Shortly after winning my first few auctions, I started to take notes on what pucks were available. I also started to catalogue my own collection on my computer using my latest toy (the scanner). In time, this information was organized and reorganized into a format that was beginning to look like a book. I'd take the information with me to local memorabilia shows just as a card collector would take a catalogue to help recall what's needed to complete a set.
On a related note, I've always enjoyed studying the history of the game. I have spent many hours at the library reading old newspapers and mapping out what teams played and in what leagues. This information proved valuable when listing teams in the puck book. Who else knows what teams played in the Richelieu Junior 'B' League in the 1970's except for me? Not too many I would imagine.
While at a memorabilia show, another collector noticed my notes and suggested that I get it published. The seed was planted.
I began putting even more time into developing the content for the book. As you would expect, I ran into a few obstacles along the way. First, my book was a mixture of JPG files and Excel spreadsheets all combined in Word files. To help improve the overall appearance, I spend weeks converting all of the spreadsheets into Word tables of a standard size and format. At the end of the day, it looked good but still not something that was easy to publish.
Printing Houses do not use Word files for publishing books. They use PageMaker or similiar software as part of their process. The costs of conversion became a problem. With all of the images and tables, this would not be an easy task. The potential costs associated with converting the files to PageMaker files was $8,000. Add to this the costs of actually printing the book, the project was going to require a large amount of cash all up front along with a firm commitment on how many books were going to be printed.
This would have been a huge personal financial risk and the cost of the book would have been much higher than what I wanted it to be. I love the hobby but I'm not a martyr. I'm not possessed enough to take out a mortgage to get this thing done.
I decided to make high quality laser copies of my book and have the book printed via high speed photocopiers. It's more expensive to produce but it doesn't require the $8,000 conversion expense and I can print 100 books at a time rather than 1,000 at a print shop. A lot less money up front and a lot less risk.
(I've already got a lead on acquiring the PageMaker software so that I can convert the book myself. If that pans out, I can hopefully teach myself how to use it and utilize a Printing House on the second edition. It won't cost me $25/page to convert it. After going through the efforts to sell version one, I should also have a reasonable idea on how many can be sold.)
To some, the $29.95 price tag may seem high. Believe me, I've made every effort to keep the cost of production down while trying to maintain a unique and quality product. You just aren't going to find another book like it. Had I realized how much work and time this was going be require, I probably never would have started. Even by my best sales estimates, I could have made ten times as much by taking a part time job at McDonald's. I'm going to have to keep my day job.
Those that have seen the book and know how much work was involved in putting it together know it's a bargain. I had one collector compare the project to something he came across while travelling. He saw a book for an obscure hobby of collecting airplane playing cards retailing for well over $100. While I'm sure I could have sold the book for a much higher price but that would have defeated the primary purpose of why I made the book. I want new collectors to have access to reliable reference material so that they can enjoy the hobby without fear of being taken advantage of. I only wish a book such as this was available 15 years ago. I could have avoided several ill advised trades and purchases.
Enough of the story behind putting the book together. Enjoy this book.
