Don't be so sure; Steveo and I both have a good source for secondhand puzzles at our local thrift store. Today, for example, I found the most bizarre sliding tile puzzle. This one is based on abstract art and features many dots, lines, and random shapes.



It is unusual because it is very large (not in size but in number of tiles) and has irregular side lengths; it has been divided up into a 7x9 grid as opposed to the regular 4x4 grid. This puzzle features a piece of art by Joan Miro called "Chiffres et Constellations Amoureux d'une Femme, 1941". Upon further research, I found another work by Joan Miro that had been turned into a sliding puzzle (although that one was a 7x7 grid). Here are some more photos:



This is a reference photo on the back of the puzzle. I found this puzzle already scrambled so I had to solve it (in order to make it more presentable, you see). This was quite difficult to do not only due to the size of the puzzle but also due to the odd shapes and random lines that dot the piece of art. I was only able to solve the puzzle after referencing the back several times (approximately 63 times; one for each tile).

Quicksolver, that is one of, if not the most beautiful sliding puzzle I've ever seen.

Darn near drove me buggy trying to solve it though! . My eyes were having trouble focusing on the different individual shapes instead of the image as a whole. Seriously, though, it is really impressive and it was another situation where I very nearly passed it over. I saw "Sliding Tile Puzzle...ah boring". Then something seemed odd: the size. It's also a great way to get you to analyze abstract art!

That company has done a lot of these slides. I think I have one or two by Miro, and a number by Escher as well. Terribly difficult to solve they are. Well done you for only 63 looks.

Joan Miró didn't do abstract art, it's surrealism

Must be very hard to solve this sliding puzzle~Does it have a brand name of it?

The name on the back says "Pussycat Games 'n Arts by Ornamin" and also copyright Bild-Kunst, Bonn 1996.

Oh~Thanks for that~

hey guys i have been reading these posts and i think its great all the stuff you guys have found at these sales. if anyone knows of any in america that i might be able to go to let me know with a PM i would really like to find a hidden treasure somewhere

America is a pretty broad term...

Just go searching. There's flea markets and yard/garage sales all over the place here in Massachusetts during the summer, and even some now in the fall. Usually I only find storebought 3x3s and the occasional missing link, but I've gotten a few gems.

Another good place to look is thrift stores. I have one that's close enough for me to walk to and another one a few miles away across town.

90% of the people on this thread have probably been out puzzle hunting a hundred times for every time they've found something worth showing off. It doesn't matter where you live nearly as much as it matters what you do with what you've got.



~~~

All that being said, I found a (presumably old) tower of babylon-esque clone at a yard sale the other day. I think it's solid wood, and the balls are wooden too. there are three layers, with two balls to a layer. I've been looking for something similar but so far, no luck.

EDIT: Here it is! Except mine is a different color wood. I'll take some photos soon to show some things the pictures left out (there's another hole it doesn't show.) http://www.twistypuzzles.com/cgi-bin/pu ... ?pkey=1111

well i live in indiana....and what do you mean by thrift store like goodwill or something? (i don't know if goodwill is a national name haha) if not goodwill is like a secondhand shop

Goodwill, Salvation Army, Oxfam. They are all one and the same (well, you get the idea) They are great places to start. Other ideas? Church/charity/school fetes are also great places to look. not everyone has quicksolver's 'collector' disposing of the collection, not everyone lives a few blocks from a wholesale shop....but then, I don't get garage sales either, and I remember those being amazing places to get puzzles. Every time I go home, garage sales and the local flea market are high on my list of things to do....you never know what you may find.

And Kapusta is right. For every time I go out hunting, I might find something 1:10....It's hit and miss isn't it. Some weeks are better than others. (and I am seriously hoping I find some good things this weekend )

well we have a giant flea market right by my house so i may check that out this weekend hopefully they have something good for me to buy ill have to check out goodwill and salvation army for sure too

I once found a Switchback for $0.50 at a rummage sale :
http://www.twistypuzzles.com/cgi-bin/pu ... ?pkey=1736

How lucky can you get? and when I was little my very first ever Twisty Puzzle was this one here, which I got at a yard sale for a quarter
http://www.twistypuzzles.com/cgi-bin/pu ... i?pkey=166

Ah, nostalgia... i found it in my closet a few months back...

--JC--

The only hidden-gem puzzle I've ever found is an Alexander's Star, and that was at a relative's house. But then, I've only looked for puzzles about 10 times (and I haven't found any puzzles at all yet... not even a 3x3x3).