Whitman
Cambridge, Ontario

 

Whitman produced many series of puzzles in the United States and in Canada. Most series that I've found do not seem different from the United States so for the most part I have not kept track of them. However I have found three series that seem to be Canadian:Also see the Golden section. It appears that Golden bought out Whitman but I am not sure of the history of the two companies in Canada yet. I will post more as I know more.

Canadian Guild Puzzles
(All #’d 4658) 750 Pieces

This series, although for the most part numbered, is very confusing. There are unnumbered series, numbered series, apparently doubled numbers series and then the same puzzles in a completely different numbering system. Bear with me as I try to figure this out.

Unnumbered Series

The original issues of this series were simply #’d 4658 without any suffix number. Later on suffix numbers were added. Unfortunately prior to adding the suffix numbers, at least six different series of images (as shown on the side of the box) were issued just as 4658 without any way to distinguish between the series.

I can not determine any correct way to sequence these early series so I've arbitrarily designated them as A to E. I tried to put them in some rough order using changes to the boxes:

See the end of this section on Canadian Guild for a numbered series of some of the unnumbered images. I think that latter series of 6 puzzles was a one-only situation. The unnumbered series are as follows. Click on any highlighted title to see an image.

Series A

  • Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland
  • Ingonish on Cape Breton, N.S.
  • Montreal, QU
  • Quebec City, QU
  • Ottawa, Canadian Capital
  • City Hall, Toronto, (night) ONT
  • Niagara Falls, ONT
  • Ontario Place, Toronto
  • Nistowiak Falls, Saskatchewan
  • Lake Louise, ALTA
  • The Vancouver Planetarium, BC
  • Queen E. Park, Vancouver, BC

    Series B
    Appears to be the same series as above but there are some image changes between series.

    Series B - part 2 Another box with the same end logo has some of the above images on it but also has some different images.

  • Port De Grave, Newfoundland (new)
  • Peggy's Cove, N.S. (new)
  • Salmon River, NB (same)
  • Notre-Dame Church, Quebec (same)
  • Sugar Time, Quebec (new)
  • Red River, Manitboa (paddlewheeler) (new)
  • City Hall, Toronto, ONT (night) (same)
  • Niagara Falls, ONT (different)
  • Drinking Falls, Saskatchewan (same)
  • Lake Louise, ALTA (different)
  • The Vancouver Planetarium, BC (same)
  • Queen E. Park, Vancouver, BC (same)

    Series C

    Series D

    Series E

    Numbered Series

    There are 13 numbered series with the suffix 1 to 13. Series 1 to 4 have images on the side of the box similar to the unnumbered series. From series 5 onward the boxes just list the other puzzles in the series but do not illustrate them.

    The only complication to this sequence is that there appears to be a parallel series of puzzles at least up to #4658-03 - one Whitman and one Golden. I will list whatever information I have in the appropriated numbered section.

    Series 4658-01
    “Whitman Golden Limited, Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5X2” Canadian Guild logo now in shield form.

    Series 4658-02
    “Whitman Golden Limited, Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5X2” Canadian Guild logo now in shield form.

    Here is the confusion. The above with the Whitman Canadian Guild Shield logo was labelled series 4658-02. However the following series, now with a Golden Canadian Guild Shield logo, has a different listing and images of puzzles."

    Series 4658-02
    “Whitman Golden Limited, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X2”
    Now logo is Golden and Canadian Guild logo is still in shield form but it is “Golden” instead of “Whitman”.

    Series 4658-03

    I don't have the Whitman list yet but the following is the list of puzzles released under the Golden Canadian Guild logo.

    Series 4658-04

    Series 4 has the same listing and the same images as does Series 2 (Whitman).

    Series 4658-05

    Box format similar to the above. With an image of Expo '86 then we know the earliest this series must be. Images are not on the side of the box. The list of titles in this series are:

    Series 4658-06
    Writing same as series 02 but this time the images are not on the side of the box just the titles:

    Series 4658-07
    Writing same as series 02 but images same as series 06. Does not state where the puzzle was made.

    Series 4658-08

    Series 4658-09

    Writing says “Golden … are trademarks of W.P.C. Inc of which Whitman Golden Limited., Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X2 Canada is a registered user. Made in USA.”

    Series 4658-10

    Canadian Guild logo is modern looking logo. Text same as series 09.

    Series 4658-11
    Canadian Guild logo is now a more modern looking logo. Text same as Series 09.

    Series 4658-12
    Every thing the same as series 11. Says “made in USA”.
    (Date note: One puzzle I have has written on the bottom: completed 1995.)

    Series 4658-13
    Everything the same as series 11.

    Short Series of Numbered - Unnumbered Puzzles

    Whitman released a series of six puzzles that were images taken from those above in the unnumbered section. Although I've only seen one of these boxes it appears that all images came from what I am calling above Series B - part 2. The logo is still the scroll logo and Whitman is still the brand but these puzzles were now numbered but each with their own number that doesn't match the above numbers at all:

  • 46571 Peggy's Cove, N.S.
  • 46572 Port De Grave, Newfoundland li>46573 Sugar Time, Quebec
  • 46575 Red River, Manitoba
  • 46574 Niagara Falls, ONT (different)
  • 46576 The Vancouver Planetarium, BC

    Monarch 4670 series
    800 Pieces

    This series does not seem as extensive as the Canada Guild Series. I have found three series released in this series number and think there is one more. Puzzles are "Made in Canada" by Whitman Golden Limited, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X2. Puzzles completed are 47cm x 64cm. Images are not displayed on the side of the box. Also with one exception, all images are from the three most populated provinces - the rest are ignored in this series.

    Series 4670

    Series 4670-01

    Series 4670-03

    Monarch 4659 series
    999 Pieces

    This is a new series I've found, also made in Canada, but the images are not all Canadian - although many appear to be. I've only found one box so far and it lists the following:

    Walt Disney's Jigsaw Puzzle (4433 series)
    160 Pieces

    This is a series of puzzles that I can only assume is Canadian. No one has told me otherwise even when I've asked on various message lines. Plus the topics seems sterotypical Canadian. The box states they are 36cm x 46 cm and "Made in Canada by Whitman Golden Ltd., Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X2". The puzzles are copyright without date as Walt Disney Productions (in italix scipt). The puzzles listed on the side of the box are:

    Walt Disney Character Jigsaw Puzzle (4433-01 series)
    160 Pieces

    This is a continuation of the series of puzzles above but now with the word "character" added to the series name and the images are less outdoor pursuit oriented. The box states they are 36cm x 46 cm and "Made in Canada by Whitman Golden Ltd., Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X2". The puzzles are copyright without date as Walt Disney Productions (in normal scipt). The puzzles listed on the side of the box are: