We are pleased to offer 101 restored puzzles, including 31 Pastimes with their many figure pieces, 5 U-Nit with their figure pieces more numerous than Pastimes, 5 Waldo Bemis puzzles, 9 Zag-Zaw (Chicago), 1 Tuck Zag-Zaw, 2 Hamlin (“Little Cup-Up”), 4 Pars, and covering just about every price range, era, and size. For reasons discussed below, many are been in our collection or website for years.
We have scanned in all puzzle images and posted them on our website along with descriptions and current bidding on the Sale List page, so you can view and study them as you wish. The List Price is the starting price and bids are not accepted below that price; Current Bid Price shows the highest bid received to date (if any) for that puzzle. Please note we plan to keep up to date as best we can the Sale List with respect to the latest Current Bid for each puzzle, so you can check the bid status for the puzzles you are interested in before submitting bids. If you have questions, we welcome your emails. And you will have to email us your bids (much preferred as I can recheck bidding after the close). Note: there is no on-line bidding like Ebay.
Because of Bob’s inability to “let go” of many puzzles he worked so hard restoring,and because he is definitely slowing down in old age (88),
son, Conrad, has stepped in and done much of the sale preparation work Hence, there are exhibition-class puzzles on the sale list which are also displayed in the Armstrong Collection.
1. Restoration
As in the past, nearly all puzzles needing work have been restored by Bob as his principal avocation in retirement. Restoration includes making replacement pieces, which usually meet the test: “You have to hunt to find them”. Bob also repairs all the broken/split knobs, missing/damaged paper, and delaminated wood he can spot, so that the puzzle “looks really good” and is in very good or better condition. On average, this takes longer than replacing missing pieces. Unrestored puzzles and unfixable problems are noted in the Description section and the puzzle priced accordingly. If you should not be satisfied, email us and we will work it out, including refund. Also, wherever possible, Bob repairs boxes using archival materials and techniques, so they can safely store the puzzles but still show their age. And if Bob feels the box acidity might affect the pieces, he has been lining box bottoms with archival tissue paper, particularly the older Pastime boxes.
A new factor: Lisa Lee has agreed to help Bob making replacement pieces. Frankly, I think she is the best around doing this. Bob will focus more on fixing the knobs, plywood, paper and similar repairs.
2. Bidding
To be as fair as possible, we have set 9 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time), Sunday, December 8, 2024, as the deadline for bids. All bids by e-mail dated up to time of the close will be acknowledged and handled on an equal basis. If a puzzle has multiple bidders at list price and the puzzle has no overbids, we will conduct a draw for the winner aimed at spreading the puzzles around as much as possible. You may bid at list price as many puzzles as you wish. There is no limitation on overbidding.
To place a bid, email me with a list of the puzzle numbers (please include the "prefix" value before the dash) and part of the title, because too many of you make typos in the puzzle number, so having part of the title helps. Include the dollar bid value and whether or not is an overbid. E.g.:
1-1981 St Augustine $95 list
P-983 Bird Catchers $250 ob
We also ask that when overbidding you do so by at least the following minimum increments: on prices up to $100: $2; from $100 to $300: $5; over $300: $10, and that you not overbid by simply stating in an email: “Overbid the current bid by the minimum amount”. You must state a figure for your overbid. Also note we treat your overbid as the actual bid regardless of the amount being overbid, and not an “up to” or proxy bid as does the Ebay computer. If two (or more) bidders are tied at the close, the bid dated earlier is the winner. Other distinctions: we do not notify you when you are overbid; you should check the site to from time to time to see if your bid value is still the highest.
3. Strategy
In our last sale, every puzzle listed was sold with 98% going via overbids, many, however, by only a few dollars over list price. On average, buyers received about a fifth of the puzzles they bid on. In all, 74 bidders received puzzles. It is best to request more puzzles than you need, the more, the better your chances, maybe setting a maximum dollar limit in case you are “too lucky” (never happens). Remember: as puzzles are overbid, their list price bids become "moot". Only 4 puzzles ended up with only list price bids in last year’s sale.
Note that during the last 10 minutes of the auction we might not be able to update the site with the latest highest bids in a timely manner because we get flooded with emails at the end. So, if you bid $300 at 8:50PM and see that number reflected on the site for that puzzle, and you still see $300 as the winning bid at 9:30PM, you can NOT assume that you won that puzzle, because a higher bid many have come in at 8:59 and we just haven't had time to process all the last-minute bids. By Monday noon the site should reflect all the winning bid values.
For foreign bidders where the sale may be closing at all hours of the night because of the time zone difference, and for bidders who are traveling or involved in an important activity and can't easily reach a computer, we are allowing you to email closing bids earlier during the sale which we will hold and enter automatically after close when you are out or asleep in bed or involved with an important activity. Thus, you can engage in last minute "sniping" without staying up all night or missing your function or activity or sleep. But you must honor such bids if you prevail even though in hindsight, you could have prevailed with a lower overbid.
4. Payment & Shipping
Everyone making bids will receive a summary of the sale and a bill listing the puzzles they are receiving, a “second chance” list of puzzles not requested by anyone in the first round (if any), and instructions on payment and shipment. For shipping within US, we will add a charge of $7 for the first puzzle ($12 west of the Mississippi or south of the Mason-Dixon Line); $2 for each additional puzzle; $2 for the first $100 of insurance; and $2 for each $100 of insurance thereafter, with shipment by USPS First Class. After experiencing delays of months by the Post Office in making good on lost or damaged puzzles, we have decided to use the insurance money to “self-insure”. There is no shipment of puzzles we cannot cover, and we will reduce the time you receive reimbursement from months to days. You may remove this charge and self-insure. Heavy puzzles and boxes, shipment abroad and special arrangements including Priority Mail are at extra cost. For puzzles purchased by Massachusetts residents, we must add 6.25% sales tax unless you send us your tax-exempt number. We much prefer personal checks for US sales. If PayPal is the only alternative (e.g., overseas sales), we will add an estimate of charges for use of PayPal (4.49%) and, if currency conversion is involved, another estimated 3.5%. We only accept PayPal, or checks from U.S. banks; please do not ask Bob to sign up for some other electronic payment service. Too much complication at this stage of my life (age 88)
5. In conclusion
We hope to hear from you and welcome your emails. Generally, we will be around to respond promptly to you and post the latest bidding on our website. And if these instructions confuse you, contact Bob and he will explain. But please use email for your bidding so we have a written record of your bids which can be searched after the sale closes for accuracy. We can make mistakes, especially as Bob ages.
Thank you!
Bob & Conrad