J. W. Spear & Sons
Encyclopedia
J. W. Spear and Sons was a significant manufacturer of board game
s during the 20th century. The company was founded by Jacob Wolf Spier (1832-1893) in Fürth
, near Nuremberg
, Germany
in 1879, producing goods such as table mats, photo frames, and waste-paper baskets.
By the turn of the century, games had become the main product, and output gradually expanded until the company become one of the best-known international manufacturers of games and children's activity kits, employing up to 600 people.
In 1932, they set up a factory in Britain. With the rise to power of the Nazis
and the Spear family being Jewish, production was gradually moved to Britain. The Nuremberg factory survived most of World War II
under Nazi control until the Royal Air Force
bombed it.
The UK factory switched to military production during the war and then returned to making games. In 1954 the company acquired the rights to produce and market Scrabble
for markets outside North America
. As well as board games they made the Brickplayer
construction toy.
The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
in 1966 and was taken over by Mattel
in 1994 after a bidding war with Hasbro
. Mattel closed the UK factory and while it still produces Scrabble, most of the traditional Spear's Games are no longer made.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s during the 20th century. The company was founded by Jacob Wolf Spier (1832-1893) in Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, near Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1879, producing goods such as table mats, photo frames, and waste-paper baskets.
By the turn of the century, games had become the main product, and output gradually expanded until the company become one of the best-known international manufacturers of games and children's activity kits, employing up to 600 people.
In 1932, they set up a factory in Britain. With the rise to power of the Nazis
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
and the Spear family being Jewish, production was gradually moved to Britain. The Nuremberg factory survived most of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
under Nazi control until the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
bombed it.
The UK factory switched to military production during the war and then returned to making games. In 1954 the company acquired the rights to produce and market Scrabble
Scrabble
Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
for markets outside North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. As well as board games they made the Brickplayer
Brickplayer
Brickplayer was a British construction toy with four sizes of sets made by J. W. Spear of Enfield in North London, later supplementary sets like a Farmyard version were introduced. They were designed in the same scale as '0' gauge model railways. The preference for 'HO' scale railways and the easy...
construction toy.
The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 1966 and was taken over by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
in 1994 after a bidding war with Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. Mattel closed the UK factory and while it still produces Scrabble, most of the traditional Spear's Games are no longer made.