Liberty Puzzles.

• Author: Peterson, Eric
• Position: COLORADO COOL STUFF - Liberty Puzzles LLC - Brief article

An attorney with a finance background, Christopher Wirth's career path took an abrupt turn when his family inherited a cache of hand-cut wooden puzzles from the 1930s.

"There was a jigsaw puzzle craze in this country during the Great Depression," Wirth said. "Most of them were made out of wood and cut by hand."

Surprised by the value of the puzzles--often topping $1,000 or more--Wirth decided to start a business. "My idea was to use modern technology to bring that into the $100 range." Wirth employs laser cutters and computers to make puzzles bearing images of vintage artworks and vivid photographs; numerous "whimsy" pieces...