Hey, it worked! On Sept. 18, I sent an order for a skewb with a
cashier's check for US$16 to Meffert in Hong Kong, in response to his
apology/order form. I included a cover letter mentioning that I was one
of those who had never received an earlier order (that is, my skewb
order of January 1983).
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, I received the promised airmail letter containing
the registered mail receipt showing the package was mailed Oct. 2, and
on Saturday, Oct. 12, I received a package containing TWO skewbs! The
thing seems rather easy, I think, but it's great fun because it's so
weird -- so odd looking in mid-turn, so awkward to manipulate quickly,
so difficult to keep your bearings (no face centers that stay put to
navigate by). I haven't fully explored it, but I've found a few handy
"macros" and identities that seem to get me out of most trouble.
Anyway, if you have wanted a skewb ever since first seeing the drawings
of them in Hofstadter's "Scientific American" column, go ahead and try
Meffert. In case you've lost my note of Sept 18, here's the relevant
portion again:
1985 PRICE-LIST
Descriptions Item No. Unit Price5 x 5 x 5 cube CE8426 US$25/Air Skewb CE8431 US$15/Air Pyraminx CE8423-24 US$20/Air Timber finished Pyraminx US$20/Air Impossi-Ball CE8429 US$29/Air 3D Nought's + Crosses CE8434 US$ 9/Air*All plus US$1 for registered mail.
Please rush me with Item No...............Amount:...............
PRICEWELL (FAR EAST) LIMITED
P.O. Box 31008
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
--Rodney Hoffman