Characteristics:
[Home][Box Identification]
From the earliest to the most modern Big Ben puzzles, the box designs have continued to evolve. Certain clues in the designs can give us a relatively rough timeline of which came first. But, it may be impossible to pin down each one to an exact year. Presented here are what I believe to be the main types of boxes from the 1940's to the 1970's. I will not be dealing with the puzzles after the early 1970's because I just simply am not as interested in them, and I think the quality started to suffer from then on. 1940's (type 1)
This is the earliest box I've seen, and I believe it to be the first.
List of puzzles for this box type
Size: 13"x 8"x 3.25"
Design: Notice there is no MB logo, and no Big Ben tower, as in the later boxes. Large, bold letters for the BIG BEN logo, no serifs. Guide picture is straight. All of the puzzles I have seen for this type are in a yellow box with the same red and black lettering, but this may change if new information is acquired. On the end of the box, it states that there are "945 pieces".
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
1940's (type 2)
List of puzzles for this box type
Size: 13" x 8" x 2.75"
Design: Still no MB logo, but now we see the Big Ben tower. Lettering in the Big Ben title is thinner and has serifs. Guide picture is angled and has a shadow. As in type 1, this box also states, on the end, that there are "945 pieces". The actual puzzle pieces are the same type and style as in th type 1 box.
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
1940's (Type 3)
List of puzzles for this box type
Characteristics:Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: Still no MB logo, but now we see the Big Ben tower, as in type 2. Lettering in the Big Ben title is thinner and has serifs. Guide picture is angled and has a shadow. I originally had this box listed as type 2, but I have since acquired a similar looking box (the new type 2), that I believe preceeds this design. This box is about 1/4" shallower than type 2, and is what is basically the same dimensions as the subsequent box designs. The pieces in this box are different than type 1 or type 2, and on the end it now states that there are "1008 pieces", as opposed to 945 for the first 2 designs. Under the tower, it states "1000 piece jig saw puzzle size 22 x 28"
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
1940's/1950's? (Type 4)
List of puzzles for this box type
Characteristics:Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: Similar to type 3, with the addition of, what I consider to be the first MB log on a box, just to the left tof the tower on the top of the lid. It now sates "1000 piece INTERLOCKING jig saw puzzle size 28 x 20 1/2" under the tower, as it does in the next box type as well.
Top only
The MB logo on the top of the lid only.
1950's (Type 5)
List of puzzles for this box type
Characteristics:Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: Here we have, as far as I know, the first sighting of the MB logo on the top and sides of the boxes. The letters in BIG BEN are slightly smaller now but still have the serifs. We also now see the "For ages 12 to adult" graphic, under the MB logo on the box top, in a small rectangular box. The guide picture is still slanted with a shadow under it. We also see the familiar grey stripe at the box end.
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn..
Top
Side
The MB with "KEY" logo on the top of the box. The MB logo from the box side. The 12 and up graphic. Late 1950's ? (Type 6)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box design is almost identical to the previous one, with the exception of the large BIG BEN letters, which now have no serifs.
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
Late 1950's/early 1960's ? (Type 7)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box design is almost identical to the previous one, with the exception of the new "For ages 12 to adult" graphic, which is in a "splash" style, instead of the previous boxed style.
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
New "For ages 12 to adult" logo, which is the one that was used until the early 1970's, I believe.
1962 (dated) (Type 8)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box design is pretty close to the previous one, with the exception of the new "For ages 12 to adult" graphic, which apears on the ends of the box, in red and blue lettering. There is also a new MB log on the sides (25mm x 32mm), and ends (14mm x 19mm). This is the first deasign I've found that is actually dated on the side (1962). The copyright line on the box end reads "© 1962 BY MILTON BRADLEY UNDER BERNE & UNIVERSAL COPYRIGHT CONVENTIONS PRINTED IN USA", all in capitals.
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
Alternate "For ages 12 to adult" graphic. Located on the ends of the box lid. New MB logo. Larger one (25mm x 32mm) found on long box sides, and smaller one (14mm x 19mm) found on box ends. 1963 (dated)(type 9)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box design is pretty close to the previous one, with the exception of the new, larger, "For ages 12 to adult" graphic, which apears on the ends of the box, in red and blue lettering. There is also a new MB log on the sides (32mm x 25mm), and ends (24mm x 19mm). The copyright line on the box end reads "© 1963 By Milton Bradley under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions".
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
Alternate "For ages 12 to adult" graphic. Located on the ends of the box lid. New MB logo. Larger one (32mm x 25mm) found on long box sides, and smaller one (24mm x 19mm) found on box ends. 1965 (dated)(type10a)
List of puzzles for this box typeHere is where things may get confusing. Of the ones I own that are dated 1965, I have noticed 3 slightly different box designs. For now, I am just going to label them as 9a, 9b, and 9c, with the provision that things will probably change in the future, as information is dicovered. Characteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box design is still pretty close to the previous few, with the exception of the new MB "Key to fun" graphic that is now in the upper left corner of each box. The MB logo's on the sides and ends are the same size as type 8. One thing I haven't previously mentioned is the "4962" number that appears on all boxes. Up until now, it made no difference. On this type you will notice that the "4962" beneath the MB logo's on the ends is in a small type. The copyright line on these is on the long side of the box lid. It reads "© 1965 By Milton Bradley under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions".
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
New MB "Key to fun" graphic. The MB is now in red and blue. This is the way it will stay until the early 70's when the big box dsign overhaul will occur. The number 4962 under the MB logo on the box ends is in a small type. (type 10b) This box is exactly the same as 9a, except that the puzzle and guide picture are of a vertical (probably not very popular) format, rather than the more popular horizontal ones. By making the puzzles vertical, some of the design elements needed to be changed to fit the picture. The first thing you notice is that the large BIG BEN title to the left of the picture is situated slightly different than any of the horizontal types. In the horizontal types, the word "BIG" is above the tower, and the word "BEN" is below it. On the vertical puzzles, "BIG BEN" is in one line with the tower below it. The copyright line on these is on the box end, instead of the long side, as in 9a. It reads "© 1965 By Milton Bradley under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions". (type 10c) Just about every design element is the same on this type as it is on 9a & 9b. The only reason I've made this a sub-type is because it's still dated 1965, the same as 9a & 9b. The biggest differences I see are in the number "4962" beneath the MB logo, on the ends of the box. It's now a large type, as opposed to the small type of 9a & 9b. Also, the copyright line now reads "© 1965 By Milton Bradley under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions Made in U.S.A.". 1968 (dated)(type 11)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 13" x 8" x 2.5"
Design: This box is basically the same as the previous ones, but there are notable differences. For starters, the guide picture is now situated straight on the lid, as opposed to slanted, like the earlier boxes. The BIG BEN tower is now above the BIG BEN name. On the ends of the box, the small tower that was present between the word BIG and BEN, has now been removed. There are other insignificant differences which do not need further explanation, as well. The copyright line on these is on the end of the box lid. It reads "© 1968 By Milton Bradley Co. under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions".
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
1973 (dated)(type 12)
List of puzzles for this box typeCharacteristics: Size: 12.25" x 8.5" x 2"
Design: Here we have, I believe, the last version of this bsic box design, before the next total box design overhaul occurs. Although this design closely resembles the previous one (type 10), there are several notable differences. First thing we notice is that the familiar grey stripe on the left edge of the box, is now white, and this stripe no longer wraps over to the edge of the box, as in the previous designs. There is also a new "For ages 12 to adult" graphic. It is very similar to the previous one used on boxe types 6-10, but the jagged oval is now replaced with a basic, solid, oval line. The copyright line on these is on the long sides of the box lid. It reads "© 1973 By Milton Bradley Co. under Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions".
Click here to see the puzzle pieces for this desgn.
New "For ages 12 to adult" graphic.
