Something about this puzzle feels especially Nova Scotian to me. As I thrift more and spend more and more time here in Halifax, I have noticed that there is a strong connection to the ocean here. That seems like an obvious statement, but I mean that it feels like a stronger and different ocean connection than in Vancouver and on the Pacific coast.
I’m not certain if it’s because Halifax is an older city and has a different history to that of Vancouver or the Pacific Coast. There is a strong fishing presence in BC, but the representation of the older style sailing boats is much smaller over there.
And as we wander around more, thrifting, and sightseeing, the connection is so much more present. In honour of our new hometown, I wanted to pick up this vintage puzzle by Hoyle Paper Products called High Seas Clipper.
I’ve also worked a couple short contracts at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and this puzzle reminded me so much of my work there. There are a lot of boats in the museum, to say the least.
This is certainly a rigged vessel! All the sails are so puffy with wind and she looks fine.
That’s about everything that I know about a sailboat like this, to be honest, ha ha ha! Though some of my coworkers at the museum could probably spend hours talking about different eras of sailboats and rigging and pulleys, you name it. It really was impressive to learn from them.
Something that I really enjoyed about this puzzle was its interesting cut. It is a rectangular puzzle but inside the cut is in an oval. I can’t say that I’ve seen that before. In a sense it’s a random cut puzzle but then at the same time, it’s a round puzzle. How unique!
I recently found another puzzle by Hoyle, and at a quick glance, it does look like the cut might be the same.
The fit was loose though, really loose. Now I don’t need to pick up every puzzle, that is not a must for me, but I don’t enjoy when a puzzle doesn’t have a lock or snap of any kind. I think that feeling and sound during the assembly is a component that I enjoy.
That’s not to say that I won’t pick up other vintage Hoyle puzzle, but I will likely only buy the very unique images in the future.
This is from 1985, 500 pieces and complete. The puzzle is also in pristine condition, this was well taken care of!
thepuzzlesivedone 