Longstaff Workshops, Robert

Established in 1987, this was probably the earliest company to employ laser-cutting technology in jigsaw puzzle manufacture, helping to shepherd in a whole new dynamic in the marketplace. Traditional wooden jigsaw manufacture had all but vanished by this time, with the affordability of mass produced cardboard puzzles having almost entirely taken over.

Earliest forays into wooden toy production were of a more traditional style, making the likes of dolls houses, miniature furniture and simple toys, but Robert's familiarity with lasers from his student days studying physics and biology at Oxford led him to explore this as a means of jigsaw puzzle manufacture.

The information on this milestone British brand, like so many others here on the Jigasaurus, is based on knowledge recorded by Tom Tyler during research into his wonderful publication "British Jigsaw Puzzles of the 20th century".