Each Springbok wood puzzle is hand cut (in contrast to the cardboard puzzles, which are die cut).
Springbok did not do the actual cutting, but instead contracted the work to G.J.Hayter, a well known English puzzle manufacturer (researched by Anne Williams).
Each puzzle is fully interlocking and strip-cut in a row and column grid. There is no color line cutting, and there are no figural/whimsy pieces.
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Typical Puzzle Sections (Shelfer-Series, 200-Piece, 500-Piece, 1200-Piece) (* Photos will enlarge when clicked) |
Matching Cuts
Since each puzzle is hand cut, no two puzzles should have the same cut, and no two puzzles should have interchangeable pieces. However, the hunt continues for matching cuts...
Piece Thickness
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Wood Puzzle Type |
Piece Thickness (Piece thicknesses are approximate - variations up to 1/32" are not uncommon) |
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5/32" (3-ply) |
8/32" (3-ply) |
8/32" (5-ply) |
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Shelfer-Series 200-Piece 500-Piece 1200-Piece |
XXX XXX XXX XXX |
XXX |
XXX XXX |
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Piece Thickness (Quarter coin in foreground) (* Photo will enlarge when clicked) |
Piece Count
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Wood Puzzle Type |
Approximate Piece Count |
Actual Piece Count (observed to date) |
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Shelfer-Series 200-Piece 500-Piece 1200-Piece |
60 200 500 1200 |
52 to 68 154 to 238 417 to 569 1210 |
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* I've twice caught whiff of a 1500-Piece size, but (so far) I've been unable to confirm its existence. |
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Tidbits
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Often, "Made In England" is stamped on the back of the puzzle (Shelfer-Series, 200-Piece, 500-Piece) (* Photos will enlarge when clicked) |
 Sometimes, a slip of paper saying "Made In England" is included with the puzzle (Shown actual size) |
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Sometimes, a pencil grid is present on the back of the puzzle (the grid was used as a cutting guide) (200-Piece shown) (* Photo will enlarge when clicked) |
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Very infrequently, hand written initials are found on the back of the puzzle. Some folks believe them to be the cutter's initials, some folks believe they were written by a previous owner, some folks believe they're stock codes from the original piece of wood, and some folks believe they don't mean anything. Regardless, they make for interesting discussion. |