Page 27 - June 2018 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 27
renting them. According to Williams, libraries also got in on the trend and offered puzzles to their
patrons. A typical puzzle rental cost between three to ten cents a day, which is equivalent to around
one dollar today.
While renting was affordable, owning became more of a possibility with the invention of die-cut
puzzles. Cardboard puzzles could be mass-produced, and as such, had value beyond games as
advertising or propaganda tools. They even became serials. Williams writes that the die-cut “Jig of
the Week” sold for twenty-five cents and appeared on newsstands weekly, and it was one of several
weekly puzzles series. Wooden jigsaw puzzles declined in popularity ever since.
Because puzzles reached their peak decades ago and were loved, played with, and even rented for
frequent assembly, they are tricky to find in complete condition and in good shape. However, should
you want to participate in a hobby that captivated so many, puzzle collector Bob Armstrong has
some tips to share. Armstrong has worked out a classification system and hopes to create a language
for us to describe wooden jigsaw puzzles. His system, outlined in Jigsaw Puzzle Cutting Styles: A New
Method of Classification, focuses on five characteristics: the interlocking nature of the puzzle,
the shape of the knobs (if it even has them), the shape of the lines between the knobs (or from piece
to piece), the overall pattern, and any visible special techniques. Armstrong argues that “…
consistencies in styles remain that can assist the collector in identifying the maker and era even when
the original box is missing.”
Armstrong’s descriptions of puzzle make and types are very thorough, and can be found on his
website. They are an invaluable resource to those learning about antique puzzles and how to get
involved in collecting. An informative collector and a master puzzle maker, Mark Cappitella is
another excellent resource. Cappitella’s website, mgcpuzzles.com, has several examples of antique
and modern wooden jigsaw puzzles as well as detailed information about puzzle makers.
Apart from Pastime, the Parker Brothers puzzle arm, some name brands to look out for are PAR,
U-Nit, Tuck’s Zig-Zag Puzzles (a good English brand), Falls puzzles, and Madmar puzzles.
Collectors may run into dealers pricing puzzles per piece. For Cappitella, quality puzzles in excellent
condition are worth a market price of around forty cents per piece. Such an estimate results in top
quality puzzles that are around $300 or $400, with puzzles in average condition coming in at around
$100 or less.
Though they are not the most investment-worthy of collectibles, wooden puzzles have an
unmistakable appeal that made them top sellers for a couple hundred years. Their beauty, mystery,
and the sense of accomplishment that they pass on to their owners is hard to duplicate in other
collectibles. Do you want to be a sleuth and an artist as well as an antique collector? Maybe jigsaw
puzzles are the missing piece in your collection. Bob Armstrong spent nearly 100 hours restoring this puzzle from
1928, which was featured in the Worcester Telegram and on
--------------------------------------------------- Armstrong’s exhibit at the Briarwood Retirement Community. From
the article “Puzzle solved: Worcester collector pieces together antique
Additional resources: Association of Game and Puzzle Collectors: gamesandpuzzles.org; Bob Armstrong’s Old Jigsaw jigsaw art,” Telegram.com, Worcester, MA,
Puzzles: oldpuzzles.com; MGC Puzzles: mgcpuzzles.com photo: Rick Cinclair
June 2019 25
patrons. A typical puzzle rental cost between three to ten cents a day, which is equivalent to around
one dollar today.
While renting was affordable, owning became more of a possibility with the invention of die-cut
puzzles. Cardboard puzzles could be mass-produced, and as such, had value beyond games as
advertising or propaganda tools. They even became serials. Williams writes that the die-cut “Jig of
the Week” sold for twenty-five cents and appeared on newsstands weekly, and it was one of several
weekly puzzles series. Wooden jigsaw puzzles declined in popularity ever since.
Because puzzles reached their peak decades ago and were loved, played with, and even rented for
frequent assembly, they are tricky to find in complete condition and in good shape. However, should
you want to participate in a hobby that captivated so many, puzzle collector Bob Armstrong has
some tips to share. Armstrong has worked out a classification system and hopes to create a language
for us to describe wooden jigsaw puzzles. His system, outlined in Jigsaw Puzzle Cutting Styles: A New
Method of Classification, focuses on five characteristics: the interlocking nature of the puzzle,
the shape of the knobs (if it even has them), the shape of the lines between the knobs (or from piece
to piece), the overall pattern, and any visible special techniques. Armstrong argues that “…
consistencies in styles remain that can assist the collector in identifying the maker and era even when
the original box is missing.”
Armstrong’s descriptions of puzzle make and types are very thorough, and can be found on his
website. They are an invaluable resource to those learning about antique puzzles and how to get
involved in collecting. An informative collector and a master puzzle maker, Mark Cappitella is
another excellent resource. Cappitella’s website, mgcpuzzles.com, has several examples of antique
and modern wooden jigsaw puzzles as well as detailed information about puzzle makers.
Apart from Pastime, the Parker Brothers puzzle arm, some name brands to look out for are PAR,
U-Nit, Tuck’s Zig-Zag Puzzles (a good English brand), Falls puzzles, and Madmar puzzles.
Collectors may run into dealers pricing puzzles per piece. For Cappitella, quality puzzles in excellent
condition are worth a market price of around forty cents per piece. Such an estimate results in top
quality puzzles that are around $300 or $400, with puzzles in average condition coming in at around
$100 or less.
Though they are not the most investment-worthy of collectibles, wooden puzzles have an
unmistakable appeal that made them top sellers for a couple hundred years. Their beauty, mystery,
and the sense of accomplishment that they pass on to their owners is hard to duplicate in other
collectibles. Do you want to be a sleuth and an artist as well as an antique collector? Maybe jigsaw
puzzles are the missing piece in your collection. Bob Armstrong spent nearly 100 hours restoring this puzzle from
1928, which was featured in the Worcester Telegram and on
--------------------------------------------------- Armstrong’s exhibit at the Briarwood Retirement Community. From
the article “Puzzle solved: Worcester collector pieces together antique
Additional resources: Association of Game and Puzzle Collectors: gamesandpuzzles.org; Bob Armstrong’s Old Jigsaw jigsaw art,” Telegram.com, Worcester, MA,
Puzzles: oldpuzzles.com; MGC Puzzles: mgcpuzzles.com photo: Rick Cinclair
June 2019 25
