portrait" puzzle.
..
LG15 Path Along The Seine __ LG15 Cabin On The Seine
For box styles LG14, LG15, & LG16
the same puzzle would appear in boxes of different color.
Moreover, for this LG14 puzzle entitled "HIGH COUNTRY"
one of these 4 puzzles had a green back,
one had a buff-colored back,
and 2 had the more common dark pink back.
Tillamook Bay
the four seasons
puzzles by
Pauline Jackson
SPRING
SUMMER
AUTUMN
WINTER
A puzzle for each of the 4 seasons was issued in an LG25 box.
Kresge's 25 cents price tag
9/44 (date?)
The First American is the source of my interest in these old puzzles.
It was my favorite when I was a boy, and was the only TUCO that we owned.
Aug. 1942 written on box
S.S. Kresge Co. 25 cents price tag
10/48 (date?)
Old Homestead (Pastoral Scene)
Star Of Bethlehem
c. 1930 By Buxton
Rounding The Capes
by Frances Tipton Hunter
Old TUCO boxes which have NEVER been OPENed are VERY RARE.
There are collectors who will pay or trade very generously to preserve them.
If you have one which you would consider selling or trading,
why not send an email to us or to some of the buyers on ebay?
Entrance to The Upson Company (TUCO) factory
in current disrepair.
Picture by a TUCO aficionado in Lockport, NY.
Another great view at the site of
The Upson Company (TUCO) factory, Lockport, NY.
Picture courtesy of our friend and contributor in Lockport!
Click on picture for a broader view.
Upson checkerboard
UPSON CHECKERS
Click on this orange circle for info about the UPSON checker set.
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GALLERY & Links |
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LARGE PUZZLES |
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SMALL PUZZLES |
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Number Of Pieces |
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COMBINE INCOMPLETE PUZZLES & misc. NOTES |
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NAME THAT PUZZLE! |
Click here to replace your MISSING PIECE |
REPLACEMENT PIECES AVAILABLE |
SEARCHING ! click here to HELP! |
WANT ADS |
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MISFITS |
Click for ANECDOTES about TUCO and the UPSON COMPANY |
ANECDOTES |
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GALLERY OF SOME FAMOUS ARTISTS |