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Jumbo Games
editJumbo Games is a Dutch founded jigsaw puzzle and games company which was established in 1853 and is part of the JUMBODISET group which is a 100% subsidiary of M&R de Monchy N.V which was founded in 1851 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Jumbo Games produce and manufacturer all of their jigsaw puzzles and cardboard based games in their own factory that is based in Holland. The Jumbo head office is located in Holland and there are also offices in the UK, Germany and Belguim.[1].
Previous to being known as Jumbo games in the UK, the company was called Falcon Games and this was the brand name given to its range of adult puzzles. Falcon was established in 1976 and Jumbo is often still referred to as by the Falcon brand name.
Jumbo Timeline
edit1853 – It all started with a shop that sells everything
Jumbo’s story starts with a commercial traveller, Engelbert Hausemann, who moved from Germany to Amsterdam, the hub of trade and industry since time immemorial. As a born merchant, he immediately felt at home and established a large department store, which sold absolutely everything. The somewhat unwieldy term for this at the time was an ‘Agency and commission business in merchandise’.
1860 – The next phase: Hausemann & Hotte
Wilhelm Hotte arrived to help Hausemann’s business grow. The pair worked and travelled together for some ten years, before Hotte left to set up his own business. This didn’t last long, however; within ten years, both Hotte and Hausemann decided to join forces once again under the name hausemann & Hotte. There were no real games or puzzles in the Netherlands at that time, so they had to import everything.
1917 – Arrival of the Meccano craze
The beautiful building at Kromboomssloot 61 was purchased. At the same time, the wonderful toy Meccano arrived on the scene. The construction system had been designed by Englishman Frank Hornby in 1900, for his children. Meccano consisted of metal parts with holes in them, which could be linked together.
1920 – Expansion of the range of games
The start of the roaring twenties was marked by Hausemann & Hotte by an ever expanding, ever more varied range of toys and games. This included the Meccano metal construction kits, Continental Caoutchouc rubber balls, doll’s prams by Heinrichmaier & wunsch, ‘Jutta’dolls by dressel, Emata slates, Hohner mouth organs, cars and figurines by Lehmann and the Spears games.
1930 – Wooden toys, strong as an elephant
Hausemann & Hotte started having wooden toys made by the Mauritz en Ball company of zeist. These wooden toys had to be made of sufficient quality that a wooden elephant could stand on them. These toys were sold under the name Jumbo. This was the birth of the elephant brand/ The elephant as a symbol of strength.
1945 – After the war Jumbo concentrates on cardboard
By the end of the war in 1945, production was difficult and imports has ceased. Hausemann & Hotte stated concentrating on one the strengths of the Netherlands; the cardboard industry in Groningen and the graphical industry. “We will make good quality games ourselves, from sturdy cardboard. So strong, an elephant could stand on it”.
1947 – The Success of Ludo
Jumbo Spelen (Ludo) was a game imported from Germany since the early twenties and labelled ‘Mens Erger Je Niet’. The brand grew really strong and turned into a real classic over the years.
1950 – Foundation of De Nederlandse Spellenfabriek
Hausemann & Hotte began producing games themselves, in order to break their dependence on the cardboard manufacturers and assure optimum quality. To this end, the company took over the best ever N.V cardboard factory on the Zwanenburgerstraat in Amsterdam. This led to the establishment of a new factory: De Netherlandse Spellenfabriek B.V. (NSF for short).
1953 – Introduction of Electro and the ‘By Royal Appointment’ label
This year saw the introduction of Electro. The game was introduced as a test of intelligence for young and old. It was also the hundredth anniversary of the founding Hausemann & Hotte! The company received a very special present to mark the occasion. The Mayor of Amsterdam awarded the company the ‘By Royal appointment’ label.
1958 - Introduction of puzzles and the classic board game Stratego
Jumbo started to produce and trade in puzzles. The first series had fifty large pieces. These puzzles were created especially for children. The same year saw the introduction of the board game Stratego. This game was launched in America, with great success. It was made in America under license for Hausemann & Hotte by Milton Bradley.
1962 – Foundation of the Technical Toys and Models Division
More and more toys for adults were appearing on the market, especially for dads. This was largely due to the introduction of the ‘free’ Saturday. This prompted Hausemann & Hotte to set up a Technical Toys and Models division, or TSM (for short).
1964 – The Runaway Success of Barbie
Following its incredible success in America, it was Hausemann & Hotte that brought the Barbie doll to the Netherlands. Hundreds of girls queued impatiently at the doors of the premises on the Kromboomssloot for their first Barbie. The whole country was in the grip of ‘Barbie Fever’.
1967 – The Factory relocates
The Nederlandse Spellen Fabriek (NSF) relocated to Wognum, close to Hoorn in the province of Noord Holland, 45 Kilometres from Amsterdam. The market for games was experiencing massive growth. From this moment on, Hausemann & Hotte ceased all imports and concentrated exclusively on its own brand, Jumbo.
1972 – The Warehouse relocates
The games warehouse also relocated, from the office in Amsterdam to the production site, in Wognum. The canal-side premises in Amsterdam had many storeys, and the games had to be winched in and out on pulleys. It used to take a whole day to unload the lorries, while in Wognum it took only 20 minutes.
1978 – A royal tribute on the 125th Anniversary
The company’s 125th anniversary proved to be a real milestone, with Hausemann & Hotte receiving the ‘Royal’ designation. This is an honorary title bestowed by the Dutch Crown. Fromt hat moment on, the company was entitled to be known by the trade name ‘Koninklijke (Royal) Hausemann & Hotte’.
1980 – The birth of the famous Jan van Haasteren puzzles
In this year, Jan van Haasteren started drawing puzzles for Jumbo. Jan started out as a cartoonist, working on Donald Duck, among others. Through an agency, he came into contact with Jumbo, where it was quickly recognised that his style was perfect for Jumbo. Forty percent of all puzzles made by Jumbo are now Jan van Haasteren puzzles!
1986 – The success of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Jumbo was offered the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which went on to be voted game of the year. A great deal was written about the game, and following a visit by one of the staff of television producer Joop van den Ende, Jumbo was asked to create two Towers of Pisa with brides on top for a new television programme, ‘The Honeymoon Quiz’.
1990 – Introduction of travel game
Classic games such as Ludo, Stratego, Electro, Scrabble, Aquarium and Tiddlywinks remain popular. Nursery games hade almost completely disappeared from the range. Smaller travel versions went on sale from now, however, under the name ‘mini-play’.
1997 – The arrival of Wasgij
1997 saw the release of the first ever Wasgij jigsaw puzzle. Wasgij is jigsaw spelt backwards and is this type of quirky branding that the brand is built upon and can be clearly seen in the artwork used to produce the jigsaw puzzles. Wasgij is a patented brand and concept, and is drawn by the artist Graham Thompson, who has been producing puzzles for Jumbo for many years.[2]
2003 – Celebrations for the 150th anniversary
Hausemann & Hotte has been going for 150 years! To mark the occasion, Jumbo donated part of its collection of historical toys to the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Jumbo then threw the biggest children’s part ever, in the Artis Zoo. More than 2,500 children from various primary school joined in the celebrations. Several primary schools from the Netherlands were awarded prizes for the best ideas for games.
2005 – Jumbo is moving!
Jumbo is moving! After more than 150 years in Amsterdam, the doors to the old premises finally closed for the last time. The new premises in Zaandam are steeped in ‘sweet’ history – the old Verkade chocolate factory. The building is located on the river.
2011 – Where Jumbo is now
Jumbo Games adult portfolio consists of Wasgij, Falcon de luxe, Jan van Haasteren, Things we Love to Hate, Coronation Street, Carry On and many more. The Children’s puzzles and games licenses consist of Peppa Pig, Everything’s Rosie, Little Kingdom, fireman Sam, Disney and many more.