Review Categories
The following categories will be rated on a scale of 1-4 as they pertain to the puzzle manufacturer being rated:
- Variety of Image Choice
- Sharpness of Image Reproduction
- Quality/Thickness of Puzzle Pieces
- Cut Cleanliness (bent or torn ends, unseparated pieces)
- Tightness of Puzzle Piece Fit
- Variety of Piece-Cut
- Quality of Puzzle Box
- Puzzle-Packing (plastic bag, cloth bag, no bag)
Up to three bonus points may be awarded in cases of exceptional quality, meaning that a perfect rating would merit 35 total points. Please remember that ALL of the reviews are based upon my personal experience, limited as it is to some puzzle companies. This means that, as more puzzles are built, company ratings are subject to up or down adjustments.
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1.
SunsOut Puzzles:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- The strong-suit of the SunsOut puzzle brand is the overall unusualness of its images. Give most longtime puzzlers the name of the larger puzzle companies, and they will almost instantly get an image in their mind of that company's typical product. It's impossible to do that with SunsOut; you never know what they are going to do next.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on SunsOut are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Like many companies, however, color shades on puzzle pieces do sometimes slightly vary to shades shown on the box cover.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. "Larger Piece" puzzles appear to be cut from thicker board than the company's normal-sized puzzle pieces.
Piece Lock: 2 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without it breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- SunsOut does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 4 points
SunsOut puzzles will appeal to those puzzlers who enjoy puzzles consisting of a wide variation of piece style rather than those featuring only two or three puzzle cuts. This adds an extra bit of fun and challenge to the company's puzzles.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
SunsOut puzzles are easy to find on store shelves because so many of them are packed into the company's oversized, square boxes. The top and sides of the box are of thickly cut cardboard, but for some reason, the bottom of the box is much thinner and less durable. No puzzle poster.
Inside the Box: 2 points
SunsOut uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 - for producing an outstanding number of unusual and unpredictable images.
TOTAL POINTS: 26 (74%)
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2.
Aquarius:
Image Variety: 4 points -
-Aquarius is another of those companies that seem to come up with more than their share of unusual images. In this case, those images often reflect iconic cultural images from the past (old movie images, nostalgic advertising, etc.).
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Aquarius image reproduction is uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. It is particularly good at matching the colors shown on the box cover to that of the actual puzzle pieces (why this seems so difficult for some companies, I can't explain). The finish on the pieces is slick and durable.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are consistently above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without it breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Aquariust does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Aquarius puzzles are composed of slight variations to one basic shape, the classic piece with opposing rounded heads offset by opposing openings on the other axis. The variations are mostly of size and dominant orientation.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Aquarius boxes are of thick cardboard on all four sides with a slick, glossy finish that catches the eye of the shopper. Images are sharp and bright and accurately reflect the entire surface of the puzzle; misleading image-cropping is not a problem.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Aquarius uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers but adds a cardboard insert that keeps the puzzle pieces securely in place when they are stored outside the bag. No puzzle poster.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (80%)
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3.
Dowdle Folk Art:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- In one sense, Dowdle does not produce a wide variety of images, specializing in folk art representations of various cities and university football stadiums, instead. What makes Dowdle images special is the dead-on interpretation that artist Eric Dowdle produces for the puzzles. (See my Texas A&M Dowdle puzzle for an example of Eric's style.) The artist perfectly captures the atmosphere of the locations that he paints. BUT, on the other hand, the similarity between image presentations might become tiresome for some puzzlers in the long run.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Colors are vivid and hold up very well as they age. I built a 1999 puzzle of Dowdle's that look as new as the day it was produced with bright, deep colors that enhanced the building process.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are consistently above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 1 point
- The fit of Dowdle pieces is very loose and can cause a problem for puzzlers who prefer taping the backside of their puzzles rather than applying glue to the image itself. Flipping the puzzle facedown is very difficult, if even possible.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Dowdle does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but do not come near approaching the variance of a company like Springbok or SunsOut.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Dowdle boxes are of high quality cardboard and include a flap on one side that when lifted opens the box to expose it's contents. The box itself is covered in a colorful slipcover with all the puzzle information (image, size, number of pieces, etc.) printed on it. The boxes themselves are covered with the image of an antique world map, and the same box is used for all the company's puzzles.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Because I have not seen a brand new Dowdle puzzle, I cannot verify the inclusion or exclusion of a plastic bag for the puzzle pieces - none of the used puzzles I've purchased included such a bag - but the box is so securely sealed, that a bag is not necessary. A smallish poster is included with each puzzle to help the puzzler complete the image.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 26 (74%)
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4.
White Mountain:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- White Mountain seems to specialize in nostalgic images, rural landscapes, and seasonal puzzles. In addition, the company often features puzzles that are guaranteed to appeal to book lovers everywhere (bookstores, book jacket collages, etc.) and even produced a very fine collection of puzzles based on the Civil War artworks of Mort Kuntsler (before that became politically incorrect). White Mountain is the go-to company for puzzlers who enjoy building the collage type of puzzle, one featuring a couple of dozen nostalgic book covers, cereal boxes, signs, etc.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Colors are generally vivid and hold up very well as they age, but the company occasionally produces an image that seems to be saturated in an unattractive orange or yellow tint over the entire image.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle piece thickness varies from puzzle-size to puzzle-size, with the general rule being that the larger the piece, the thicker the piece - overall, average thickness and above.
Piece Lock: 3 point
- The average White Mountain puzzle locks together very well, and can usually be picked up and flipped to its front side for taping and framing without sections coming apart. This is not true, however, for puzzles featuring White Mountain's "larger pieces," as these fit together so loosely that they cannot possibly be moved without them falling apart. There are even sometimes noticeable gaps between the pieces that require extra effort in getting them to fit more cleanly.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 3 points
- White Mountain does a good job in cutting and separating puzzle pieces at the factory, but it is not uncommon to find several pieces not completely cut through or separated. The company also tends to include a relatively high volume of "puzzle dust" in its boxes.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but do not come near approaching the variance of a company like Springbok or SunsOut.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
White Mountain boxes are of high quality cardboard and are sturdily constructed with a clear, and color-accurate, image of the enclosed puzzle. White Mountain most often uses a uniform box size for its puzzles making it easy to store and sort them for later use.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Puzzle pieces come in a sealed plastic bag that can be re-used to store the pieces after each time the puzzle is constructed. In addition, White Mountain provides a little cardboard stand that can be used to prop up the box for reference while the puzzle is being constructed. Also usually included, is a cardboard advertising insert featuring contact information and contest news.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 point for being the only company I've run into that provides a little cardboard easel to help keep the puzzle box upright for easy reference.
TOTAL POINTS: 29 (83%)
Puzz3D (owned by Milton Bradley):
Image Variety: 3 points -
- Puzz3D, as its name implies, is a producer of 3D puzzles, so its images are limited to famous buildings, and the like, including the US Capitol Building and castles, etc.
Sharpness: 2 Points -
- Colors are generally dull pastels due to the nature of the subject matter, but even the greenery and roads sometimes used as bases for the horizontal portion of the puzzles tend to be subdued in color.
Thickness & Piece Lock of Pieces: 2 points
- Puzzle pieces are manufactured by applying the image to a one-quarter-inch thick foam backing, making the pieces durable but allowing them to interlock tightly in the flat sections of the puzzle. This does not work nearly so well in the horizontal or curved portions of the puzzle, however; those parts of the puzzle tend to break apart rather easily and often.
- Puzz3D does a good job in cutting and separating puzzle pieces at the factory. Even the punch-out pieces tend to come apart easily and cleanly. It is, however, not always obvious what is throw-away debris and what is actually a puzzle piece. Puzzlers should never throw any foam-backed debris away until the puzzle is complete, because it is easy to mistake a puzzle piece for trash.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but Puzz3D diagrams do not always reflect the true nature of the pieces in a section of the puzzle. At times diagrams show a single-piece piece as three interlocking pieces, and vice versa. The diagrams are at times extremely frustrating.
Puzz 3D boxes are of thin, glossy cardboard that use interlocking flaps on two ends to keep them tightly closed. As usual in this style of box, those flaps tend to tear easily and the box can become unsightly when used to repack the puzzle pieces. The image on the box turns out to be more useful than the enclosed instructions, meaning that the box will have to be handled more than a few times during puzzle construction.
Inside the Box: 1 point
TOTAL POINTS: 15 (43%)
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Ceaco puzzles are generally sharp and accurate to the original. Some color variation does happen but it is not as noticeable on Ceaco puzzles as it is on some of the more expensive brands.
Thickness of Pieces: 2 points
- Puzzle pieces are usually of below average thickness when compared to other brands, but they almost always fit together tightly enough that their puzzles can be lifted for easy flipping and taping in preparation for framing.
Piece Lock: 4 points
- Thinner than average cardboard pieces that fit together tightly mean that piece-lock is seldom a problem with a Ceaco puzzle. This is one area in which thinner, lighter pieces are an advantage and not a disadvantage to the puzzler.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Ceaco does a decent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated but many of their puzzles still include damage pieces. Generally that's only peeling ends that have to be glued down to make the piece lie flat, so keep a glue stick handy.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Ceaco puzzle pieces do not vary widely in given puzzles, something that can make for slow puzzling in large sections of dark colors. The company does, however, do an excellent job of making sure that no piece will fit cleanly in more than one location...sometimes it's close, but an experienced puzzler will not have that problem with a Ceaco puzzle.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
Ceaco puzzle boxes do vary a little, but they are generally of thinner cardboard and are more fragile than the boxes of most other companies. Many of their boxes open and close with a simple cardboard tab/slot combination - meaning that the boxes often tear upon first opening or with a little time. Boxes are smaller than those of most competing companies.
Inside the Box: 2 points
Ceaco uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 23 (66%)
Ravensburger:
Image Variety: 2 points -
- Ravensburger is not a company likely to get too far out of the box when it comes to the images chosen for their puzzles. In this category, the company is, in fact, one of the more predictable ones producing puzzles today. That is not to say that Ravensburger does not use interesting images, only that they are more a follower than a leader when it comes to today's puzzle images.
- Image reproduction and adherence of the image to individual pieces is outstanding. The finish on Ravensburger puzzles makes it possible for the puzzler to enjoy sharp images while minimizing the extra gloss that causes the eye-tiring reflection from overhead lights that plagues so many puzzle companies.
Thickness of Pieces: 4 points
- Puzzle pieces are above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. "Larger Piece" puzzles appear to be cut from a slightly thicker board than the company's normal-sized puzzle pieces.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who prefer to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without a Ravensburger puzzle breaking apart. Even the larger-piece Ravensburger puzzles that do seem to bind together tighter than the normal-sized pieces are difficult to turn over cleanly.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Ravensburger does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated. It is highly unusual to find a damaged part requiring any kind of repair work (gluing or snipping, etc.) on the part of the puzzler.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Ravensburger puzzle pieces are varied enough to hold the interest of avid puzzlers but are not as widely varied as are those of the few companies that rely on piece-variation to separate themselves from the market. There are no "whimsies" in Ravensburger puzzles, for instance.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Ravensburger uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 - for the outstanding "finish" used to seal the image to the pieces of a Ravensburger puzzle.
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (80%)
Hogan's Harbor:
Image Variety: 2 points -
- Hogan's Harbor has only recently started producing jigsaw puzzles, and at present only has four images available, so it is impossible to judge the potential image variety of the company. Of the four images available now, three are rather similar pieces of abstract art and one is based upon the photo of the white wall and bright red window of what is probably a home.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproduction and adherence of the image to individual pieces is outstanding, and true to the image shown on the box itself. The colors look real, and they are reproduced on the puzzle pieces without any tone or tint added to detract from what is shown on the box cover.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. The pieces fit together very cleanly, leaving little doubt that a piece is being placed into its correct position.
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains loose even when the puzzle has been completed. This becomes less and less a problem as the puzzle nears completion, but the pieces fit together so loosely that during construction sections of the puzzle can be separated with even a light jostle or push, something that is frustrating to many puzzlers.
- Hogan's Harbor does an almost perfect job of cutting and separating its puzzle pieces. Damaged pieces requiring repair by the puzzle are non-existent, and there is no "puzzle dust" to be cleaned up as the puzzle is built. Such a clean cut is likely why the puzzle pieces do not fit together tighter than they do. The company uses such a clean cut that there is simply no drag on the sides of the pieces to bind them together.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Hogan's Harbor puzzle pieces are varied enough to hold the interest of avid puzzlers, but are not as widely varied as are those of the few companies that rely on piece-variation to separate themselves from the market. There are no "whimsies" in Hogan's Harbor puzzles, for instance, nor extremely large or extremely small pieces.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Hogan's Harbor packages the pieces of its puzzle into a resealable plastic bag, something that relatively few puzzle producers do these days since resealable bags have a higher unit cost than the bags that cannot be resealed with staples.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 for box design
Eurographics:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- Eurographics has a good variety of puzzle images, including a wide array of cars, motorbikes, and trucks from the sixties. The company's strong suit is nostalgia, but it does not limit itself to that image style.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Eurographics are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Color shades and tones generally match those shown in the box top image.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 2 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult, if not impossible, to do so without the puzzle breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Eurographics does an average job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated but some few pieces do remain attached so tightly that it is difficult for the puzzler to remove them without causing minor damage to the pieces - damage that will then have to be repaired in order to ensure a clean fit.
The cut of Eurographics puzzles varies all the way from the simplest grid-cut puzzles to puzzles with a great variety in piece shape. Some puzzlers prefer a grid cut and others prefer the crazy-shaped pieces that add a little extra challenge to the puzzle. Unfortunately, Eurographics does not indicate on the box which cut the puzzle has been produced with, causing disappointment if the preferred cut has not been used.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Eurographics produces a high quality box on all four sides that will endure for years of handling as puzzles pass from hand-to-hand. The image on the box is sharp and true to the colors reproduced in the puzzle itself.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Puzzle pieces are secured in a large plastic bag that cannot be resealed without a stapler or tape. No poster.
TOTAL POINTS: 24 (68%)
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Cobble Hill:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- Cobble Hill puzzles seem to pretty much stick to traditional or nostalgic images, the kind that most companies feature as their main product. The company also has puzzles for the dog and/or cat lover, and other similar themes, but nothing particularly unusual.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Cobble Hill puzzle pieces are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. The cover representation is very close to what the puzzler will be working with when it comes to picture-trim and brightness and tone of the colors.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. Cobble Hill pieces often feature straight edges, making them impossible to lock fully into place until all surrounding pieces have been placed (this can be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on the puzzler's personal preferences).
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 3 points
- The company does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces. This does create a considerable amount of "puzzle dust" for the puzzler to deal with during the building process.
Piece Variation: 4 points
Cobble Hill pieces are of all shapes and sizes, perhaps as far away from the traditional grid cut puzzle pieces as one can imagine. Even the edge-pieces are often not what they seem, and a puzzler searching for one large edge piece may instead come to find that he needs four smaller pieces instead. This can make a 500-piece Cobble Hill puzzle as much of a challenge as the 1000-piece puzzles of some other companies.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Cobble Hill produces a durable, high quality box on which it clearly points out the type of puzzle cut inside. The ones I've worked say "Random Puzzle Pieces" or show a representation of the type of pieces inside the box so that the puzzler can will not be surprised by a puzzle cut he does not enjoy building.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Cobble Hill puzzle pieces arrive in a sealed plastic bag.
TOTAL POINTS: 27 (77%)
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11.
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory is still a relatively new producer of jigsaw puzzles, but the company provides quite a strong catalog of puzzle images. The company produces puzzles in many of the typical puzzle themes, including animals, children, nostalgia, Americana, etc., but manages to come up with more than its share of "pretty" images. (Check out its "Elegant Interiors" line for a good example of their best work.)
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions by The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. Pieces fit together cleanly with no noticeable duplication of puzzle shape/size pieces. There is seldom any doubt as to whether or not a piece has been placed correctly.
Piece Lock: 4 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces is both clean and very tight, a rare combination. Completed Jigsaw Puzzle Factory puzzles can easily be lifted from a work surface and flipped to their face for taping by puzzlers who prefer tape over puzzle glue. It is the rare company whose puzzles fit together as securely as these do.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Not all Jigsaw Puzzle Factory puzzles come completely separated, and the factory separation process does seem to cause some minor damage to a few puzzle pieces. Keep a glue stick handy for the minor repairs that may be required by a dozen or so pieces.
Piece Variation: 3 points
The company does not produce a wide variety of puzzle pieces either in cut or in size, but there is enough variation in pieces to keep the puzzler interested.
Puzzle Box: 3 points
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory ships its puzzles in a relatively high-quality box with a good puzzle image on the box top. The puzzle image on the box is accurate to what will be displayed on the finished product.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Puzzles are securely shipped inside a plastic bag, and a poster providing a larger-than-the-box image of the puzzle is provided for reference while constructing the puzzle.
BONUS Points Awarded: 2 - for producing one of the tightest-fitted (and most easily handled) completed puzzles in the business. Too many companies do not seem to realize how much such a fit adds to the puzzle-building experience.
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (86%)
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- I did not locate enough Hasbro puzzle images to objectively rate this category, so it has been given a below-average mark of 1 point.
- The Hasbro image reproduction is fairly accurate to that shown on the cover of the puzzle box, but the colors are a bit muted.
- The Easy Grasp puzzle pieces are very thick and easy to work with because of their size and thickness.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- Hasbro's Easy Grasp pieces fit together cleanly but still have a slightly above average tightness of fit. With a whole lot of care, it is possible to flip a Hasbro puzzle to its face for taping prior to framing.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- The company does an excellent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with no damage to any of the pieces.
TOTAL POINTS: 23 (66%)
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Buffalo Puzzles:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- Buffalo does a great job of producing a wide variety of puzzle images, making it possible for most puzzlers to rather easily find something that will appeal to them. For instance, the company's images include European scenes all the way from the Sistine Chapel to Neuschwanstein Castle. But the company's sweet spot in recent years seems to be the sentimental and nostalgic Americana images from artists such as Charles Wysocki and others of that style.
- Image reproductions on Buffalo puzzles are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Color shades of the puzzle pieces themselves almost always reflect the shades reproduced on the box cover and on the large posters that generally come with Buffalo puzzles.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are about average thickness for a quality puzzle and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. There is usually no doubt as to whether or not a piece has been placed correctly.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The puzzle pieces generally lock into place tightly enough to please those puzzlers who prefer taping the backside of their completed puzzles rather than gluing the image together from the top. Buffalo puzzles, with care, can be flipped over for taping, but the key words are "with care."
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Buffalo does an excellent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces. Unlike some companies, it is highly unusual to find a piece that has been damaged at the factory in the separation process.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Buffalo puzzles generally do not feature a wide or unusual variety of puzzle pieces, something that appeals to puzzlers who like to sort pieces by shape but not to puzzlers who enjoy the extra challenge and fun often associated with the more unusual puzzle piece cut.
Puzzle Box: 3 points
Buffalo puzzle boxes are of good quality and their uniform size makes them easy to stack and store. The boxes should sustain years of use as the puzzles are passed on to secondary puzzle builders down the line.
Inside the Box: 3 points
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Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Springbok puzzles are generally sharp and accurate to the original. At times, not unlike many other companies, Springbok chooses images that are too uniformly brown-tinted or orangish-looking. To the company's credit, however, those puzzles are accurately represented on the box covers and can easily be avoided.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are usually of above average thickness when compared to many other brands, and they fit together tightly enough that the puzzles can be lifted for easy flipping and taping in preparation for framing. At times, however, the board stock used for the pieces has a mushy feel to it, and pieces do not fit together cleanly; rather, they have to be forced into place and often leave slight gaps between adjoining pieces even if the fit is obvious from the image itself.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- Piece lock is very good, meaning that the entire puzzle can usually be lifted from the surface without it coming apart. The exception to this rule comes from the occasional Springbok puzzle whose pieces are too mushy to lock together cleanly. Those puzzles can require considerable effort and pushing to complete.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Springbok puzzles are cleanly and sharply cut and it is unusual to find any two pieces still connected inside a new puzzle's box. Factory-damaged pieces are a rarity.
- Springbok puzzle boxes are of about average quality. The cover representation of the puzzle image is generally large enough that it can easily be used as a construction guide by those working the puzzle. The box corners do tend to come apart as the box ages, but that is not a major problem and can be fixed with a little tape or glue.
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1.
SunsOut Puzzles:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- The strong-suit of the SunsOut puzzle brand is the overall unusualness of its images. Give most longtime puzzlers the name of the larger puzzle companies, and they will almost instantly get an image in their mind of that company's typical product. It's impossible to do that with SunsOut; you never know what they are going to do next.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on SunsOut are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Like many companies, however, color shades on puzzle pieces do sometimes slightly vary to shades shown on the box cover.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. "Larger Piece" puzzles appear to be cut from thicker board than the company's normal-sized puzzle pieces.
Piece Lock: 2 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without it breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- SunsOut does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 4 points
SunsOut puzzles will appeal to those puzzlers who enjoy puzzles consisting of a wide variation of piece style rather than those featuring only two or three puzzle cuts. This adds an extra bit of fun and challenge to the company's puzzles.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
SunsOut puzzles are easy to find on store shelves because so many of them are packed into the company's oversized, square boxes. The top and sides of the box are of thickly cut cardboard, but for some reason, the bottom of the box is much thinner and less durable. No puzzle poster.
Inside the Box: 2 points
SunsOut uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 - for producing an outstanding number of unusual and unpredictable images.
TOTAL POINTS: 26 (74%)
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2.
Aquarius:
Image Variety: 4 points -
-Aquarius is another of those companies that seem to come up with more than their share of unusual images. In this case, those images often reflect iconic cultural images from the past (old movie images, nostalgic advertising, etc.).
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Aquarius image reproduction is uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. It is particularly good at matching the colors shown on the box cover to that of the actual puzzle pieces (why this seems so difficult for some companies, I can't explain). The finish on the pieces is slick and durable.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are consistently above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without it breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Aquariust does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Aquarius puzzles are composed of slight variations to one basic shape, the classic piece with opposing rounded heads offset by opposing openings on the other axis. The variations are mostly of size and dominant orientation.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Aquarius boxes are of thick cardboard on all four sides with a slick, glossy finish that catches the eye of the shopper. Images are sharp and bright and accurately reflect the entire surface of the puzzle; misleading image-cropping is not a problem.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Aquarius uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers but adds a cardboard insert that keeps the puzzle pieces securely in place when they are stored outside the bag. No puzzle poster.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (80%)
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3.
Dowdle Folk Art:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- In one sense, Dowdle does not produce a wide variety of images, specializing in folk art representations of various cities and university football stadiums, instead. What makes Dowdle images special is the dead-on interpretation that artist Eric Dowdle produces for the puzzles. (See my Texas A&M Dowdle puzzle for an example of Eric's style.) The artist perfectly captures the atmosphere of the locations that he paints. BUT, on the other hand, the similarity between image presentations might become tiresome for some puzzlers in the long run.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Colors are vivid and hold up very well as they age. I built a 1999 puzzle of Dowdle's that look as new as the day it was produced with bright, deep colors that enhanced the building process.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are consistently above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 1 point
- The fit of Dowdle pieces is very loose and can cause a problem for puzzlers who prefer taping the backside of their puzzles rather than applying glue to the image itself. Flipping the puzzle facedown is very difficult, if even possible.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Dowdle does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but do not come near approaching the variance of a company like Springbok or SunsOut.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Dowdle boxes are of high quality cardboard and include a flap on one side that when lifted opens the box to expose it's contents. The box itself is covered in a colorful slipcover with all the puzzle information (image, size, number of pieces, etc.) printed on it. The boxes themselves are covered with the image of an antique world map, and the same box is used for all the company's puzzles.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Because I have not seen a brand new Dowdle puzzle, I cannot verify the inclusion or exclusion of a plastic bag for the puzzle pieces - none of the used puzzles I've purchased included such a bag - but the box is so securely sealed, that a bag is not necessary. A smallish poster is included with each puzzle to help the puzzler complete the image.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 26 (74%)
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4.
White Mountain:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- White Mountain seems to specialize in nostalgic images, rural landscapes, and seasonal puzzles. In addition, the company often features puzzles that are guaranteed to appeal to book lovers everywhere (bookstores, book jacket collages, etc.) and even produced a very fine collection of puzzles based on the Civil War artworks of Mort Kuntsler (before that became politically incorrect). White Mountain is the go-to company for puzzlers who enjoy building the collage type of puzzle, one featuring a couple of dozen nostalgic book covers, cereal boxes, signs, etc.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Colors are generally vivid and hold up very well as they age, but the company occasionally produces an image that seems to be saturated in an unattractive orange or yellow tint over the entire image.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle piece thickness varies from puzzle-size to puzzle-size, with the general rule being that the larger the piece, the thicker the piece - overall, average thickness and above.
Piece Lock: 3 point
- The average White Mountain puzzle locks together very well, and can usually be picked up and flipped to its front side for taping and framing without sections coming apart. This is not true, however, for puzzles featuring White Mountain's "larger pieces," as these fit together so loosely that they cannot possibly be moved without them falling apart. There are even sometimes noticeable gaps between the pieces that require extra effort in getting them to fit more cleanly.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 3 points
- White Mountain does a good job in cutting and separating puzzle pieces at the factory, but it is not uncommon to find several pieces not completely cut through or separated. The company also tends to include a relatively high volume of "puzzle dust" in its boxes.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but do not come near approaching the variance of a company like Springbok or SunsOut.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
White Mountain boxes are of high quality cardboard and are sturdily constructed with a clear, and color-accurate, image of the enclosed puzzle. White Mountain most often uses a uniform box size for its puzzles making it easy to store and sort them for later use.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Puzzle pieces come in a sealed plastic bag that can be re-used to store the pieces after each time the puzzle is constructed. In addition, White Mountain provides a little cardboard stand that can be used to prop up the box for reference while the puzzle is being constructed. Also usually included, is a cardboard advertising insert featuring contact information and contest news.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 point for being the only company I've run into that provides a little cardboard easel to help keep the puzzle box upright for easy reference.
TOTAL POINTS: 29 (83%)
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5.
Puzz3D (owned by Milton Bradley):
Image Variety: 3 points -
- Puzz3D, as its name implies, is a producer of 3D puzzles, so its images are limited to famous buildings, and the like, including the US Capitol Building and castles, etc.
Sharpness: 2 Points -
- Colors are generally dull pastels due to the nature of the subject matter, but even the greenery and roads sometimes used as bases for the horizontal portion of the puzzles tend to be subdued in color.
Thickness & Piece Lock of Pieces: 2 points
- Puzzle pieces are manufactured by applying the image to a one-quarter-inch thick foam backing, making the pieces durable but allowing them to interlock tightly in the flat sections of the puzzle. This does not work nearly so well in the horizontal or curved portions of the puzzle, however; those parts of the puzzle tend to break apart rather easily and often.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzz3D does a good job in cutting and separating puzzle pieces at the factory. Even the punch-out pieces tend to come apart easily and cleanly. It is, however, not always obvious what is throw-away debris and what is actually a puzzle piece. Puzzlers should never throw any foam-backed debris away until the puzzle is complete, because it is easy to mistake a puzzle piece for trash.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Puzzle pieces vary enough in shape and size to keep the puzzle-builder entertained, but Puzz3D diagrams do not always reflect the true nature of the pieces in a section of the puzzle. At times diagrams show a single-piece piece as three interlocking pieces, and vice versa. The diagrams are at times extremely frustrating.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
Puzz 3D boxes are of thin, glossy cardboard that use interlocking flaps on two ends to keep them tightly closed. As usual in this style of box, those flaps tend to tear easily and the box can become unsightly when used to repack the puzzle pieces. The image on the box turns out to be more useful than the enclosed instructions, meaning that the box will have to be handled more than a few times during puzzle construction.
Inside the Box: 1 point
The pieces are enclosed in a large plastic bag, including flat sheets of punch-out pieces that are generally used toward the end of the puzzle. Also included, is a terrible set of instructions that rely almost entirely on diagrams rather than written words. The diagrams themselves are as often misleading as they are helpful, particularly since the puzzle pieces are identified entirely by shape rather than what is printed on them. The diagrams are in black and white, with various shades of gray used to illustrate more detail of sections of the puzzle that are on the blind side of the puzzler's viewpoint. The instructions offer one "hint" - beware of static electricity. A few other obvious hints are in order, but are completely ignored, and it is left to the puzzle-builer to find them on his on by trial and error...mostly error.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 15 (43%)
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6.
Ceaco:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- The strong-suit of Ceaco is the wide variety of images it offers its customers, anything from beautiful Americana images to the cartoons of Jan van Haasteren to the art of Thomas Kinkade to the most mundane stuff imaginable...pretty much something for everyone.
Ceaco:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- The strong-suit of Ceaco is the wide variety of images it offers its customers, anything from beautiful Americana images to the cartoons of Jan van Haasteren to the art of Thomas Kinkade to the most mundane stuff imaginable...pretty much something for everyone.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Ceaco puzzles are generally sharp and accurate to the original. Some color variation does happen but it is not as noticeable on Ceaco puzzles as it is on some of the more expensive brands.
Thickness of Pieces: 2 points
- Puzzle pieces are usually of below average thickness when compared to other brands, but they almost always fit together tightly enough that their puzzles can be lifted for easy flipping and taping in preparation for framing.
Piece Lock: 4 points
- Thinner than average cardboard pieces that fit together tightly mean that piece-lock is seldom a problem with a Ceaco puzzle. This is one area in which thinner, lighter pieces are an advantage and not a disadvantage to the puzzler.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Ceaco does a decent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated but many of their puzzles still include damage pieces. Generally that's only peeling ends that have to be glued down to make the piece lie flat, so keep a glue stick handy.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Ceaco puzzle pieces do not vary widely in given puzzles, something that can make for slow puzzling in large sections of dark colors. The company does, however, do an excellent job of making sure that no piece will fit cleanly in more than one location...sometimes it's close, but an experienced puzzler will not have that problem with a Ceaco puzzle.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
Ceaco puzzle boxes do vary a little, but they are generally of thinner cardboard and are more fragile than the boxes of most other companies. Many of their boxes open and close with a simple cardboard tab/slot combination - meaning that the boxes often tear upon first opening or with a little time. Boxes are smaller than those of most competing companies.
Inside the Box: 2 points
Ceaco uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 23 (66%)
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7.
Ravensburger:
Image Variety: 2 points -
- Ravensburger is not a company likely to get too far out of the box when it comes to the images chosen for their puzzles. In this category, the company is, in fact, one of the more predictable ones producing puzzles today. That is not to say that Ravensburger does not use interesting images, only that they are more a follower than a leader when it comes to today's puzzle images.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproduction and adherence of the image to individual pieces is outstanding. The finish on Ravensburger puzzles makes it possible for the puzzler to enjoy sharp images while minimizing the extra gloss that causes the eye-tiring reflection from overhead lights that plagues so many puzzle companies.
Thickness of Pieces: 4 points
- Puzzle pieces are above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. "Larger Piece" puzzles appear to be cut from a slightly thicker board than the company's normal-sized puzzle pieces.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who prefer to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult to do without a Ravensburger puzzle breaking apart. Even the larger-piece Ravensburger puzzles that do seem to bind together tighter than the normal-sized pieces are difficult to turn over cleanly.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Ravensburger does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated. It is highly unusual to find a damaged part requiring any kind of repair work (gluing or snipping, etc.) on the part of the puzzler.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Ravensburger puzzle pieces are varied enough to hold the interest of avid puzzlers but are not as widely varied as are those of the few companies that rely on piece-variation to separate themselves from the market. There are no "whimsies" in Ravensburger puzzles, for instance.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Raveensburger provides a high quality box that is consistent on all four sides (rather than using a cheaper grade of cardboard on the puzzle bottom as some companies do) and provides a good deal of detail about both the puzzle and the company on the box. The company's larger boxes tend to be a little larger than they need to be, making them easier to crush than a more tightly packed box.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Ravensburger uses the same old plastic bag used by most puzzle manufacturers.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 - for the outstanding "finish" used to seal the image to the pieces of a Ravensburger puzzle.
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (80%)
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8.
Hogan's Harbor:
Image Variety: 2 points -
- Hogan's Harbor has only recently started producing jigsaw puzzles, and at present only has four images available, so it is impossible to judge the potential image variety of the company. Of the four images available now, three are rather similar pieces of abstract art and one is based upon the photo of the white wall and bright red window of what is probably a home.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproduction and adherence of the image to individual pieces is outstanding, and true to the image shown on the box itself. The colors look real, and they are reproduced on the puzzle pieces without any tone or tint added to detract from what is shown on the box cover.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. The pieces fit together very cleanly, leaving little doubt that a piece is being placed into its correct position.
Piece Lock: 1 point
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains loose even when the puzzle has been completed. This becomes less and less a problem as the puzzle nears completion, but the pieces fit together so loosely that during construction sections of the puzzle can be separated with even a light jostle or push, something that is frustrating to many puzzlers.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Hogan's Harbor does an almost perfect job of cutting and separating its puzzle pieces. Damaged pieces requiring repair by the puzzle are non-existent, and there is no "puzzle dust" to be cleaned up as the puzzle is built. Such a clean cut is likely why the puzzle pieces do not fit together tighter than they do. The company uses such a clean cut that there is simply no drag on the sides of the pieces to bind them together.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Hogan's Harbor puzzle pieces are varied enough to hold the interest of avid puzzlers, but are not as widely varied as are those of the few companies that rely on piece-variation to separate themselves from the market. There are no "whimsies" in Hogan's Harbor puzzles, for instance, nor extremely large or extremely small pieces.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Hogan's Harbor packages its puzzles in a high quality box that is a bit different to the boxes of most companies. The boxes are made of thick cardboard, and the left-hand side of the box is actually a flap with foldable corners that lock the cover tightly in place. Almost the entire box cover is a reproduction of the puzzle image, something that puzzlers who use the box image as a guide always welcome. Puzzle collectors will also appreciate that the sturdy Hogan's Harbor boxes are also kept as small as possible so that they will not take an inappropriate amount of space on the collector's shelf.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Hogan's Harbor packages the pieces of its puzzle into a resealable plastic bag, something that relatively few puzzle producers do these days since resealable bags have a higher unit cost than the bags that cannot be resealed with staples.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 for box design
TOTAL POINTS: 25 (71%)
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9.
Eurographics:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- Eurographics has a good variety of puzzle images, including a wide array of cars, motorbikes, and trucks from the sixties. The company's strong suit is nostalgia, but it does not limit itself to that image style.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Eurographics are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Color shades and tones generally match those shown in the box top image.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 2 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. The tightness level is fine for those who use glue to bind their puzzles together before framing, but those who need to flip a puzzle over to tape its backside will find this difficult, if not impossible, to do so without the puzzle breaking apart.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Eurographics does an average job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated but some few pieces do remain attached so tightly that it is difficult for the puzzler to remove them without causing minor damage to the pieces - damage that will then have to be repaired in order to ensure a clean fit.
Piece Variation: 2 points
The cut of Eurographics puzzles varies all the way from the simplest grid-cut puzzles to puzzles with a great variety in piece shape. Some puzzlers prefer a grid cut and others prefer the crazy-shaped pieces that add a little extra challenge to the puzzle. Unfortunately, Eurographics does not indicate on the box which cut the puzzle has been produced with, causing disappointment if the preferred cut has not been used.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Eurographics produces a high quality box on all four sides that will endure for years of handling as puzzles pass from hand-to-hand. The image on the box is sharp and true to the colors reproduced in the puzzle itself.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Puzzle pieces are secured in a large plastic bag that cannot be resealed without a stapler or tape. No poster.
TOTAL POINTS: 24 (68%)
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10.
Cobble Hill:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- Cobble Hill puzzles seem to pretty much stick to traditional or nostalgic images, the kind that most companies feature as their main product. The company also has puzzles for the dog and/or cat lover, and other similar themes, but nothing particularly unusual.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Cobble Hill puzzle pieces are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. The cover representation is very close to what the puzzler will be working with when it comes to picture-trim and brightness and tone of the colors.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of above average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces remains relatively loose even when the puzzle has been completed. Cobble Hill pieces often feature straight edges, making them impossible to lock fully into place until all surrounding pieces have been placed (this can be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on the puzzler's personal preferences).
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 3 points
- The company does a good job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces. This does create a considerable amount of "puzzle dust" for the puzzler to deal with during the building process.
Piece Variation: 4 points
Cobble Hill pieces are of all shapes and sizes, perhaps as far away from the traditional grid cut puzzle pieces as one can imagine. Even the edge-pieces are often not what they seem, and a puzzler searching for one large edge piece may instead come to find that he needs four smaller pieces instead. This can make a 500-piece Cobble Hill puzzle as much of a challenge as the 1000-piece puzzles of some other companies.
Puzzle Box: 4 points
Cobble Hill produces a durable, high quality box on which it clearly points out the type of puzzle cut inside. The ones I've worked say "Random Puzzle Pieces" or show a representation of the type of pieces inside the box so that the puzzler can will not be surprised by a puzzle cut he does not enjoy building.
Inside the Box: 3 points
Cobble Hill puzzle pieces arrive in a sealed plastic bag.
TOTAL POINTS: 27 (77%)
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11.
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory:
Image Variety: 3 points -
- The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory is still a relatively new producer of jigsaw puzzles, but the company provides quite a strong catalog of puzzle images. The company produces puzzles in many of the typical puzzle themes, including animals, children, nostalgia, Americana, etc., but manages to come up with more than its share of "pretty" images. (Check out its "Elegant Interiors" line for a good example of their best work.)
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions by The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are of average thickness and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. Pieces fit together cleanly with no noticeable duplication of puzzle shape/size pieces. There is seldom any doubt as to whether or not a piece has been placed correctly.
Piece Lock: 4 points
- The fit of puzzle pieces is both clean and very tight, a rare combination. Completed Jigsaw Puzzle Factory puzzles can easily be lifted from a work surface and flipped to their face for taping by puzzlers who prefer tape over puzzle glue. It is the rare company whose puzzles fit together as securely as these do.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 2 points
- Not all Jigsaw Puzzle Factory puzzles come completely separated, and the factory separation process does seem to cause some minor damage to a few puzzle pieces. Keep a glue stick handy for the minor repairs that may be required by a dozen or so pieces.
Piece Variation: 3 points
The company does not produce a wide variety of puzzle pieces either in cut or in size, but there is enough variation in pieces to keep the puzzler interested.
Puzzle Box: 3 points
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory ships its puzzles in a relatively high-quality box with a good puzzle image on the box top. The puzzle image on the box is accurate to what will be displayed on the finished product.
Inside the Box: 4 points
Puzzles are securely shipped inside a plastic bag, and a poster providing a larger-than-the-box image of the puzzle is provided for reference while constructing the puzzle.
BONUS Points Awarded: 2 - for producing one of the tightest-fitted (and most easily handled) completed puzzles in the business. Too many companies do not seem to realize how much such a fit adds to the puzzle-building experience.
TOTAL POINTS: 28 (86%)
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12.
Hasbro (Milton Bradley):
Hasbro is a well known game company that produces some of the most popular board games in the world. Its jigsaw puzzles appear to be a well-kept secret even on the Hasbro website, so this review is based on my personal experience with their Easy Grasp puzzles.
Image Variety: 1 point -
- I did not locate enough Hasbro puzzle images to objectively rate this category, so it has been given a below-average mark of 1 point.
Sharpness: 3 Points -
- The Hasbro image reproduction is fairly accurate to that shown on the cover of the puzzle box, but the colors are a bit muted.
Thickness of Pieces: 4 points
- The Easy Grasp puzzle pieces are very thick and easy to work with because of their size and thickness.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- Hasbro's Easy Grasp pieces fit together cleanly but still have a slightly above average tightness of fit. With a whole lot of care, it is possible to flip a Hasbro puzzle to its face for taping prior to framing.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- The company does an excellent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with no damage to any of the pieces.
Piece Variation: 3 points
Hasbro Easy Grasp puzzles contain a relatively wide variety of pieces in both cut and size, making even a 300-piece puzzle fun to complete.
Puzzle Box: 3 points
Hasbro produces a durable, quality box that should endure for decades of use even with a lot of handling by puzzle-builders.
Inside the Box: 2 points
Pieces are securely shipped inside a sealed plastic bag.
TOTAL POINTS: 23 (66%)
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13.
Buffalo Puzzles:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- Buffalo does a great job of producing a wide variety of puzzle images, making it possible for most puzzlers to rather easily find something that will appeal to them. For instance, the company's images include European scenes all the way from the Sistine Chapel to Neuschwanstein Castle. But the company's sweet spot in recent years seems to be the sentimental and nostalgic Americana images from artists such as Charles Wysocki and others of that style.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Buffalo puzzles are uniformly sharp and accurate to the original. Color shades of the puzzle pieces themselves almost always reflect the shades reproduced on the box cover and on the large posters that generally come with Buffalo puzzles.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are about average thickness for a quality puzzle and have a solid feel in the hand and when being placed into the puzzle. There is usually no doubt as to whether or not a piece has been placed correctly.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- The puzzle pieces generally lock into place tightly enough to please those puzzlers who prefer taping the backside of their completed puzzles rather than gluing the image together from the top. Buffalo puzzles, with care, can be flipped over for taping, but the key words are "with care."
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Buffalo does an excellent job of ensuring that pieces in the box have been cleanly cut and separated with little or no damage to any of the pieces. Unlike some companies, it is highly unusual to find a piece that has been damaged at the factory in the separation process.
Piece Variation: 2 points
Buffalo puzzles generally do not feature a wide or unusual variety of puzzle pieces, something that appeals to puzzlers who like to sort pieces by shape but not to puzzlers who enjoy the extra challenge and fun often associated with the more unusual puzzle piece cut.
Puzzle Box: 3 points
Buffalo puzzle boxes are of good quality and their uniform size makes them easy to stack and store. The boxes should sustain years of use as the puzzles are passed on to secondary puzzle builders down the line.
Inside the Box: 3 points
While Buffalo does not house its puzzle pieces in a plastic bag - unlike what seems to be the majority of mainstream puzzle companies - it does supply a large poster featuring the puzzle image that most puzzlers will appreciate as they complete the puzzle.
BONUS Points Awarded: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 26 (74%)
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14.
Springbok:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- One of Springbok's strongest suits is the wide variety of images it offers its customers, everything from beautiful Americana images to art pieces, to nostalgic images, to abstract art images...something, it seems, for every puzzle taste.
Springbok:
Image Variety: 4 points -
- One of Springbok's strongest suits is the wide variety of images it offers its customers, everything from beautiful Americana images to art pieces, to nostalgic images, to abstract art images...something, it seems, for every puzzle taste.
Sharpness: 4 Points -
- Image reproductions on Springbok puzzles are generally sharp and accurate to the original. At times, not unlike many other companies, Springbok chooses images that are too uniformly brown-tinted or orangish-looking. To the company's credit, however, those puzzles are accurately represented on the box covers and can easily be avoided.
Thickness of Pieces: 3 points
- Puzzle pieces are usually of above average thickness when compared to many other brands, and they fit together tightly enough that the puzzles can be lifted for easy flipping and taping in preparation for framing. At times, however, the board stock used for the pieces has a mushy feel to it, and pieces do not fit together cleanly; rather, they have to be forced into place and often leave slight gaps between adjoining pieces even if the fit is obvious from the image itself.
Piece Lock: 3 points
- Piece lock is very good, meaning that the entire puzzle can usually be lifted from the surface without it coming apart. The exception to this rule comes from the occasional Springbok puzzle whose pieces are too mushy to lock together cleanly. Those puzzles can require considerable effort and pushing to complete.
Cut/Separation of Pieces: 4 points
- Springbok puzzles are cleanly and sharply cut and it is unusual to find any two pieces still connected inside a new puzzle's box. Factory-damaged pieces are a rarity.
Piece Variation: 4 points
- The thing most puzzlers mention first when asked about a Spurlok puzzle is how unusual a pattern the pieces are cut in. Unlike most puzzles, the outer "frame/base" of a Spurlok puzzle is often near the last section to be completed. There are pieces of every imaginable shape, some very large, some average, and some downright tiny.
Puzzle Box: 2 points
- Springbok puzzle boxes are of about average quality. The cover representation of the puzzle image is generally large enough that it can easily be used as a construction guide by those working the puzzle. The box corners do tend to come apart as the box ages, but that is not a major problem and can be fixed with a little tape or glue.
Inside the Box: 2 points
- The pieces of a new Springbok puzzle are delivered in the same type of plastic bag used by most every puzzle company these days, despite the fact that puzzlers will tell you that they prefer a re-sealable bag rather than one they have to staple closed when re-boxing a completed puzzle.
BONUS Points Awarded: 1 for extreme piece variety
TOTAL POINTS: 27 (77%)
TOTAL POINTS: 27 (77%)
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