# Need some Advice on Putting Together Vintage Jigsaw Puzzles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [May 18, 2011, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297 "2011-05-18T09:37:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297/1 "2011-05-18T09:37:52Z")

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I like doing small jigsaw puzzles with 250 or 350 pieces. Something that can be started & finished in a weekend.

I bought some vintage Tuco puzzles from the 1930’s. They are kicking my butt.  
Here’s one like I bought

> [@](#):
>
> This is a vintage “Tuco” brand “picture” puzzle. This is titled “The Chase”. This is a unique style puzzle. The pieces are cut in a non-interlocking fashion. They are also thick.

[http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tuco-Picture-Puzzle-Chase-3800-Thick-Piece-/370192880519?pt=LH\_DefaultDomain\_0&hash=item5631371387](http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tuco-Picture-Puzzle-Chase-3800-Thick-Piece-/370192880519?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5631371387)

I can’t figure out how to get started. I’ve always done the outside frame first and worked my way in. The 4 corners and edge pieces are easy to pick out.

There’s no clearly defined corners or edge pieces with these Tuco puzzles. I wasted an entire afternoon trying to to put together the outside frame.  
Also since the pieces don’t interlock, I never know for sure if any two pieces fit together. Some pieces have a straight edge but they aren’t outside edge pieces.

I guess our grandparents are smarter than us. These old puzzles are tough.

Any suggestions on how to get started?

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**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297/2 "2011-05-18T17:34:13Z")

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I would start with smaller specific bits - maybe not the horses (if that’s what I’m seeing), but with the house on he left, then the trees. Winnow through the easy stuff first.

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**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297/3 "2011-05-18T17:49:14Z")

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I’ve done a couple of these. I generally put together individual elements of the puzzle together first and work from those. The outside frame is the last thing I do.

My grandmother did give me one to try that I never managed to finish. There was no image provided of what the puzzle was supposed to look like which made everything even harder.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-on-putting-together-vintage-jigsaw-puzzles/582297/4 "2011-05-18T20:31:56Z")

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Ok. I’ll try matching up things on the inside. Fortunately I have the box cover with the picture. These are so much different than the interlocking ones I’m used too. After I get one or two done maybe it’ll get a bit easier.