Jigstore 1000

Jigstore History

At the time that the first products in the Jigthings range were being developed in the late 1900s, Lisa and Colin King were introduced to a wonderful group of people who had got together in 1985 to form an organization known as the BCD - the 'Benevolent Confraternity of Dissectologists' no less! This lively, eccentric group had formed the organization specifically for lovers of jigsaw puzzles. They still flourish today so do please take a look at the BCD website and join them if you have a passion for puzzles.

The BCD are renowned for their hospitable events and enthusiasts travel to various locations throughout the country to 'show and tell' about puzzles, exchange views and ideas and sell puzzles that are surplus to requirements. They mainly concern themselves with hand-cut wooden jigsaws but there are also some dedicated collectors of cardboard puzzles.

At the first BCD event that Lisa and Colin attended they were astonished to find so many puzzle aficionados who retained jigsaw puzzles in their made-up state. Even more amazing was the plethora of different ideas for transporting puzzles around. There were wooden cases, cardboard cases, wooden doors, plastic sheets, plywood sheets, hardboard sheets, puzzles on cardboard sheets enveloped in cling-film and some beautiful tailor-made wooden boxes that must have cost a fortune to build.

It occurred to Lisa and Colin that if so many people had a need to keep puzzles assembled then maybe there was a niche to be explored for manufacturing something that was made for the job but not too expensive.

After two years thought and much discussion it was decided that the best way to store and transport puzzles in an economical way required just 3 elements: firstly a sturdy cardboard box of the right size, secondly flat cardboard sheets with which to make a 'puzzle sandwich' and thirdly easy-fix straps to keep the sandwich together. Jigstore had arrived. Just why it took 2 years to fathom it out is still a mystery to all concerned!

Puzzle Sizes for Jigstore

Jigstores contain up to 10 puzzles each measuring up to 702mm x 510mm (27.5" x 20.5")

To the best of our knowledge all the 'standard' 500 and 1,000 piece puzzles from European manufacturers will fit happily in a Jigstore. However, a few American manufacturers make puzzles that are just a little too large as are a few of the 'shaped' puzzles that are so popular in the U.S.A.

The table below endeavours to clarify which puzzles up to 1,000 pieces from various manufacturers will fit and which will not. You might also find it a useful reference when you need to know the size of cardboard jigsaws for other purposes.