Advance Notice of Report on Puzzle 3,104 (2 Feb. 1940)

Author   tony_severPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic
I’ve just tackled the three archive puzzles that were made available with the solutions to the three that have already been blogged, and can report that I found the 1940 puzzle (No. 3,104 from 2 February) a lot easier than No. 3,103, taking a leisurely 11:54. I’m proposing to post a report on this puzzle on Wednesday, 10 February. I think I’ve solved it correctly, but since I haven’t seen the published solution I’ll be interested to hear from anyone who thinks they have a better alternative to any of my answers (or explanations).

I found No. 9,282 from 2 February 1960 a rather tougher proposition, with one corner taking nearly half my 14:31. It included a “Meredith” clue (which, as far as I was concerned, might just as well have been “Girl’s name”!), and in the end I was quite pleased to solve it correctly (or, so I believe – again I haven’t seen the published solution, but after I’d finished I used reference books to check a couple of answers).

I found No. 15,440 from 3 February 1981 very easy for the most part, but I made a slow start and then agonised over my last couple of clues, so that my 10:52 was slower than I felt it should have been.

I don’t at the moment propose to report on these last two puzzles, but am quite prepared to answer any questions on them if no-one else blogs them in the meantime (over to you, dorsetjimbo and jerrywh).

12 comments on “Advance Notice of Report on Puzzle 3,104 (2 Feb. 1940)”

  1. A reminder that the article and links to the six crosswords can be found here

    I have looked at the two older ones. I solved the 1960 one easily but have not completed the 1940 one. I completed the E half in reasonable order (so yes, easier than the previous day’s) but have clues left on the W side.. I will have another look at it before Wednesday, encouraged by your remarks and look forward to seeing if we have the same answers!

    I will also have a go at the 1980 one. I am not proposing to blog it but will be happy to contribute to discussion of clues from all three grids.

    1. If it’s OK with you, I might at least provide my answers in case anyone is stuck. If anyone wants an explanation, they can always ask.
  4. OK, all three crosswords completed now… I do think the two 1940 ones are the most interesting of the set.
    1. >…
      >I do think the two 1940 ones are the most interesting of the set.

      A man after my own heart 🙂

  5. I also enjoyed both the 1940s puzzles, for different reasons! The first was a sort of masochism, the second (much easier, as Tony says) through a sense of relief. Both are charming in their way.

    I haven’t tried the puzzles from the other years yet. I almost certainly have already done the one from 1981. Why not the 50th anniversary puzzle, (assuming there was one in 1980?? – the Times dispute had surely ended by then). I remember entering the Times Crossword Championship in 1980 for the first time, failing on the qualifying puzzle, and being sent a sympathetic letter back with my entry, the error ringed in felt-tip!

    1. That sounds just like Mike Rich (1980s/90s comp organiser). The qualifier used to be the only Times crossword in the paper which I always did in pencil first, and the only one I did not time. I wasn’t competing (or even solving the Times puzzle) in 1980, but managed to avoid any qualifier slip-ups.
      1. I seem to remember the letter was from a lady (presumably the entries secretary) and I was very disappointed as I’d been looking forward to a trip to London. The following year it was successful qualifier, adequate eliminator, trip to Bristol, Langs Supreme whisky tasters, Mike Rich, Harold Franklin, Edmund “Mad Alice” Akenhead surrounded by dictionaries, tea and biscuits at the interval, train back to Uni – happy days!
  6. I’ve now finished 3104 and the second 1981 puzzle. Still working on the second 1960 one.

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