Stave Puzzles
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| Stave Puzzles, Inc. | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | Norwich, Vermont, USA (1974), |
| Founder | Steve Richardson, Dave Tibbetts |
| Headquarters | Norwich, Vermont |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Jigsaw Puzzles |
| Owner | Steve Richardson |
| Employees | 24 (2008) |
| Website | http://www.stavepuzzles.com |
Stave Puzzles is an American jigsaw puzzle company located in Norwich, Vermont. They manufacture hand cut jigsaw puzzles made from cherry-backed, 5-layered, 1/4" wood.
Contents |
[edit] Company history
Steve Richardson moved from New Jersey to Vermont in 1969 and started a game design business with Dave Tibbetts.[1] In 1974 he was offered $300 to make a wooden jigsaw puzzle.[2] He accepted the job and bought a saw to teach himself how to do so. In the same year Steve and Dave the two formed Stave Puzzles,[3] forming the name from a combination of their first names. In 1976 Richardson bought out Tibbetts's share of the company for $1 and a jigsaw.[4] He built a small shop behind his garage and hired his first employee. In 1983, Stave introduced their first 2-Way Trick Puzzle, called Go Fish. In 1998 Stave was invited to show their puzzles at the White House.
In 1989, Stave Puzzles released an April Fools joke puzzle called 5 Easy Pieces, which had no solution. The puzzle's first thirty buyers were refunded their purchase price.[5] In 1990 Stave Puzzles was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most expensive jigsaw puzzle.[6] In 1997, Stave introduced the Monkey Fist trick. In 1998, the Crazy Claws were introduced and in 2003 the first 3D Trick Puzzle, "Loop-de-Loop".
Owners of Stave Puzzles include Queen Elizabeth II, Barbara Bush, Stephen King, Julie Andrews, Tom Peters and Bill Gates.[7][8]
[edit] Products
[edit] Traditional puzzles
Stave produces traditional rectangular puzzles that range in size from 5"x 7" (75 pieces) to 25"x20" (1000) pieces. For every hundred pieces, five custom pieces such as dates, names or silhouettes can be cut into the puzzle.
[edit] Teaser puzzles
Stave's Teaser puzzles are designed in such a way as to make assembly of the jigsaw puzzle harder than in a traditional jigsaw creation. Stave commissions original artwork for these puzzles. Illustrators and Stave craftspeople work together on the design to reduce the number of visual cues that would normally make it easy to put together a traditional puzzle.
A typical Teaser design has some areas that are similar to traditional puzzles, making it easier to assemble some of the puzzle. However, in the center of the puzzle, or in other separate areas, holes are left into which many pieces have to fit. These pieces may be silhouettes of shapes that are representative of objects, people, animals, etc. It's not apparent how they fit together in the holes of the puzzle until they are played with and studied.
The difficult rating system for Teasers is measured on a scale of 1 to 4 swords:
- One sword: Requires extra concentration
- Two swords: Requires extra concentration and patience
- Three swords: Requires extra concentration, patience and aspirin
- Four swords: Requires extra concentration, patience, aspirin and Valium
[edit] Trick puzzles
Steve Richardson earned the name Chief Tormentor for inventing the Trick puzzle,[9] a difficult puzzle genre in which some pieces fit in two or more different places, but only one of the solutions is considered correct. The object of a Trick puzzle is detailed on a small block of wood that accompanies Trick puzzles. [10]
An example of a Stave Trick puzzle is Champ which is made up of 44 blue pieces and fits together 32 different ways, only one of which is correct where the serpent eats its own tail.[11][10]
The difficulty rating system for Trick puzzles is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 lightning bolts:
- One lightning bolt: Hors d'oeuvres-taste Stave shenanigans.
- Two lightning bolts: Faint of heart? This may be your limit?
- Three lightning bolts: Be prepared to do battle.
- Four lightning bolts: If they made Pepto-Bismol for the brain, this is when you would need it.
- Five lightning bolts: What part of "impossible" don't you understand?[10]
Teaser and Trick puzzles have been combined together in puzzles such as Palace of Pranks.
[edit] Limited-Edition puzzles
Stave Limited Edition puzzles are the premier puzzles Stave produces. Each is produced from custom commissioned artwork and sold in a limited quantity. Typically the limited edition is only 50, though some run to 100.
There are four main types of limited edition puzzles: Double Deckers, Riddle, Mystery Story, and Trick. Some of the limited edition puzzles are hand painted (as opposed to a print affixed to the wood).
In general the limited editions also include items that fit the theme and help guide you through the puzzle and additional games. For example the Limited Edition Trick Puzzle Time Traveler comes with several hand crafted booklets to link the puzzle to the time-travel theme underlying the puzzle. The theme of the puzzle is major events (cultural, historical, scientific discoveries, etc.) from 1000 CE to 2000 CE. The booklets guide you through untangling a set of chronological mishaps caused by an evildoer.
Double deckers: Double decker puzzles are made up of multiple layers that sit on top of one another. Irregular edges and dropouts highlight the imagery in interesting ways. Some double decker puzzles include very simple tricks--swappable image areas. For example, the Snow White limited edition allows you to swap the Evil Queen and Snow White in the mirror.
Riddle puzzles: Riddle puzzles are accompanied by a book of riddles, word games, and other surprises linked to the puzzle. For example, figural pieces in the puzzle might form a rebus that must be solved.
Mystery story: Each puzzle is accompanied by a complete mystery novel. However, you do not learn the ending of the mystery until you send in your answer to Stave's "mystery hot line." For example, the limited edition Hexed has artwork by Andrea Farnham and a novel by Susan Stofflet. The puzzle comes in sections enclosed in velvet bags that you do in pieces as you read and solve parts of the mystery.
Trick: The limited edition trick puzzles are similar in general challenge types to the other trick puzzles sold by Stave. The main difference is greater theming and integration. Taking Time Traveler as an example, the entire puzzle has a theme, and solving the tricks and re-arranging the pieces is linked to a story and learning about history. Other puzzles such as Knight at Stavely Castle include 3D pop-ups such as an entire castle facade that goes together multiple ways and a 3D sword that you need to remove from a stone.[10] These trick puzzles are thus more intense than the generally available trick puzzles because of the themed linking between the puzzle and accompanying materials.
List of Limited Editions and statuses
(Status approximate as of 19 May 2008; list based on Stave Limited Edition advertising mailed in Dec 2007 combined with phone call with Stave to obtain statuses on 19 May 2008)
| Name | Type | Artists | First Sold | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the End of His Rope | Mystery | Andrea Farnham (art) Suzanne Stofflet (mystery) |
1996 | 39/50 | |
| Cinderella | Double Decker | Jennifer Brown | 1992 | 23/50 | This puzzle also includes a simple trick. |
| Densel the Dragon | Trick | Steve Richardson (tricks) Candy Thun (tricks and art) |
1990 | 25/35 | |
| Dickens of a Christmas | Riddle | Molly Delaney (art) Suzanne Stofflet (riddles) |
1997 | 20/50 | |
| Dollhouse Village | Handpainted | Jim Schubert (art) | 1979 | 98/100 | This puzzle is actually composed of five smaller puzzles that are now sold only as a set. There was a period where individual components could be purchased separately. |
| Hexed | Mystery | Andrea Farnham (art) Suzanne Stofflet (mystery) |
1998 | 23/50 | |
| HMS Pinafore | Trick | Steve Richardson (tricks and teasers) Suzanne Stofflet (word games) Molly Delany (art) |
2000 | 7/50 | |
| Knight at Stavely Castle | Trick | Steve Richardson (trick) Candy Thun (art) |
1994 | 20/50 | |
| Mad Tea Party | Riddle | Jennifer Brown (art) Suzanne Stofflet (riddles) |
1997 | 25/50 | |
| Midsummer Night's Dream | Double Decker | Henri Loustau | 1981 | 77/100 | |
| Nutcracker Suite | Double Decker | Jennifer Brown | 1991 | 28/50 | |
| Off with Her Head | Riddle | Jennifer Brown (art) ? (riddles) |
1998 | 20/50 | |
| Pentagon | Mystery | Andrea Farnham (art) Suzanne Stofflet (mystery) |
1996 | 50/50 | |
| Peter Pan & the Irate Pirate | Riddle | Molly Delaney (art) Suzanne Stofflet (riddles) |
1997 | 26/50 | |
| Pharaoh's Curse | Trick | Andrea Farnham (art and tricks) | 1993 | 50/50 | |
| Romeo and Juliet | Double Decker | Jennifer Brown | 1999 | 12/50 | |
| Snow White | Double Decker | Jennifer Brown | 1993 | 19/50 | This puzzle also includes a simple trick. |
| Stavely Manor | Trick | Steve Richardson (trick) Candy Thun (art) |
1993 | 34/50 | |
| Time Traveler | Trick | Andrea Farnham (art and tricks) | 1999 | 38/50 | |
| Treasure Island | Trick | Andrea Farnham (art and tricks) | 1991 | 47/50 | |
| Twain Foolery | Riddle | Molly Delaney (art) Suzanne Stofflet (riddles) |
1999 | 16/50 | |
| Under the Big Top | Trick | Andrea Farnham (art and tricks) | 1992 | 22/50 | |
| Wizard of Oz | Riddle | Molly Delaney (art) Suzanne Stofflet (riddles) |
1998 | 27/50 |
[edit] Custom puzzles
Custom puzzles are just that, full custom work designed in conjunction with the crafters at Stave. The efforts can range from the "simple", such as a wedding picture made into a puzzle, to complex, completely commissioned artwork and carefully designed cutting styles.
[edit] Unique features of Stave puzzles
- No picture of the completed puzzle is provided with the puzzle.[8]
- Clown piece: All Stave Puzzles contain a silhouette of the company trademark clown.[10]
- Phony Corner: It looks like a corner piece, but it’s not. Usually crafted into the interior portion of the puzzle. [11]
- Whammy Edge: Adjacent edge pieces that don’t actually interlock with each other (due to, e.g., a wedge-like piece), foiling attempts to assemble the puzzle using the straight edge first. [11]
- Monkey Fist: Contains multiple, identical large open interlocks into which multiple sections of the puzzle, with identical smaller interlocks, will fit.[12][10] According to Stave, the Monkey Fist name was chosen by Steve Richardson based on the the way African tribes capture monkeys using coconuts with a small hole and bait--the monkeys insert their hand into the hole, grab the bait, but then won't let go (this method of capturing monkeys may be an urban legend). In terms of differentiating a Monkey Fist from Crazy Claws, Monkey Fists have two types of pieces: the repeating open interlock and small fists to go inside the interlock. In contrast, Crazy Claws have repeating loose interlocks that are virtually identical to one another.
- Crazy Claws: Loose interlocks shaped like horseshoes that can connect with each other in two distinct ways and can also connect with several other claws.[12]
- 2-way Tricks: Some pieces fit together in more than one place. Therefore, the puzzle may go together several different ways with only one correct solution.[10]
- Color-line Cutting: Cutting precisely between two different colors so you can not depend on color clues when hunting for the right match.[10]
- Dropout – Empty (or void) space inside a puzzle.
- Enlarged Silhouette – Multiple pieces which form the shape of an object when put together.
- Interacting Silhouette: Two or more silhouettes within a puzzle which relate to each other and touch. example: man and lawn mower
- Rebus: A picture riddle within the puzzle comprising silhouette shapes.[13]
- Sculpt: Slivers of wood removed from the puzzle that form an image or accentuate an image in the print.
- Split Corner: Pieces that don’t look like they form a corner until they fit together.
- Tumblers: Multiple puzzling cavities in which to fit your Teaser pieces.
- Modular Puzzles: Each module is a separate trick puzzle and stands alone. However, the Trick center can be rearranged to fit inside other puzzles within its set. For example the Marlin Mischief, Lobster Lubbers, and Whale Watch trick puzzles are a collection of modular puzzles. Each has an outside border that holds its own interior pieces in a single configuration. However, if you take the center pieces from Marlin Mischief, they can be re-arranged to fit inside Lobster Lubbers (or Whale Watch). Thus if you buy 1 puzzle, you get 1 solution, 2 puzzles, 4 solutions, and 3 puzzles, 9 solutions.
[edit] Samples of unique features
 No picture here |
 Clown Piece |
 Phony Corner |
 Whammy Edge |
 Monkey Fist |
 Crazy Claws |
 Two Way Trick |
 Color Line Cutting |
 Drop Out |
 Enlarged Silhouette |
 Interacting Silhouette |
 Rebus |
 Split Corner |
[edit] Accolades
Stave Puzzles was named by Tom Peters as the 1991 Product of the Year.[14]
[edit] External links
- Stave Puzzles web site: www.stave.com
- Stave Puzzles user community: stavepuzzlenuts.com
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sharp, Bill (11 1989). "A puzzle maker in Vermont builds customer loyalty.". Adweek's Marketing Week v30 (n47): 26.
- ^ Pennington, April Y. (2002-09). Steve Richardson - Snapshot - Brief Article. BNET Business Network. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ Acton, Johnny; Tania Adams, Matt Packer (2006-11-28). Origin of Everyday Things. Sterling, #127. ISBN 978-1402743023.
- ^ Maxwell, Jill Hecht (2002-06). "Main Street: Putting It Together" (June 2002). Inc. (magazine).
- ^ "Piece offering" (1992-11-14). Economist Vol. 325 (Issue 7785): p76. ISSN 0013-0613.
- ^ McFarlan, Donald; , Norris McWhirter (1990). Guinness Book of World Records 1990. Bantam Books, #334. ISBN 0553284525.
- ^ Williams, Anne D. (2005-11-01). The Jigsaw Puzzle: Piecing Together a History. Berkley, #134. ISBN 978-0425201824.
- ^ a b Méndez, Teresa. "Deep inside the piece process", Christian Science Monitor, 2006-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ Stoodley, Sheila Gibson (November 2006), “Collectibles: Piece Maker”, Robb Report (CurtCo Robb Media, LLC) (no. November 2006), <http://www.robbreport.com/archived-issues/Article.aspx?article=12353>
- ^ a b c d e f g h Groosmann, John. "Going to Pieces". Cigar Aficionado May/Jun 1997. ISSN 1063-7885.
- ^ a b c Antrim, Taylor (2005-06-20). "I Did the Funky Chicken". Forbes.
- ^ a b Armstrong, Bob, “Earliest Use of Special Techniques for Making Adult Jigsaw Puzzles”, 'Game & Puzzle Collectors Quarterly' (Association of Game & Puzzle Collectors) volume 3, numbers 1-3, ISSN 1529-4706, <http://www.oldpuzzles.com/Articles/Earliest-Uses/>
- ^ Wolkomir, R. (1990-05). "The `Rolls-Royce of puzzles' drives its fans around the bend.". Smithsonian Vol. 2 (Issue 2): p104. ISSN 00377333.
- ^ Peters, Tom (1991-12-21). Most Valuable Players 1991. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
