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I mentioned the Sandfield brothers, Robert and Norman, in my previous post about the International Puzzle Party (IPP).  After looking at the credits for the puzzles I bought, and surfing the internet for pictures of Robert and Norman (Norman is NOT the guy with the cards), I think I got it right.  I got my puzzles from Robert’s table.

I had been dreaming about getting a Sandfield puzzle since I first saw them on Robert Stegmann’s superb puzzle site.  Man, I really wish I had Stegmann’s puzzle budget.  I was really psyched to actually see these guys in person.  The interesting thing is that Robert Sandfield was actually using standard sales strategies to sell his puzzles.  He had reduced the price of the salt and pepper shakers from $150 to $125.  Several of the puzzles had signs warning that this would be the last IPP they would be available.  That seemed very ironic to me when Eric Fuller was able to sell the salt and pepper shakers in his auction for $315!  Sandfield was aware that his puzzles fetch good prices on auctions – higher than he was selling them for.  I guess selling a larger quantity in person is less of a hassle, even though the profit margin is smaller.

Judging from the credits on the puzzles, the manufacture and even much of the design of puzzles associated with the Sandfield brothers is done by master craftspersons Perry McDaniel and Kathleen Malcolmson.  Malcolmson is Robert Sandfield’s girlfriend.  Both McDaniel and Malcolmson are also puzzle designers.  Malcolmson has written a number of puzzle articles for Cleverwood.  Unfortunately, her designs pre-date the start of my interest in mechanical puzzles (Nov ‘06), so I haven’t been able to get my hands on one.  I’m not sure why a puzzle designed by McDaniel or Malcolmson should have Sandfield in its title.  I assume its design is based on original designs by the Sandfields, particular their trademark dovetail feature.

Here’s what I was able to pick up from Robert Sandfield’s table:

Sandfield's Unlocked Drawer

Designed by Perry McDaniel.  Modified and crafted by Kathleen Malcolmson.  I believe this was Robert Sandfield’s exchange puzzle for the 27th International Puzzle Party.  Robert Sandfield was almost apologetic in his estimation of how easy this would be for me.  I had to look up the solution after playing with it for days and ripping off the handle by accident.  Absolutely superb craftsmanship.

Sandfield salt & pepper shakers

Designed by the Sandfield brothers and Perry McDaniel.  Crafted by Perry McDaniel.  The salt and pepper shakers were the 2002 International Puzzle Party exchange puzzles for Norman and Robert Sandfield, respectively.  In a very sneaky move, both shakers are required to fully open either.  Fortunately I knew that when I bought them.  This is definitely one of my favorite puzzles.  There are a number of different challenges required to open the shakers completely.  They both contain tools required to complete the task.  It reminds me of the DanLock, one of my other favorite puzzles, in that regard.  I was also able to actually solve both this and the DanLock, which probably has something to do with it.

Robert Sandfield: The Hangman's Puzzle

Designed by Robert Sandfield as an exchange puzzle for the 2005 International Puzzle Party.  Crafted by Kathleen Malcolmson.  The object is to separate the two pieces.  Robert Sandfield told me most puzzlers assume this is the famous “handcuff” disentanglement puzzle.  Except that the strings are too short…

Sandfield's Banded Dovetails

Designed by Perry McDaniel.  Crafted by Kathleen Malcolmson.  I believe this is Robert Sandfield’s exchange puzzle for the 2008 International Puzzle Party.  This is a simple puzzle, but I had to give up and look at the solution.  After working on it for a few days, I was afraid I would accidentally rip off one of the panels.  Excellent craftsmanship.

Norman Sandfield had a number of miniature briefcase puzzles which looked pretty difficult.  Small metal take-apart puzzles are often dexterity puzzles where you can’t see what you are doing, and are difficult.  He also had an L-shaped dovetail puzzle.  I have to pick that up the next IPP I attend.