Scroll Top
65 Briarwood Circle Worcester, MA 01606

Worcester T&G/Justine E. Caggiano – Puzzle solved: Worcester collector pieces together antique jigsaw art

By Justine E. Caggiano, Correspondent

Tuesday

Posted Sep 5, 2017 at 7:05 PM Updated at 8:58 AM WORCESTER – Bob Armstrong’s post-retirement hobby puzzles some people.

Some enjoy restoring old furniture or cars, while Mr. Armstrong, 81, who lives at the Briarwood Retirement Community, collects and restores old wooden jigsaw puzzles. Some of the puzzles are more than 200 years old.

Puzzles were always a part of Mr. Armstrong’s family tradition, beginning in his childhood and continuing through raising his three children. It wasn’t until Mr. Armstrong retired as an attorney, in 1995, that his passion became his full-time occupation.

He began trying to cut new puzzles and then collecting and restoring old puzzles in a work space in his basement. Mr. Armstrong owns approximately 1,500 puzzles from all over the world, Sweden to South Africa, and about 1,000 have been restored.

“Every day that I have the energy and time, I am working on puzzles,” Mr. Armstrong said.

Mr. Armstrong has been recognized across the country for awards, published articles and completed restorations over the last 25 years.

According to Mr. Armstrong, the only time he makes a profit from his puzzle work is in the fall at his yearly sale, when a puzzle could sell for as little as $5 or as much as $2,500.

“This is truly a labor of love,” he said. “I often appraise other people’s puzzles free of charge. It is my way of giving back”.

About 60 pieces from Mr. Armstrong’s personal collection are on display at Briarwood in an exhibit called “Bob Armstrong’s The Wonderful World of Wood Puzzles.”

The exhibition features six categories: 19th-century puzzles, 1900 to 1930 puzzles, 1930s and 1940s puzzles, Par puzzles, Pastime puzzles, and puzzles cut in the modern era. The show is a compilation of Armstrong’s favorite intricate, humorous, and aesthetically pleasing puzzles.

David Martel of Sterling was visiting a Briarwood resident when he stumbled upon the gallery.

“It’s fascinating,” said Mr. Martel. “I grew up with cardboard puzzles, and I didn’t know there was such a thing as wooden puzzles.”

The Armstrong exhibition is open to the public at 65 Briarwood Circle until Nov. 3.

“Always keep your passion in mind, but sometimes you have to make a living,” Mr. Armstrong noted. “My education and career allowed me to retire at 58 years old and follow my deep passion for jigsaw puzzles.”