[786]from "E25"-25 October 2002:
I'm a 69 year old, retired teacher who has been working jigsaw puzzles since I was a kid.....big, small, round, square, easy, difficult, shaped.....you name it.

In August I purchased a 500 piece puzzle distributed by Rose Art from the Magic Effects Collection, titled "Razzberry Creek Crossing" by Carl Valente. I have been attempting to complete this puzzle since August without success. I have gotten down to about 50 pieces, at which point you would expect that finishing it off would be a breeze. Not only is this the most difficult puzzle I have ever worked, I think the men in the "white coats" are going to be coming for me soon. Numerous pieces are all cut to the same shape and size, which is not all that unusual, but because of the changing coloration of this puzzle, they are almost interchangeable throughout the puzzle. I need some assistance in completing this puzzle, lest I go "mad".

I don't know what I expect you could do, but perhaps you could offer some suggestions. I not only pursue this as a hobby, I frame the puzzles and give them as gifts.

Any suggestions or assistance you can provide would be vastly appreciated.

Sincerely,

"E25"
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from "E25"--27 October 2002:[additional note]
Dear Jim,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

This puzzle contains innumerable pieces of the same size and shape, along with the additional problem of being of metallic, irridescent colors, which change in color, depending on which way they're viewed. It's a beautiful puzzle, 13 x 19 in size, but the most difficult I have ever worked......and I have completed dozens upon dozens.

I just purchased this puzzle at Wal-Mart in August, and it one of a series of 20. The back of the box lists Rose Art Industries in Livingston, NJ, Greenwich Workshop, and states it is a Kodak licensed product.

Maybe I'll just dismantle it for sanity's sake, and begin again another time. I currently have three puzzles waiting for me to begin, one cat puzzle listed as "the world's most difficult puzzle", as the pieces are printed on both sides and rotated at a 90% angle. I really don't know how any could be as difficult as the one in question.

Thanks again for all your help.

"E25"

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from "GS"--28 October 2003:
Oh, how I had to laugh reading about all the problems you had with this puzzle. I also bought this same one, and it took me MONTHS to put together a little 500 piece puzzle, only to find I had one piece missing when I was done. I don't know how many times even the outside had to be redone, as all the pieces were identical, and with the changing colors, I sure had some mixed up.
Now, I'm looking to find where I can buy another one of these, as WalMart doesn't have this specific one, and I already have the frame made. Glad to hear that all my problems with this puzzle weren't just my own.
"GS"
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[787]from "MM"-27 October 2002:
Hi. I am looking for the jigsaw puzzle over 2000 pieces painted by Lassen. I searched some sites, but I could not find any that I really want. Could you tell me how I can find?
"MM"
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[788]from "GF"-28 October 2002:
Hello,

I’m trying to find a list of all the Waddington’s Christmas Limited Edition Jigsaw Puzzles from 1994 to present. I’m also looking to buy the "Twelve Days of Christmas" puzzle from 1994.

Thank you.

"GF"
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from Jim McW--2 November 2002:
We saw one puzzle listed on an internet auction site recently, described as a WADDINGTONS LIMITED EDITION MILLENNIUM GOLD FOIL SUPER DE LUXETM with 1,000 PIECES, sixth in the limited edition series, by Brenda Burke. It was further said to depict Christmas Scenes of a family through time, from the 11th Century to the 20th Century. We believe this was from 1999. (It sold for just over 18 GBP, plus postage, I believe)
We also were tempted by a recent auction of a WADDINGTONSTM Super Deluxe 1000 piece Limited Edition Double Sided Puzzle, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas", 1998. (Sold for over $18, plus postage.)
Thanks, Jim McW
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[789]from "VS"-28 October 2002:
Im looking for Rose Art Puzzle #06052. It is a picture of a town in Germany that I visited. I found the puzzle in a Dollar General store and I had to buy it. I lost a few pieces when I spilled the box and would like to replace it... have any ideas?
PS. The name of the town is Miltenberg Bavaria ( West Germany). The picture was in sort of a town square with part of a Castle barely showing in the background. I may have spelled Miltenberg incorrectly. There was a fountain in the picture too.
thanks,
"VS"
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from Jim McW--2 November 2002:
Is this the puzzle? "Miltenberg-Main", F.X. SCHMIDTM, 3,332 pieces!
If so, contact us, as we have one, unopened, in mint condition, available for sale.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[790]from "anonymous"-28 October 2002:
Does Milton Bradley make any of the "AMERICAN HERITAGE series"
4115 Battle Cry
4270 Broadside
4302 Dogfight
4510 Hit The Beach
"anonymous"
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from Jim McW--2 November 2002:
We believe that MILTON BRADLEYTM published this series back in the early 1960's. Here's a picture someone sent in:
"Sinking of the Alabama", MILTON BRADLEY AMERICAN HERITAGE CIVIL WAR SERIESTM, 1961. We seldom see them come up for sale. What a great set it was. There are some great puzzles being produced today, but we miss some of the old themes. There's not many military themes on puzzles, for instance. There are a few puzzles based on the American Civil War.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[791]from "anonymous"-28 October 2002:
I am looking for info on a national geographic society puzzle series:

Up Close: Australia
Up Close: Africa
Up Close: South America
I would like to know where and if I can get missing pieces, and I would also like to know if these are the only three in the series, or are their more?
any info would be helpful.

Thank You
"anonymous"
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from Jim McW--2 November 2002:
We have seen this kind of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICTM
"African Wildlife", PARKER BROSTM
We believe that PARKER BROSTM published these years ago. We are not sure if this is the series you refer to.
Thanks, Jim McW
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from Nancy Ballhagen--2 November 2002:
The National Geographic series has 6 puzzles in it and I believe we have some of all 6 in the store. They are made by RoseArt and were new last year I believe. They are really nice looking. Each country has a collage of different things from that particular country. You can see them on our page under National Geographic. Check it out.
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from Jim McW--3 November 2002:
These six puzzles are:
Orient
Italy
England
Egypt
South Africa
Australia
Thanks, Jim McW
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[792]from "SH"-29 October 2002:
I have a very old wooden cube puzzle. It measures 2inches by 1 1/2 inches. It is in the original box and in excellent condition. It has pictures painted on it of the Eiffel Tower,leaning tower of Pisa, I believe the Golden Gate Bridge, and some form of roman building remains, a camel with an Egyptian pyramid. This puzzle is shaped in a square. This was passed down from my great uncle then to my grandmother then to me. Could you tell me if this is worth anything and maybe something about it.The only thing it says on it is Japan
"SH"
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[793]from "DN"-3 November 2002:
Hi Jim, A puzzle for your site.:
Perfect Picture Puzzle ( By the Dawn's Early Light), 1940"s I do believe.
"By the Dawn's Early Light", PERFECT PICTURE.
"DN"
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[794]from "KM"-4 November 2002:
I went to Richard's site on Big Ben puzzles and can not find this type of title anywhere.
"Loon Lake", SOMERVILLE BIG BENTM, Canada. This one is Canadian and says "Made in Canada" by Somerville Games. Yet it uses the "Big Ben" name and image. In fact it says "The Big Ben" in all locations.

This one is 1000 pieces and #'d S-990. Called "Loon Lake". It says on the side of the box that the others in the series are:

The Andrew Jackson
Beautiful Lake Louise
Branding Time
Trouble Bruin
Forest Ranger (one I'd like to get)
Working the Rapids
Hitting the Point

Thanks in advance.
"KM"
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[795]from "KM"-4 November 2002:
I have some puzzles from Somerville in Canada that are all 500 pieces, in a long box and are part of a series called "Panorama".
The box says "Litho in USA" so I don't know if that means the puzzle or the box. If the puzzles were litho'ed in the USA then they might have been released there by a different company. Does this sound familar?

The ones I have are all #997 and titled:

Pike Action
A Man's Castle
Picturesque Cove
Delta Queen
Early Fall
Azure Inlet

thanks
"KM"
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[796]from "MC5"-4 November 2002:
hello. I've just recently become a jigsaw puzzle addict. I think its great for your thinking skills and just plain fun doing them. This is one of the few pages on the internet I could find with information on them. Are there any online message boards or other good webpages? I also have a few more questions or comments. I see a lot of people here don't like gluing puzzles because you like to collect them in their most original form. Nothing in this world lasts forever so I would rather have them assembled on my wall where I can view and appreciate the fun times I had constructing them. The glue is like the finishing touch in my opinion. Your work is complete and you dont have to worry about missing pieces. I will be doing a lot of puzzles and finding or making a special frame for them all would be a lot of trouble. To me, glue seems to be the easiest way of preserving all my puzzles.
There is always a new puzzle to work on, so I rarely do them twice. I usually throw away the box after the puzzle is completed because it's nothing but cardboard to me. I was also looking for tips on constructing puzzles. I see a lot of places sell puzzle caddy's but they are quite expensive. I think something better could be made at home. I was thinking about just having a piece of wood with trim around it for working the puzzle. That way I could move it any time I wanted. I could also have separate trays to use for the sorting. I might make something like this or maybe just taping some cardboard trim around your work table to keep pieces from going off the side could help. I would appreciate any ideas on this subject.

thank you
"MC5"
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from Jim McW--8 November 2002:
Actually, many people like to frame and mount their puzzles. Some use glue, some don't. There is a danger, perhaps, that puzzles hung in strong sunlight for a very long time may fade, darken, or discolor. The only experience we ourselves have had with framing and mounting puzzles was when we found some frames that consisted of a wooden backboard, a sheet of clear vinyl, and four strips of metal framing. It was fairly easy to place the assembled puzzle between the backboard and the vinyl sheet and clamp the frame pieces to the edges to hold the whole thing together.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[797]from "MG"-5 November 2002:
I'm looking for a circular puzzle called "foxfire". I need to know who makes it. It's an older puzzle. Thanks.
"MG"
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[798]from "JB"-6 November 2002:
Came across an old jig saw 4 puzzle set

It is called The Story Telling Set---with the name J.F. Kernan on one the puzzles, may be the artist?

I believe it is Canadian, made circa 1955.

Would you know if it is something that a collector might be interested in?

Thanks
"JB"
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from Jim McW--8 November 2002:
Chris McCann, in his magnificent book, Master Pieces: the Art History of Jigsaw Puzzles, includes several color reproductions of Kernan's work. He says that Kernan lived 1878 to 1958.
We would be curious whether your set resembles the one which we have illustrated on our Puzzles of Canada page.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[799]from "anonymous"-6 November 2002:
I used to have a two-sided puzzle that I enjoyed putting together. It was people at a beach, and then on the other side was the word "Congratulations" in different script. The puzzle pieces could fit together various ways--but only if the back matched would you know that you had it correct.

I am trying to remember the manufacturer of the puzzle as I would like to find another one like that. It had things like "The striped umbrellas are two rows down, etc."

Any ideas???

Thanks,
"anonymous"
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from Nancy Ballhagen--9 November 2002:
I believe the puzzle you are referring to is one of the "Talking Puzzles" made by Buffalo Games. There were 5, I think,
The Beach
The Office Building
The Hospital
The High School
The Fitness Center

They also made The Hotel, and one other, the name escapes me, but it was pink and seemed to have something to do with Florida, but not sure, these were made in a tall square box and had a frame that you put around the box and worked the puzzle in it and when finished it looked sort of like a 3-dimensional building. Unfortunately, they haven't been made for about 4 or 5 years, I think.
Nancy
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from Jim McW--9 November 2002:
See no. 479, Page 34.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[800]from "HB"-7 November 2002:
I was reminiscing with my father the other night and he mentioned that he had a puzzle he use to do over and over again as a child. He said that is was of an old man, young boy and his dog sitting on a log overlooking the water, with a sailboat in sight (not sure if the boat was out on the water or on land). The puzzle would of been purchased probably during the 1930s-1940s. I would love to surprise him with either a puzzle or print of this scene. I know this is long shot because I don't know what company made the puzzle. I would greatly appreciate any assistance you may be able to give.

Thank you for your time,
"HB"
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from Jim McW--8 November 2002:
I want to suggest that the puzzle may be one based on art, by Norman Rockwell, sometimes titled, "The Stay-At-Homes", sometimes titled, "Outward Bound".
"Outward Bound", MILTON BRADLEYTM.
Thanks, Jim McW
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[801]from "S7"-7 November 2002:
Hi,
My mother has a painting of "Free as the Wind" by A. Albo, and we are trying to find out more about this artist, can you help?
"S7"
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from Jim McW--8 November 2002:
See no. 70, Page 6, and no. 676, Page 47.
Thanks, Jim McW
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