[29]from John Stokes, of "Custom Puzzle Craft"-- 8 August 2000:
One of my favorite puzzles of all time is a 1000 piece Milton Bradley "Big Ben" cardboard puzzle designed in a style where virtually every piece has at least one straight edge. It is a difficult puzzle to put together, particularly in the sky where the color is very similar from piece to piece. I still have the puzzle, but it has 14 pieces missing. I first put this puzzle together when nine years old, so that dates the puzzle no later than 1959. By 1963 at the latest, Milton Bradley changed the cutting style, eliminating all interior straight edges, ruining the series, in my opinion. Puzzle cut in this "strip cut" style today, normally have interlocks on all four sides, or have wavy sides when without an interlock.

If anyone out there has this puzzle, please e-mail John.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[30]from "Barb" --8/17/2000:
Hello Jim,
I just put together a difficult, but really fun puzzle. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure the box we bought it in is not the box it originally came in (Woozy Jig). I'm attaching a picture -- maybe you can help identify it? It is marked in the bottom right corner John Drescher Co. Inc. N.Y., and shows a peasant girl coming down a long stairway with mountains in the background -- looks possibly like Italy? Measures 9&1/2" by 15&5/8". Outside edge pieces are interlocking -- the inside pieces are not, and hundreds of times I said, "it's not all here" -- but it is! I just don't know how to identify it...any help you can give would be appreciated!
thanks,
barb
"Rambling Stone Steps" [see Chris McCann's message below!]
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from Jim McW--8/19/2000:
Dear "Barb":
Many thousands of jigsaw puzzles have been published in the last 100 years, by many different manufacturers. However, I believe there is a Drescher Company, and perhaps someone there can tell you under what name the puzzle you have was issued. I gather that Drescher makes puzzles for a lot of other companies, which publish and distribute them. I've never seen a Drescher-brand puzzle. If you pursue that, let me know what you learn. Maybe someone out there knows the identity of the puzzle.
Thanks, Jim McW
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from Chris McCann--8/13/2001:
Hi Jim:
The picture shown is Woozy Jig No. 3, "Rambling Stone Steps". Artist has not yet been identified.
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from Jim McW--8/13/2001:
Thanks, Chris. I might add that Anne Williams lists Woozy Jig as "made by J.R. Brundage", in her book, Jigsaw Puzzles: An Illustrated History and Price Guide.
Jim McW
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from "Barb"--8/14/2001:
Jim, thanks so much -- I can't believe the quality of your follow up - a year later!!! We will be checking out Chris McCann's book. Appreciate your help (and his).
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[31]from "Anonymous"-- 19 August 2000:
We want to tour a jigsaw puzzle manufacturing plant but I have been unable to locate any. Would you by chance have a site I could visit to obtain the information or a list of puzzle manufacturers in the US? We are mostly interested in the traditional puzzles (cardboard, not wood or personalized). I'd appreciate any help you could provide - thanks in advance!
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from Jim McW--19 August 2000:
Dear "Anonymous":
I wish I could go, too! There is a fair number of puzzle distributers in the USA, but I don't really know how many actual factories there are. I don't imagine that many of them are set up to accomodate visitors. I would really like to hear what kind of luck you have. I want, someday, to visit a plant myself, with my family, on our next vacation, if possible. Anything you learn would be of immense interest to me and, I'm sure, to many of our visitors.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[32]from "Anonymous"--8/19/2000:
I recently saw in the paper a 3D puzzle of Yankee Stadium and I would like to know if you know of one of Shea Stadium? Thank You
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from Jim McW--8/19/2000:
Dear Anonymous:
There are many more companies producing jigsaw puzzles than I can even find out about, much less keep track of their puzzles! I am trying to keep one eye on the 3D market, but I hadn't even heard of a 3D puzzle of Yankee Stadium. Sounds great! Wish we could show a picture of it.
Thanks, Jim McW
*************** from Nancy Ballhagen--8 June 2001:
Hi Jim, You wanted a picture of Yankee Stadium 3D. Check out my web site under 3D puzzles. It is in there. Nancy Ballhagen. [ See Nancy Ballhagen's puzzles. ]
"Yankee Stadium 3D", by HASBROTM
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[33]from Kellye F.--8/23/2000:
Regarding the puzzle, Whistler's Mother, is it for sale? I have been looking to buy it. If not, do you know where I might find it? Thank you very much! Kellye
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from Jim McW--8/27/2000:
Dear Kellye:
I can't sell you that puzzle, because we don't have one, unfortunately. The picture was sent in by a puzzle enthusiast, collector, or seller. Thanks for the request, though, and good luck. Maybe someone out there has one for sale. We welcome you to write any time.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[34]from Bob B.--8/23/2000:
I have a question about a puzzle I have recently come across. It is called, "Rip Van Winkle". It came in a metal can.It is not wood puzzle pieces either.The can says that it was made by H-G Toys (Harett-Gilmar Inc.) The puzzle is in fantastic shape as is it's container. What I would like to know is how can I find out when this folk lore puzzle was made? Can you please help me ? Bob B.
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from Jim McW--8/24/2000:
Bob:
There's a lot of information on the site already, although it's a little hard to find, sometimes. You can go to another inquiry about this series. Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pictures of this series, so I would love to get one from someone. Anyone have more info? Thanks for the interesting inquiry, and please visit often at puzzlehistory.com and feel free to continue to "participate"!
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[35]from Anon.--8/25/2000:
Is it possible to buy a puzzle of the US in which every state is a separate piece? Does Milton Bradley still make that?
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from Jim McW--8/25/2000:
Anon.: It is still quite easy to buy a new cardboard puzzle of the USA. It is also possible to buy the older ones, still in very good shape! If you go to "Map Jigsaw Puzzles" , you will see some of the puzzles that are available on the collectibles market. The ones which are plastic have the states as pieces, and I collect those. I must have five or six, at least. I have a few old puzzles for sale on the "Items For Sale" page, and I will be adding some more as soon as I get the photos and descriptions ready. If you're looking for a certain kind of puzzle, that you don't see on the sale page, write me... I may have one. I know they come up for auction on internet auction sites. As for Milton BradleyTM, I am not sure whether they currently make the map puzzles like they used to make. I gather they are now a part of the HasbroTM family. Hope this helps, Jim McW.
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[36]from David--8/26/2000:
Greetings,
I have been trying to find a puzzle that was available from Bits & Pieces in the early to mid 1980's. The puzzle was 12,000 pieces and was the painting of the destruction of a European village. If you have any insight into the name of the painting, artist, availability,etc. I would greatly appreciate it. I have asked at Bits and Pieces, but they don't seem to know anything about it, but more likely I have not asked the right person yet.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
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from Jim McW--8/27/2000:
Anon.: I am posting this in hopes that someone knows the answer. Thanks for your question and good luck on putting that puzzle together, if you DO find it! Jim McW.
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from Dave (the "Ji6sawman")--10/29/2000:
Re 12000 piece puzzles. I have an old "Educa" catalogue 1996, They produced several at 8000 and I did hear they were producing a 12000 piece puzzle. Dave
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from Jim McW--2/18/2001:
Anon.: I heard a story early this year, about a puzzler who bought a 12,000 piece puzzle (they are not exactly inexpensive), found it necessary to move the dining room table and assemble it on the dining room floor, then, after weeks (or months?), completed it, and realized that there was no way to move or display it. The person's solution: lay down clear vinyl floor covering over the puzzle, incorporating it permanently into the decor of the dining room. Jim McW.
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[37]from "Anonymous"--8/30/2000:
I am tring to find out about a puzzle that has come into my Wife's posession, a Lady and the Tramp, sold by Whitman a 70 piece, printed by Western Printing and Lithgraphing Co. from Racine Wisconsin.
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[38]from "puzzle has me puzzled"--9/1/2000:
My mother who has turned seventy-three this year has taken a great interest in doing puzzles since all her children are grown and her grandchildren have started school. She recently purchased a puzzle made by the Fairchild Company and we are trying to get more information on it. It looks fairly old and we are curious on it's history, such as when it was made because the box does not have a copyright date on it or any other information that can be given. The information that we do have is as follows: The name of the puzzle is Dresden Figurines No. 1800 and that it is made by the Fairchild Company. Again, thank-you for any information that you can give me!
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from Jim McW--9/2/2000:
Dear "puzzle has me puzzled":
A good guess is that it was published between 1930 and 1970, but it would be difficult to date it without a picture. If you can send a picture, either by e-mail or by US Mail, I will try to post it with this inquiry. Jigsaw puzzles provide wholesome, healthy, inexpensive fun, not just for retired people but for all ages. Studies show that they keep our minds alert, and they can help families spend more time together. Your mother is on the right track! Jim McW.
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[39]from Kathleen--9/1/2000:
I am looking for a Springbok puzzle #1078 Cubbyhole cottage, 100piece, children's puzzle. Do you have one???? or know how to get one?
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from Jim McW--9/2/2000:
Dear Kathleen:
You can always look on internet auction sites. You can also post your request on The Jigsaw Puzzle Trading Post [note: site discontinued]. Maybe someone reading this post knows of one. Hope this helps, Jim McW.
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from Jim McW--9/5/2000:
Frances Main, whose address appears on the Springbok page, provided this picture of your puzzle:

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[40]from "J.H."--9/16/2000:
I'm looking to purchase a jigsaw puzzle depicting watermelons. Can you help me locate one?
"J.H."
P.S. The puzzle could have other things in with it but I'd like for the main focus to be the watermelon.
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from Jim McW--9/16/2000:
Dear "J.H.":
I looked on internet auction sites--came up with the puzzle below, but I don't think it's what you're looking for. Maybe someone reading this post knows of one. Hope this helps, Jim McW.
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I obtained permission from the seller to post a picture of these interesting puzzles, by Avalon Hill Games:
"Incredible Edibles"
"Pomme d'Orange" [apples which taste like oranges]
"Pepper Tomato" [peppers which taste like tomatoes]
"Pinemelon" [pineapples which taste like watermelons]
"Champignons aux Pois" [mushrooms with peas !]
*************** from Nancy Ballhagen--26 June 2001:
Hi J. H.,
FX Schmid has put out a 300 piece puzzle that depicts a large watermelon along with some other fruit. I just sold the last one I had. I think it is still available but am not sure.
You might call them and ask, or email. It is a painting. Nancy
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from Jim McW--6 April 2002:
There's at least one more title in this series:
"Lemon Eggs"
Jim McW.
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[41]from "JLP"--9/27/2000:
About 15 years ago I was in the hospital and to pass my time, I worked on a very difficult puzzle. By the time my week's stay was over I had 5 pieces put together. The puzzle had no picture or real border. It came in a paint can and was entirely blue. When completed it should look as if someone poured a can of paint on the floor and it ran all over. Can you give me any more information on this puzzle so I have a start in finding another? Thank you for your help. Sincerely, "JLP"
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from Jim McW--9/27/2000:
Dear "JLP":
Buffalo Games, Inc. published a series called"World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle", and it might have been one of those. Springbok issued a puzzle entitled "Little Red Riding Hood's Hood", which was all red. Maybe someone reading this post knows of one such as you describe. Hope this helps, Jim McW.
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from "DW"--3/11/2002:
Dear "JLP":
A 350 piece irregularly shaped "puddle of paint" was made by Synergistics Research Corp., New York, New York 10011. The number of the blue paint is PJ-300. The puzzle also comes in red or yellow. The completed puzzle is approximately 15" by 19".
"DW"
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