Liberty Puzzles facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Founded | Boulder, Colorado (2005) |
| Founder | Christopher Wirth, Jeffrey Eldridge |
| Headquarters | |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products | Wooden jigsaw puzzles |
Liberty Puzzles is an American company. They make classic wooden jigsaw puzzles. Their main office is in Boulder, Colorado.
Contents
The Story of Liberty Puzzles
Liberty Puzzles started in 2005. It was founded by Christopher Wirth and Jeffrey Eldridge. Christopher's family found some old, hand-cut wooden puzzles from the 1930s. These puzzles were very valuable. Some could sell for over $1,000!
Christopher was surprised by this. He decided to start a business. He wanted to make new wooden puzzles. But he wanted them to be more affordable, around $100. He used modern laser cutting machines. Christopher's dad, Tim Wirth, was a senator for Colorado.
By 2011, Liberty Puzzles was one of the biggest wooden puzzle makers in America. In 2014, they opened a store. It is located on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. People often buy their puzzles in late November. This is during the busy shopping time called Black Friday.
Puzzles During the Pandemic
Liberty Puzzles became very popular in 2020. This was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were staying home. They looked for fun things to do. Puzzles were a great choice!
In March 2020, the company had 10,000 orders waiting. They had to create a waiting list. People sometimes waited up to 60 days for a puzzle. After the pandemic rules ended, they made more puzzles. Demand for puzzles went down a bit. But sales were very strong again in late 2023.
How the Puzzles Are Made
Liberty Puzzles are made in Boulder, Colorado. They use strong paper and special inks. These are glued onto quarter-inch maple plywood. Then, computer-controlled laser cutters cut the pieces.
In 2020, the company had 44 laser cutters. Each machine could make one 500-piece puzzle every hour.
Unique Puzzle Designs
Liberty Puzzles offers over 650 different pictures. Many of their puzzles feature fine art. They also use old prints and Asian art. The way the puzzles are designed is like puzzles from the early 1900s.
Whimsy Pieces
Liberty Puzzles are known for their "whimsy pieces." These are puzzle pieces shaped like real things. For example, you might find a piece shaped like a stork or a swan. Some puzzles have many whimsy pieces. Over 20% of the pieces can be whimsies! Most Liberty Puzzles include a special eagle-shaped piece. This is their company's unique mark.
