I spoke to the guy on the phone today. He is adamant that the puzzle will be released though it is still a very long way off. I asked if he could at least provide some prototype photos but he said there aren't any prototypes yet. I get the impression that he was hoping to use pre-order money to manufacture the puzzle but only received 27 pre-orders.
I still believe he is genuine and once again showed knowledge of puzzles and the puzzle community. My only concern is the business model and whether he is actually able to do what he plans. He is certain he can but I believe it depends on how his other bigger business interests get on.
I am sorry if people ordered because of my post and now regret doing so.

Thanks for the update, Tony. I've been skeptical from the beginning but optimistic enough to pre-order. It sounds like he needs a partner / investor to see the project through. Did you get the impression from him that he was looking for something like that? Pre-orders would only cover costs if he were reaching a big audience and our community isn't that. Kickstarter might be a good place for him but without a prototype I think their new rules wouldn't allow his project.

I wrote last FebruaryI got suspicious enough to step back from any preorder.
I hope for you, who have preordered it, that the puzzle will become real. The whole history doesn't look very promising, though.

I know he had a loan application turned down but I also know he is involved in other pretty big businesses. I personally don't like the whole borrowing thing for any business (or anything else for that matter). But I guess that's why I am neither rich nor bankrupted.

I did a pre-order many months ago, i was looking for the Mad-Triad and Handy (Pocket Version of Mad-Triad) and then i end up by pre-ordering an Astrolabacus too... I had received very fast my Mad-Triad and Handy.

Now after so much time (almost a year) to discover that there is no prototype is really a "SAD-TRIAD". Especially because we were informed that would be also the fancy "plated" versions...

Hope that he can refund people if that could not be more than a project on the paper.

He says he still plans to and went into details about other versions including having more rows.

I made a pre order a few months ago. Thanks for the update. As for deciding to order, that was my choice and I would not place blame upon you. From 1 of 27.

Same here, I would have pre-ordered no matter what. Hopefully it gets made. I just wish he never offered a date until he was closer to completion.

-d

Agreed. Transparency about the process is much better. I'm glad Tony is helping to provide some.

In my opinion, it is time for someone to answer the question and let this subject header will I.

Astrolabacus not coming back.

It has been almost a year and a half after I had paid for it. Since then there have any proofs that the recipient of money has started implementation of the project. Not a single photo or video, just the promise that has been postponed several times.

Now, about a month ago, I demanded that he provide proof in the form of a photo or video of puzzles or get me my money. I repeated my request several times, but in return receive brief responses with transfer of answers, I waited and kept repeating the request to return the money, and at the end he even stopped responding to my emails.

Perhaps he really had the intention to make a puzzle, but it appeared the financial or other problems, because of which he could not do it. But it has been a long time turn out and he had to announce this and promise to return all the money, and he began changes dates, time stretch, and now no longer says the puzzle.

I believe that it is time to take every possible means to return their money. Wait and listen to an empty promise, in my opinion, useless.

Guys, I've just had a very quick response from John after I informed him of the above post. He is still very positive about producing the Astrolabacus, and was prepared to go into quite a bit of detail about why the project has been delayed, and I have a tendency to believe what he says. So I have not yet lost all hope.

Regarding Philipp13's issues, he says he will reply to him personally, but I don't think this will assuage his fears.

I must admit, that even now, I accept that from the very beginning paying the money up front was a bit of a gamble, a gamble which I might still lose.

<edit>
John has given me permission to post an excerpt from his email to me:
</edit>

After an active correspondence John returned my money.

More claims to it I do not have.

Thank you, John.

Message from John, at http://www.coolmasks.biz.

Firstly, please accept my apologies in both the production delay, & also in posting info or updates on this forum.

The Astrolabacus project is still proceeding, but before I go into details, I would like to say several things:

(1) Thank Tony Fisher, for his time & understanding, when we spoke again in November '12, while I was driving across Yorkshire (for a much needed 4 day holiday, surfing in the winter North Sea).
(2) Thank 'Gus' for his emails yesterday & today, & for his very supportive forum remarks, & for posting part of my email to him onto the forum, explaining some detail as to the project delay.
(3) Thank my full payment/deposit clients (all 29 of you), for your massive patience, & trust in me. I'd also like to assure you all not to worry.

Ok, as Gus pasted my email this morning, & here's more:

Setting up this interesting project is expensive, in terms of design, tooling & manufacture, & also a slow process of (minimum 4 months).
Due to the recession, I have chosen the worst time since the 1930's to expand my businesses, particularly into something obscure & of limited & slow sale volume potential. But, I like challenges, & I am not scared to venture into projects with limited appeal, that take several years to show profit (despite my bank manager's fears !). To finance this costly project takes money. Currently, in the UK, there are no loans, overdrafts, remortgages or credit card balance increases, so getting cash together takes time. In the North West, where I'm based (between Liverpool & Manchester), 20% of retail units (shops) are closed & boarded up, 20% are now charity or pound (£1, or as the American’s say, Thrift or Dollar Stores) shops, & the other 60% of retailers have very worried expressions on their faces.

Most of my assets are property (plus the mail order & travel agency stuff), which do generate monthly income, but are currently of no use to raise any significant business project finance, via a remortgage quickly. The banks will not lend against property here, as they are too frightened that property values will drop, & also the loan payer will default. Therefore, fully financing the project via my other businesses is slow.

Also, we have only had sales of 29 Astrolabacus clients. That, obviously, means that funds from those mere 29 clients hardy assists the financing of the project, & so I have to raise them slowly elsewhere.

I've also secured three UK government manufacturing project grants, that will work as credits against the project cost, which I'm pleased about. With the recession, I have been forced by our bank to operate on a zero overdraft (from one of £150K in '07, when we were in the property sales business), irrespective of how well we do, or how much potential a devised project has (such as the puzzles). In 2007, I could have raised the money for the puzzle manufacture in 5 minutes, with a quick phone call. Times are different now.

For example, in August'10, I set up the mask business again, via ebay & then the first web site http://www.coolmasks.biz , & sold an impressive £30K of stock in just the first three months. I immediately met with my bank manager to discuss expansion ideas (puzzles, puppets, masks - all with exclusives, that we own & control the patent/copyright, manufacturing process, production & supply), & he said, verbatim "We're not allowed to give overdrafts, John. What if nothing sells ?", which was shocking & useless.

So, it's taking time to get moving, while I loan/filter funds from my other businesses (property rental http://www.justflorida.com, & the masks http://www.coolmasks.biz).
Additionally, & this is the very good & positive news, I have two large & important legal cases against companies who owe me money, both of which I've been fighting alone, without a (fee draining) lawyer. One has been ongoing since Nov'08, & I expected to finalise it in Feb'12 - hence the initial dates for completion of the Astrolabacus (ie early ’12). The funds from each are sufficient to fully finance this project 3 to 5 times. In Oct '12, I won the first stage of one of the legal cases (hence the short holiday, that I was on my way to, as I spoke with Tony), after a stressful, time consuming, & emotionally draining year. This case has been with the UK's Financial Ombudsman since Feb'12, & the file I sent them was a whopping 1.3kg of paper (emails, faxes, letter, phone conversation notes, etc). It is still under investigation, with resolution & completion probably over the next few months, hopefully. I cannot talk about its details, but it will inevitably be in the national press, or television, when it’s finished.

Consequently, I am dependent upon this, for faster completion of the project. Otherwise, using funds from my other businesses is possible, but slow. I am very positive about winning the final stage of the case (& getting my money back, plus damages & compensation), but am extremely focussed on it, & therefore very tired. Currently, I am reviewing the file, compiling it in a format for my lawyer to work on, & take over from me. Because of its size, complexity & importance, it took me a month, last year for the Financial Ombudsman, & has taken me all of this month to update, & I’m still not finished. My bank manager (despite refusing me any overdraft or loans !) has encouraged me to proceed with the case, & believes that it will be an out of court settlement, & class action (meaning the investigation I've done, will bring other similar people in, against the company).

So, what’s next: me getting my money back from that company, so we can get the puzzles (all 5 colour versions: Standard, Sports Comm', Two-Colour, Chrome 100 Gold, & Chrome Silver) here, & dispatched to customers ! Then move onto phase two, being the structural variation on the Astrolabacus.

Thanks for your patience, & please email or call me, if you have any questions. Again, bear with me, if I don’t reply in detail, while the legal case is unfinished.

Incidentally, the paypal business name is Just Florida Ltd (because we used it, initially, to take paypal payments, for the Florida rental business), & now paypal won't change it to the new company name. So, I'm stuck with it.

Also, regarding the forum poster, Phillipp13: there has been correspondence between us, & the issue resolved.

John
http://www.coolmasks.biz
http://www.coolpuzzles.biz
http://www.justflorida.com
& soon http://www.coolpuppets.biz

I'd love to help but I only have $20.00 USD to spare and I know its not a lot to speed up the process but anything will help right? Here's how I look at things for the condition that he is in or unless I'm missing something. Please tell me if I am missing anything.

Its like this if some people chip a little amount or what ever then we mite have it faster or we could weight that much longer.

I guess what I'm trying to say is. How soon do you want these puzzles? I want these puzzles very soon because I love them.

Darren, thanks for your comments, which are really appreciated. Don't worry, as I will fund & complete the project, it's just taking longer than I anticipated. Thanks. John www.coolmasks.biz.

I remember contemplating pre-ordering one of these, but decided to wait until February when they were released to get one. I just popped onto TP to see what's been going on, saw this thread, and thought to myself "Oh cool! These should be out soon," only to realize that the release I was waiting for was February of last year.

Gee, I didn't realize I gone for that long!

Story aside, I'm sorry to hear about the trouble John has been having. I hope everything works out for him!

Ben

I can understand a lot of the comments from doubtful people, especially those who have paid John the pre-order money.

I think there is proof John is genuine:

1. Established Business Interests.
2. Involvement in Puzzle Industry and Sales.
3. Continued (even if sporadic) updates on TwistyPuzzle.
4. He paid 'Philipp13' his pre-order money back.
5. He has replied to me on G-Mail separately WHENEVER I have emailed him.

I think there are mistakes John is making too:

1. Repeatedly making promises the puzzle will be available in a few months based on funding he does not yet have.
2. Terse responses to enquirers for updates.

In short I don't think John or Coolmasks is trying to rip anyone off, and they are well intention-ed in trying to reproduce this puzzle. However I also feel that a more rigorous method of updating people to whats going on would have been fairer on them, after all John, you have our money.

OK, you run other business and your are a busy guy , this is a lot of work and hassle and more of a labor of love than a money spinner for you. As Darren showed you by his post we are a community and we can and will support you but if you want to maintain that support and gain everyone's future custom please keep us informed and don't make any other promises for delivery that cannot be met.

I for one have told John privately he has my support, I understand the issues and I'm not worried about my £50.00 pre-order cash. What I want and we all really want is a great re-issue so those of us without originals can also enjoy this gem of a puzzle!

Jumbo

Updated info on coolpuzzles.biz:

I hope the siamese one eventually does get released. In the meantime though, I guess I'd be happy just to get the one I pre-ordered.

-d