DaVinci's Secret: The Clue
This is the first in the “Sacred Myths and Legends” series of 7 puzzles by Family Games. It is a large, nicely made puzzle, and has 2 parts. First, you have to open it to get a scroll. Next, you have to use the clues written on the scroll, along with other clues found in the puzzle, to solve the password. There were additional clues inside the puzzle, so I assume they have something to do with the next puzzle in the series.
The puzzle was a lot larger than what I expected. I don’t have it in front of me right now, but it’s around 8″ long or so. It comes in a beautiful box that has a magnetic latch and serves as a beautiful display case. Since it’s mass produced, it’s also pretty reasonable: about $32 on Amazon.com.
As you can guess from the title, this puzzle seems to be inspired from Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” book. The puzzle functions as a cryptex, though it is necessarily less secure than normal in order to be openable.
The password was harder to get than actually opening the puzzle. I had to break down and find it on the internet.
The low price, quality, size, and multiple aspects of this puzzle make it a real winner. I can’t wait to get the rest of the series.
The Amazing Acrobat
This is a pretty cool dexterity puzzle. The object is to balance the acrobat, 3 balls and a block into various positions shown in the illustrated book.
Since this is a mass-market puzzle, it’s cheap and easy to obtain.
Here are some puzzles I got Christmas 2008 from my wife, who created this site:
Snake Cube
This is a classic puzzle. The 27 smaller cubes are connected such that they can rotate relative to each other. The object is to reassemble the large cube after it has been untangled.
This is one of those types of puzzles that I don’t want to touch after I get it back into position. My wife took it apart to see if I could solve it again. Fortunately, I was able to get it back.
Titanic Kumiki
This is a kumiki puzzle, which is a interlocking puzzle that is assembled to make a particular shape – the Titanic, in this case.
Spiky
This is an interlocking puzzle made of 8 identical triangular parts and 12 identical sticks.
I wound up selling the snake cube, spiky, and some keychain kumiki puzzles to Vinco Obsivac for cheap during the last Cubic Dissection online auction. What I don’t understand is why a world-famous designer of interlocking puzzles would want buy cheap, simple mass-market puzzles.
Impossible Lock - Rainer Popp
This is the “Impossible” Lock. It is so named by Grand Illusions, its sole vendor as far as I can tell. The website of the maker, Rainer Popp, was available from the instructions that come with the lock. It seems to indicate that this is one of 2 puzzle locks that Popp makes.
You get a key as well as a special tool to open the lock. I like this as it clearly indicates that no other tools are to be used. I’ve been tempted in some puzzles to use a paperclip.
I was able to access the hidden motions of the lock relatively easily. However, opening the lock also requires that the motions be done in the correct sequence. Also, I had expected the hasp to be spring-loaded so that it would pop out when the puzzle was solved, rather than having to pull it out, so I may have solved it without knowing it. I finally had to give up and look at the solution
Unlike some other puzzle locks, this would not be very useful as a real lock, since it can easily be disassembled via the flat-head hex screws in the face.
I have a few puzzle boxes from Heartwood Creations, which is an American company founded by Mike Fisher over 30 years ago. Their primary products seem to be puzzle boxes, jewelry boxes and secret boxes. Their secret boxes look like wood paperweights, but have a sliding panel and a small compartment inside. They also some other wood crafted items. These are excellent puzzle boxes. They are very well crafted and not easy to solve. They are not quite as intricate as many Japanese puzzle boxes, but are much less expensive (around $50 each). They are available from Serious Puzzles and other dealers.
Gravity Pin Box - Heartwood Creations
This is a traditional design. The design was referred to as the “Psycho Matchbox” in Prof. Hoffman’s classic book “Puzzles Old and New”.
Seesaw box - Heartwood Creations
This is a discontinued puzzle from Heartwood Creations, and probably their hardest. Opening involves a sequence of particular orientations of the box.
Terra I box - Heartwood Creations
The Terra I is one of their more recent releases. The button actually is a removable piece that contains a magnet. Hopefully there will be other Terra boxes in this series.
Navigator Box - Heartwood Creations
This is similar to but more difficult than the Terra I box. The button is just like that of the Terra I.
Gold Coast Parking Meter - Brian Young
This is a take-apart puzzle. The object is to disassemble it enough to allow the coin to drop into the meter (the coin is not removable without damaging the puzzle). Mr. Puzzle, its manufactuer, refers to it as a sequential discovery puzzle because parts of the puzzle are used as tools to solve the rest of the puzzle. I would classify it as a take-apart puzzle, since other take-apart puzzles, such as some Hoffman puzzles, share this characteristic.
The puzzle has an interesting and satisfying mechanism.
Note that the parking meter post and base is purely to make the puzzle look like a parking meter, and has nothing to do with its solution. I thought it might be part of the puzzle, so I twisted it. It came apart in the hands of my co-worker who played with it after me.
Here are two non-traditional Japanese puzzle boxes. They are both still made by Japanese craftsmen.
"New Move" puzzle box - Yamanka Kumiki Works
This is a 5 sun, 9+1 move Japanese puzzle box. It has an interesting twist that makes it a little different from traditional Japanese puzzle boxes.
50 Move Challenge Box - Makishi
This looks like a traditional Japanese puzzle box. However, unlike most traditional boxes with a large number of moves, it only has two sliding keys – one on either end. It is much, MUCH harder than the 54+1 move traditional box that I have, though.
I had a 30 Move Challenge Box by Makishi. I bought two as presents, and was able to solve one between the time I bought it and the time I gave it as a gift. I was just barely able to solve it, though.
I was only able to get the first 10 or so moves of the box. I was forced to ask Makishi to send me the solution. Makishi has no web presence. You have to call or (snail) mail him and send him checks as payment. It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s definitely worth it. The puzzles are unique and very challenging. Plus, they are much cheaper and trickier than traditional puzzle boxes with the same number of moves.
When I saw the solution, I knew there was no way I could have gotten it myself. It’s one of those that’s a little difficult to open and close even with the instructions right in front of you.
Here are the 2008 Christmas presents I ordered from the Karakuri club. When you pay the yearly fee ($60 to join initially plus $120 for 2008) you get a discount on purchases; the privilege to purchase new puzzle boxes before they are generally available; plug one Christmas present. You get to choose the maker of the present, but you don’t get to find out what the present actually is. Additional presents are available for an additional cost. I decided to get presents by Hiroshi Iwahara and Akio Kamei.
Cube Box II - Akio Kamei
This has a very unusual and satisfying mechanism.
Confetto Box - Hiroshi Iwahara
This has 2 compartments. The first is very easy to find. The second one requires a very unusual movement and is very difficult to find. I had to give up and look at the instructions.
Mini Packing Box II - Yoshiyuki Ninomiya
This is similar to a traditional Japanese puzzle box. However, its appearance hides the sliding panels. Also, it was very tight – so much so that I gave up and looked at the instructions rather than risk damaging it.
I didn’t order this as a Christmas present. I got it in March. They had some extra Christmas presents that they sold via a lottery.
Here are a few puzzle boxes by noted Japanese designer Hiroshi Iwahara of the Karakuri Creation Group:
Byway Secret #1
It’s like a traditional puzzle box, but with an extra added twist. There are actually 3 boxes to this series; I have the first two. Here’s #2:
Byway Secret #2 by Hiroshi Iwahara
It’s a little harder than #1. I had some extra trouble since my box was tight. I was reluctant to apply much force onto the panels for fear of damaging the box.
Box with a Tree by Hiroshi Iwahara
This box has a very unique mechanism. I had a hard time figuring it out, and almost gave up.
Acorn Box by Hiroshi Iwahara
This box has a clever mechanism. I gave up on it too quickly. My co-worker Mike Butler figured it out very quickly. When he showed me the solution, I felt bad about not spending a little more time on it.
Here are a couple of boxes that I purchased from Quagmire Puzzle Boxes. I heard about Quagmire Puzzle Boxes via Cleverwood, and they were some of the first non-traditional style puzzle boxes I was aware of. Randal Gatewood is the man behind Quagmire.
Quagmire Puzzle Boxes: "Uncle Herbart Stash & Stow Box"
Quagmire Puzzle Boxes: "Box Joint Box"
Prior to these boxes, Gatewood made more expensive limited edition boxes. These are his two original-design, non-limited edition boxes. The Uncle Herbart box is listed as having 8 moves and being moderately difficult, whereas the Box Joint Box has 6 moves but is more difficult.
I had to break down and look at the provided solutions for both. They are similar in that they both are solved by moving the box into a series of different orientations. I find that it’s practically impossible to find the “official” solution. My coworkers have had the same experience. However, due to the nature of the construction, I was able to get the Uncle Herbart box to open and later lock by rotating it randomly in different ways.
I was not able to open the Box Joint Box without looking at the solution. However, my coworkers were all able to open it by “picking” it – basically, rattling it around, moving the lid a little bit, and repeating until they opened it. The same was true for the Akio Kamei die box:
Akio Kamei: "Die Box"
Nobody go the real solution, which I think is exceptionally clever. This is the only box I have that is not only designed by Akio Kamei, but also actually made by him (or under his direct supervision). I have some reproductions made by Bits and Pieces, but they are of much lower quality (though much cheaper).
