Every few years, I invite readers and colleagues to contribute guest columns in the series Technology and my Hobby/Passion. Over a hundred contributed in the last decade on their birding, charities, cooking, music, sports and every other passion, and how it keeps evolving with technology. Click here and scroll down to read them all.
This time it is Susanne Beck, returning to write about her other passion, working on jigsaw puzzles. She wrote about stained glass last year.
"Jigsaw puzzles saved my sanity during the current pandemic. I was never too passionate about puzzles - they were something to do when it was too cold or rainy to be outside. But last June, while rummaging through a closet I found an unopened puzzle and decided to give it a try. It did not take long for me to realize that while concentrating on tiny, colorful cardboard pieces, the world's troubles seem to vanish.
Then for my 74th birthday, I was given a 1,000 piece Tampa Bay Rays puzzle. OMG - talk about complex! 40,000 fans each the size of a pinhead and a huge green outfield with few distinguishing features. I was intrigued.
The puzzle was so daunting that I realized I needed a strategy. First, I sorted the pieces by category: the outside border, fans in the stands (sub-divided into people facing right, left and in front), the play field and finally the signs (scoreboards, advertisements and Rays logos). I ended up with the dining room table covered with half a dozen Tupperware bowls filled with pieces. Gradually, the puzzle came together. I worked on it for hours at a time only stopping when my back hurt too much to continue.
With this new pastime, I decided to do some research, with some help from Google. I learned that jigsaw puzzles were invented by an English map engraver named John Spilsbury in the 1760s. His goal was to help local school children with their geography lessons. Spilsbury would create maps on wood, then cut out each country with a jig or scroll saw. The kids would recreate the maps as part of their class work. I used to teach so can relate to his ingenuity.
In the early 1900s, Parker Brothers began creating puzzles in the US and there has been steady progress since - interlocking pieces, cardboard instead of wood (accelerated when plywood was in short supply during WWII) and mass production.
Did you know Buffalo, NY was to puzzles what Detroit was to autos? Buffalo produced almost half the puzzles sold in the US. They used to glue photographs on cardboard and feed to a cutting disc. Alternatively, they were stamped with a metal template which used sharp metal edges to stamp out the pieces.
These days, companies use lasers to precisely cut the pieces. Heck, you can even get your own personal laser as this YouTube video shows
I am not ready to make my own puzzles but do like to customize mine. Fortunately, you can do so on-line. That is even better given that I was not comfortable going into a store with COVID risks.
Jiggy Puzzles has a small but beautiful collection, and come in a nice 10" round container but cost $50 plus shipping.
Puzzle Warehouse has a much bigger selection, but many of the pictures - the subject matter, colors, designs or gothic or modernistic art style did not appeal.
If I am going to spend weeks on a puzzle, I want one that I will love when I am done like this of an albatross duo.
If you don't want to wait, don't want to customize, and are comfortable going into a store, Walmart has a large selection costing between $8 and $20.
For Christmas, I decided to get creative and go with photo puzzles. My 8 year old nephew got a 48 piece puzzle and my 6 year old niece got a 30 piece gift. I treated myself to a 1,000 piece puzzle of my two dogs. They all turned out beautifully.
Well, I have to go now - my latest puzzle just arrived and is waiting for me at the dining table!"
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