Twin Towers
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
Welcome to my puzzles page
Hello! My name is Justin, and this is my puzzle collection (and a few non-puzzles). I gravitate more towards vintage puzzles, and enjoy discovering the history behind the puzzles. You can tell a lot of my tastes by what puzzles I have the most. This is my attempt to catalog all my puzzles, in hopes that others might find it useful as well. I've learned a lot from others' puzzle websites and enjoy talking with other puzzle enthusiasts. This site is spoiler free - you should be able to browse, without accidentally getting any hints to how to solve the puzzles. I am starting a blog section as well, where I might go into some more details on a puzzle, but I'll be sure to warn of any spoilers. Happy puzzling!
----- Recent Pickups -----
Here are some puzzles I've recently added to my collection.
Casse-Tete Satellite (CT49)
| Maker Arjeu |
| Designer Stewart Coffin |
Also known as Spider Slider and Scorpius
Diamond Eyes
| Maker Channel Craft |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
rock maple, oak, cherry, padauk and wenge
Challenger
| Maker Gantt's Wood Things |
| Designer Charlies Gantt |
Star of Nassau
| Maker Gantt's Wood Things |
| Designer Charlies Gantt |
Trap
| Maker Hanayama |
| Designer Minoru Abe |
Japanese Puzzle Box Spring Loaded
Fidget, Style #391
| Date 1976 |
| Maker Reiss |
Anagog Pyramystery Puzzler
| Date 1972 |
| Maker Hubley |
| Designer Piet Hein |
Mentioned in Gardner's Mathematical Games column, Scientific American, Feb 1973. May have been the first polysphere puzzle according to Knuth.
Lunatic Lock
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Gary Foshee |
----- All Puzzles -----
Patience (wood)
| Date 1990s |
Famous Number Puzzle
Jeu des Grenouilles
| Maker WX Paris |
Wooden Number Slide
Appears to be handmade
Wooden Number Slide with Lid
Appears to be handmade
The Number 7 Puzzle
| Maker James H. Hawes MFG Co |
Tower of Hannoi
The Panama Cone Puzzle
| Maker The Panama Cone Puzzle Co., Waterbury, Conn |
Tower of Hannoi
Rainbow Puzzle
Tower of Hanoi
Columbus: A Puzzle. 1492-1892
| Date 1892 |
| Maker Milton Bradley Co |
Schweig's Trans-Atlantic
| Date 1930s |
| Maker George E. Schweig & Son (distributor) |
S.S. Manhattan and S.S. Washington were the two largest US liners in the 30s
Tunbridge Tangram
Wit's End
| Maker Reiss company (distributor) |
German Doll Furniture
Egyptian Coin Trade
| Maker Project Genius |
| Designer Oskar van Deventer |
Trammel of Archimedes
traces path of ellipse
The Cat
| Date 1985 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer William Keister |
One of Binary Arts' first products, along with Hexadecimal and The Horse
The Horse
| Date 1985 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer William Keister |
One of Binary Arts' first products, along with Hexadecimal and The Cat
Bird in the Nest
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Vladimir Krasnoukhov and James Dalgety |
Twin Towers
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
Confounding Coin Removal
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
Shackman Painted Doll
| Maker Shackman |
Dovetail
| Maker Reiss |
Oskar's Matchboxes
| Designer Oskar van Deventer |
Dragon's Egg
| Maker Creative Crafthouse |
Blockade
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
Haselgrove Box
| Designer Jennifer Haselgrove |
Ultimate Burr Set
| Maker Creative Crafthouse |
Described in 'Creative Puzzles of the World', based on work by J.H. de Boer
The Pacco Puzzle
Nankai
Also sold as The Classic Cube Conundrum by Bits & Pieces #07-G7909
Roly Poly Puzzle
| Maker W.R. Maxwell |
Pigs in Clover
| Date 1889 |
| Designer Charles Crandall |
| Patent US410956 |
Balls different sizes/colors so possibly not all original. Appears restitched.
T Puzzle from Germany
Treen Puzzle Bank
Open the bank.
Dodeca
| Date 1996 |
| Maker Design Science Toys Ltd |
Quad Rhom
| Date 1996 |
| Maker Design Science Toys Ltd |
Twist and Shout
| Date 2021 |
| Maker Creative Crafthouse |
Six Panel Bank
I believe it's an impossible object rather than disassembly.
Vexa
| Maker Design Science Toys Ltd |
Also known as Vexahedron
Karakuri New Secret Box #4
| Maker Karakuri Creation Group |
Karakui Small Box #2
| Maker Karakuri Creation Group |
99 piece Pagoda
| Maker Arjeu |
Cube 33 XYLO (CT28)
| Maker Arjeu |
Casse-Tete Satellite (CT49)
| Maker Arjeu |
| Designer Stewart Coffin |
Also known as Spider Slider and Scorpius
Crazy Mixed Up Contour Puzzle
| Maker Shackman |
Zig-Zag
Solomon's Seal
| Date 1969–1984 |
| Ad Southwestern Bell |
Date estimated from the logo
AT&T: The system is the solution
| Ad AT&T |
Twelve Piece Separation
| Maker Moeller and Son, Artifactory Puzzles |
| Designer Stewart Coffin |
The Three Pairs Puzzle
| Date 1979 |
| Maker Stewart Coffin |
| Designer Stewart Coffin |
Four Corners Puzzle
| Date 1971 |
| Maker Stewart Coffin |
| Designer Stewart Coffin |
Stamped "AP-ART (C) 1971 S.T.C" Nick Baxter said Coffin did that stamp early on, and maybe just 1971. Afterwards, he would inscribed in ink or pencil.
Waiter's Tray
| Maker Project Genius |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
Diamond Eyes
| Maker Channel Craft |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
rock maple, oak, cherry, padauk and wenge
Hidden Corridor
| Maker Project Genius |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
Cube in Cube
| Maker Constantin |
Crooked Box II
| Maker Bill Cutler |
| Designer Bill Cutler |
Gornergrat Edelweiss Box
Challenger
| Maker Gantt's Wood Things |
| Designer Charlies Gantt |
Star of Nassau
| Maker Gantt's Wood Things |
| Designer Charlies Gantt |
Trap
| Maker Hanayama |
| Designer Minoru Abe |
Arabi Gun
| Date circa 1900 |
Mentioned in Hoffmann's puzzle book
Canon and Ball
| Date circa 1900 |
Mentioned in Hoffmann's puzzle book
Katzenjammer
| Date 1900 |
| Designer Frederick A. Schossow |
| Patent US646463 |
The original Instant Insanity puzzle
McLaughlin's Coffee XXXX
| Ad McLaughlin's Coffee XXXX |
The "Four-Allies Puzzle"
| Maker from England |
WWI. British, French, Russian, Belgian flags. Same as Instant Insanity, except for 2 opposite faces flipped on one cube.
Japanese Puzzle Box
Japanese Puzzle Box Spring Loaded
Japanese Yosegi Box
| Date 1945-1952 |
Two compartment box that jingles when opend. Made in Occupied Japan
Japanese Dice Box
Japanese 15-puzzle
Japanese Magic Box
Japanese Kumiki
Japanese Stack of Books
Japanese version of the Sorrento box
Barrel
Less common 8-piece version
Daruma Japanese Kumiki Barrel
Japanese Daruma dolls are modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. Paint one eye when making wish, and the other eye when wish is fulfilled.
Onietoiy Nine Ring
| Maker Onietoiy |
Naef Campanile
| Date 1988 |
| Maker Naef |
| Designer Manfred Zipfel, Cordula Von Tettau |
Copyright 1979. Box stamped 02/88 so I assume made in 1988.
Train In Line
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
Whistle Stop Puzzle
| Maker Pentangle |
SOMA
| Date 1966 |
| Maker Skjøde of Skjern |
| Designer Piet Hein |
Google SOMA
| Ad Google |
| Designer Piet Hein |
Received during interview at Google
Think
| Date 1968 |
| Maker Chadwick-Miller |
Made in Japan. Imported and sold by Chadwick-Miller, a Boston company.
Spiral Wood Block
| Maker C.F. White |
Like Think Puzzle but with curve spiral rather than rectilinear.
Century of Progress
| Date 1933-1934 |
Eskimo Pie
| Ad Eskimo Pie |
Frigidaire Jumble Puzzle
| Ad Frigidaire |
Dad's Puzzler
| Date 1926 |
| Designer J. W. Hayward |
The Moving Puzzle
Poll Parrot
| Ad Poll Parrot Shoes |
Chinese Puzzle (Germany)
Le Taquin
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
George VI Coronation
| Date 1937 |
Boss Puzzle
The 15 Gem Puzzle
Flying Puzzle
Flying Puzzle (Modern)
Blocks of Five President Harrison
| Date 1891 |
Blaine is in. How can Harrison get him out?
Line Up the Quinties!
Riding off the popularity of the Dionne quintuplets
Traffic Jam
Four Block Lock
| Maker Toys From Times Past |
Y-Knot Puzzle
| Maker Toys From Times Past |
What Four Puzzle
| Maker Toys From Times Past |
Do Nothin' Machine
| Maker Toys From Times Past |
Troon Vesta Box
Burns Vesta Box
Large Vesta Box
Grindelwald Vesta Box
Wood Plane Snuff Box
Possibly handmade in 1930s-50s in Oshkosh, WI. Differnt opening mechanism than the standard.
Treen Shoe Snuff Box
Similar mechanism as matchbox puzzle
Sputnik Peg
| Date 1958 |
| Maker S.P & P (Japan) |
Mysto-Peg Puzzle
| Date 1958 |
| Maker S.P & P (Japan) |
Japanese Weave Puzzle
The Armistice Puzzle Game
| Date 1919 |
| Maker The Armistice Co, Des Moines, IA |
WWI. United States, Great Britain, France, Greece, Russia, Japan, Germany
Iron Heart Metal Puzzle
Jordan's Journey
| Maker Fiddl'Widdit |
Flight Test
| Maker Wireworks Puzzles |
Mystic Maze
| Maker Wireworks Puzzles |
The Wringer
| Maker Wireworks Puzzles |
Death Valley
| Maker Wireworks Puzzles |
Wireworks Unknown Name
| Maker Wireworks Puzzles |
Dead End Pocket Puzzle
| Maker Puzzletts |
Handmade Wire Puzzle Set
Shinola Puzzle Assortment No. 1
| Ad Shinola Liquid Polish for Children's Shoes |
German Wire Puzzle Box
Definitely German but unsure of manufactuer.
German Wire Puzzle Box 2
Definitely German but unsure of manufactuer. Maybe Spear or C. H. Giesen?
Spear's Wire Puzzles
| Date 1930s |
| Maker J.W. Spear & Sons |
Date based on ad with copyright 1930 in the booklet and style of logo.
Freshman College Course Puzzles
| Maker Dick Hess |
Sophomore College Course Puzzles
| Maker Dick Hess |
Junior College Course Puzzles
| Maker Dick Hess |
Senior College Course Puzzles
| Maker Dick Hess |
Chain Gang
| Date 2025 (purchased) |
| Maker Puzzle Master |
| Designer Dick Hess and Alan Stein |
Originally developed by Dick Hess and called Outrageous Rings. Adapted for Puzzle Master by Alan Stein. String version created by Markus Götz.
Figure Eight Knot
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Why Knots |
| Designer Joel Langer |
Fold the wire into a braided loop of circles
The Mathematician's Loop
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Why Knots |
| Designer Joel Langer |
Chinese Button Knot
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Why Knots |
| Designer Joel Langer |
Vintage Handmade Wire
Vintage Handmade Cross Wire
Vintage Handmade Hearts
Vintage Handmade Horseshoes
Vintage Handmade Captured Hearts
Vintage Handmade Cross and Rings
Vintage Handmade Spring and Ring
Barket
| Date 1927 |
| Designer Joseph A. Barket |
| Patent US1649054 |
Tags say: JOS. A. BARKET | PAT. 11-15-'27 | POTTSVILLE, PA
Folk Art Chilian
Possibly hand-made. Ring added.
Spiral and Bent Sword
Spiral and Sword
Possibly from 1915 German set (Slocum's New Book of Puzzles, page 86). Purchased in same lot as a Journet puzzle set.
The Who #305
| Maker Wally Lee |
The Snail #607
| Maker Wally Lee |
Skitzo
Consul the Educated Monkey
| Maker The Educational Toy Manufacturing Co. |
"It makes no difference to the monkey whether children are bright or stupid, he never loses patience at having to answer their questions."
Jayne's Expectorant
| Ad Jayne's Expectorant |
Missing string
Redline-Glico Maze
| Date 1930s |
| Maker J.R.G. L. |
| Ad Redline-Glico: Use Glico motor oils |
| Designer Joel W. Thorne |
| Patent US483820A |
Redline Motor Spirit Co and Glico Petroleum Co merged to form Redline-Glico in 1931.
Zauberkreuz (Magic Cross)
| Date 1988 |
| Maker Red Cross |
| Designer Athanasios Margaritis |
| Patent DE3711368A1 |
Sold on the 125th anniversary of the Red Cross
Footsie
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Onsworld Limited |
One Way
| Maker Milton Bradley |
LifeSavers
| Maker Synergistics Research Corporation |
The Amazing Chewdini
| Date 1998 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer Ken Forsse |
Oskar's Cube
| Maker Crystal Lines |
| Designer Oskar van Deventer |
Champion Spark Plug K-Line
| Ad Champion K-Line Spark plugs |
The Nine of Swords
| Date 1971 |
| Maker Gametime, Inc. Marketed by Reiss |
Houdini
| Date 2014 |
| Maker ThinkFun |
| Designer Nicholas Cravotta and Rebecca Bleau |
Fifth Chair
| Maker ThinkFun |
| Designer Dale Walton |
Turing Tumble
| Maker Upper Story |
Kumiki Pig
| Ad R.B. Rice Sausage |
Chinese Tangram
Crazy Elephant Dance
| Maker Samuel Farinas (22 Hobbies) |
| Designer Markus Götz |
Bought directly from Samuel, who created the 3d print version.
Switch
Gordian's Knot
| Maker ThinkFun |
| Designer Frans de Vreugd |
Originally called "Extreme Tortue" and was the result of a computer program to find the most difficult six-piece puzzle
3 dimensional Cross Puzzle
| Maker Magnif |
3 dimensional Star Puzzle
| Maker Magnif |
Instant Indecision
| Date 1972 |
| Maker The Green Gate Company |
Screw Loose
| Date 1970 |
| Maker Lakeside |
Spongebob Burger King Sliding Puzzle
| Date 2004 |
| Maker Burger King |
Mint Man Puzzle
| Date 1982 |
| Maker The Kelrack Ltd of Middlesex, England |
Something Fishy Sardine Can
Shackman Maze Puzzle
Stark Raving Cubes
| Date 1995 |
| Maker Wit's End |
| Designer Bill Cutler |
Atomix (Orb)
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Hasbro |
| Designer Christopher C. Wiggs & Christopher J. Taylor |
| Patent US4553754 |
Starter Burr Set
| Date 2023 |
| Maker Oscar Chang |
| Designer asiegel |
The Key
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Oscar Chang |
| Designer LeisureLuke |
Print-in-Place Twisty Puzzle Box - Mushroom
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Oscar Chang |
| Designer 3d-printy |
Chaotic Cube
| Maker Nintendo |
before Nintendo was known for video games
Mystaire Mosaic Puzzle
| Maker Peter Pan |
Arrange pieces in a cirlce so that adjacent pieces have different colors.
Tenze Puzzle
| Date 1950s/60s |
| Maker Roddy |
Arrange pieces in rectangle, so that colors are grouped together.
Tantalising 7
| Date 1965 |
| Maker Peter Pan |
B46-B49 in Hordern. My copy has handwritten note - Christmas 1965.
P3C, Pack 3 Cubes
| Designer Yasuhiro Hashimoto |
Triple twins
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Oscar Chang |
| Designer AndresMF (based on Osanori Yamamoto) |
Based on design by Osanori Yamamoto, which won the puzzler's award at IPP37 2017 Paris
Think, 3d printed
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Oscar Chang |
| Designer Justin Brown (based on Japanese wooden puzzle) |
My first attempt at 3d modeling!
Squarely Nuts
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Oskar Van Deventer |
Square nut around around a square screw. Not a puzzle but rather kinetic art.
Tetra Spirals
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Lucie Pauwels |
Unlawful Assembly
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Goh Pit Khiam |
Zigguflat
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Oskar Van Deventer |
Frameless N-ary puzzle. A flat version of Bram Cohen's Ziggurat puzzle.
The Spiral Puzzle: Tip Top Nerve Tester
| Maker The Eng Ser Corp, Albany New York |
Fidget, Style #391
| Date 1976 |
| Maker Reiss |
IBM Puzzle
| Ad IBM |
Stormy Seas
| Date 1998 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer Harry L. Nelson, Hiroshi Yamamoto |
| Patent US6116599A |
Rush Hour
| Date 1996 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer Nob Yoshigahara |
| Patent USD395468S |
The above patent is for the design of the Binary Arts version by Stephen A. Wagner
Magic Box
| Date 1970s |
| Maker Magnif |
Anagog Pyramystery Puzzler
| Date 1972 |
| Maker Hubley |
| Designer Piet Hein |
Mentioned in Gardner's Mathematical Games column, Scientific American, Feb 1973. May have been the first polysphere puzzle according to Knuth.
Bull's Head Puzzle
| Date 1983 |
| Maker Loncraine Broxton and Ptrs LTD |
Stamford, England. Made in England
The Brain Puzzler
| Maker Magnif |
Cerebral Rings Puzzler
| Date 1989 |
| Maker Magnif |
Saturn Puzzler
| Maker Magnif |
On the Level Puzzler
| Maker Magnif |
Pawn=Queen
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Sherzod Khaydarbekov |
Get the pawn to the red square using standard chess moves. No capture.
Black Knight
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Sherzod Khaydarbekov |
Get the black knight to the black square using standard chess moves. No capture.
Exchange the kings
| Date 2024 |
| Maker Puzzle guy |
| Designer Sherzod Khaydarbekov |
Exchanges kings using standard chess moves and alternating white/black. No capture.
Amazing Dr. Nim
| Date 1966 |
| Maker E.S.R., Inc. |
Digi-Comp 1
| Maker E.S.R., Inc. |
Novice
| Date 1986 |
| Maker GO Images, Inc. |
| Designer Douglas A. Engel |
| Patent US4415158 |
In Puzzler series: Novice, Challenger, Avenger
Challenger
| Date 1986 |
| Maker GO Images, Inc. |
| Designer Douglas A. Engel |
| Patent US4415158 |
In Puzzler series: Novice, Challenger, Avenger
Avenger
| Date 1986 |
| Maker GO Images, Inc. |
| Designer Douglas A. Engel |
| Patent US4415158 |
In Puzzler series: Novice, Challenger, Avenger
Hungarian Rings
Olympic Rings
| Maker from Hungary |
A generalization of Hungarian Rings for Summer Olympics
Instant Insanity
| Date 1967 |
| Maker Parker Brothers, Inc. |
The First Black Swan Puzzle
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Ilaria Logi |
| Designer Angiolo Logi |
No. 200. Title refers to Aborigine mythology
55 Chevrolet Emblem Puzzle
| Date 1955 |
| Ad 55 Chevrolet |
Vess Soda Bottle
| Ad Vess |
Vess Soda Cap
| Ad Vess |
uncut
Hunt's Perfect Baking Powder Puzzle
| Date circa 1900 |
| Maker The Tablet & Ticket Co., Chicago and New York |
| Ad Hunt's Perfect Baking Powder |
| Designer Bertram H. Saunders |
| Patent US557895 |
Appears to be Pres. McKinley
Pel-Freeze
| Ad Pel-Freeze |
SPAPCO's Five Piece Puzzle
| Ad SPAPCO |
Grandpa's Soap
| Ad Grandpa's Soap |
The 14 puzzle
The Magic Egg Puzzle
| Ad Champagne Baking Soda |
BP edge matching
| Ad BP |
Town Tavern
| Ad Town Tavern Straight Rye Whiskey |
St. Nicholas Trade Card
| Date 1892 |
| Ad St. Nicholas Children's Magazine |
The New Hunter Puzzle
| Ad Hunter's Distilleries Co. |
Dellwood Creami-Rich Planets
Fairmont Creamery Puzzle
The Famous T Puzzle
| Date 1939-40 |
| Maker California Association of Ice Industries |
| Ad Ice Man's Ice |
Magic K Puzzle
| Ad King Blended Whisky, Brown-Forman Distillers Corp |
FD Puzzle
| Date 1933 |
| Maker Perry & Elliott Co, Lynn, MA |
Intials of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Vanishing Leprechauns
| Date 1968 |
| Maker W. A. Elliott Co. |
| Designer Pat Lyons |
Configurations Game
Shoe
| Ad Foot, Schulze, and Co. Playfield Shoes |
A-Treat Ginger Ale
Farmers Puzzle Bone Ferilizer
WW2 Bombing Mystery Puzzle
| Date 1943 |
Ten Card Puzzle buggy & harness
| Ad Wilber H Murray Mfg. |
The T.A. Snider Diamond Puzzle
| Ad Snider's Soups, Catsups, Sauces |
Tennessee Jed's Lariat
| Date 1946 |
| Ad Tip-Top Bread |
On February 4th, the Tennessee Jed program made an offer of a free lariat puzzle. At the close of the 10-day offer period, it received close to 9,000 requests.
Newcomb Loom Co. Puzzle
| Ad Newcomb Loom |
Famous Square Puzzle
Chocolat Lombart
| Ad Chocolat Lombart Paris |
Lombart claims to be the first chocolate company in France, dating back to 1760.
Butter Nut Bread
| Ad Butter Nut Bread |
W.M. Deering Sickle Puzzle
| Date 1880s |
| Ad Deering Mower and Junior Deering Twine Binder |
The reaping hook for our great grandfathers. The cradle for our grandfathers. The hand-rake reaper for our fathers. The Deering Self-Binder for us and our children.
8 point puzzle
| Maker Sherms |
Star Puzzle
| Ad Hood's Sarsaparilla |
Le Moulin Rouge
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
L'Astronome
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
The Astronomer
L'Incroyable
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
Amazing
Un Sage Dans Les Nuages
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
A Sage in the Clouds
Les Quatre Vagabonds
| Maker Jeux et Jouets Francais |
The Four Vagabonds
Donkey Old Joe and Rover
| Ad Standard Screw |
Complete with Jockey and Envelope
Donkey Shackman Postcard
Donkey Hotel Dixie Postcard
Chambers Motor Horse & Rider
Ride 'Em Cowboys! Horse & Rider
L. Sternberg & Co. Donkey & Riders
Hunter Baltimore Rye Horse & Rider
Smith Potato Crisps Horse and Jockey
| Ad Smiths Potato Crisps |
Company founded in United Kingdom in 1920. Advert probably from the 1950s
Blind Luck
| Ad The New Home Sewing Machine Company |
| Designer Sam Loyd |
Two players take turns covering numbers. First to 51 wins. See Sam Loyd and His Chess Problems
The Lost Jap
| Date 1897 |
| Ad Metropolitan Life Insurance |
| Designer Sam Loyd |
Red Goose Shoes Card and String
| Ad Red Goose Shoes |
Wabash Railroad Square Puzzle
| Ad City of St. Louis Streamliner, Wabash railroad |
White Eagle
| Ad White Eagle Mobile Gas |
Violin
| Ad Van Houten |
Van Houten's Septum Puzzle
| Ad Van Houten |
Thought Reader
| Ad Van Houten |
Tug-o-war
| Ad Van Houten |
Van Houten Trade Card No. 8
| Ad Van Houten |
Van Houten Magic Square Puzzle
| Ad Van Houten |
Pieces appear to be sealed in original packaging.
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Cross
| Ad Witch Hazel |
Witch Hazel Cats
| Ad Witch Hazel |
2 Witch Hazel Mail Advertisement
| Ad Witch Hazel |
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Square Puzzle
| Ad Witch Hazel |
Patience (metal)
Rowland & Clark Horseshoes
| Ad Rowland & Clark's Arcade Theatre |
Valspar
| Date 1922 |
| Ad Valentine & Company (Valspar varnish) |
| Designer Ernest A Stoppel |
| Patent US1484849 |
I think made of Aluminum.
Trapeze Acrobat
| Maker Germany |
Coast to Coast Puzzle
| Date 2002 |
| Maker Binary Arts |
| Designer Serhiy Grabarchuk |
Modern take on the Africa puzzle
Metal Dexterity
Spider Puzzle
| Maker L.W.G & Co. of Chicago |
The Wonder of the Age: Houdene Puzzle
| Maker possibly L.L. Young and Co. or Percy K. Ewing |
Referred to as Jack and Dick in an LL Young directions sheet.
Bootlegger and Flask
| Date 1927 |
| Maker W.R. Maxwell |
| Designer John S Allen |
| Patent US1635022 |
88 Lafayette Ave Brooklyn, N.Y. Patent Apl'd
Bootlegger (Boot and Hand)
| Date 1924 |
| Designer Oscar R Preuss |
| Patent US1519702 |
Stamped Pat Pending. Patent issued in 1924
Dog and Collar (Standing)
Dog and Collar (Sitting)
Perplexity
| Date early 1900s |
| Maker Ross Ettinger Co. |
| Designer Richard M. Shaffer |
| Patent US642374 |
Spell PERPLEXITY, then spell it backwards. Not as easy as it looks!
Automobile
Same as Perplexity Puzzle
Harbison & Modica's Puzzle (Perplexity)
| Ad Harbison & Modica |
Same as Perplexity Puzzle
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
| Date 1904 |
Same as Perplexity Puzzle
Panama Puzzle
| Date 1915 |
| Maker Moise-Klinkner Co. |
| Designer Edgar A Nelson Jr |
| Patent US1109698 |
Starting with the 3 As in front, spell PANAMA in 3 moves by moving 2 adjacent letters at a time.
Royal Ryede Watch Fob and Key Ring Puzzle
| Maker Western Puzzle Works |
| Designer Adolph Rydquist |
| Patent US787796 |
Rydquist was the president of the Ryede Specialty Company and designer of the Ryede vendors.
Ryede Perfection
| Maker Western Puzzle Works |
Atlanta Exposition Key Ring
| Date 1895 |
| Designer James Madison Matthews |
| Patent US510280 |
Move key into each area, including removing.
Shoe Button Hook
| Ad Marott's Shoe Shop |
Needs a second button hook to complete the puzzle.
Little Gem Bank
Coin holder
Little Millionaire Bank
Manoeuver (in the Stratagem range)
| Date 1976 |
| Maker Startabord, Ltd. |
Bug House Checkerboard
Hugh's Double Square Knob Puzzle
SQUARE KNOT PUZZLE PAT.MCH.7.99
Popular Puzzle Compendium
| Maker Journet |
"Family" Compendium Of Puzzles
| Maker Journet |
only half of the puzzles pictured are original to the box
Buffalo Nickel
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Oskar van Deventer, George Miller |
07-7074. Based on a puzzle design by Oskar van Deventer and originally made by George Miller for IPP 20 in Los Angeles. Missing wooden token.
The Popular Puzzle Compendium
| Maker Journet |
Coca-Cola Nails
| Ad Coca-Cola |
Knot Simple
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Douglas A. Engel |
47091
International Box of Metal Puzzles
| Maker Gibson |
Gilbert Puzzle Party 1920
| Date 1920 |
| Maker Gilbert |
Missing spring
Gilbert Puzzle Party 1921
| Date 1921 |
| Maker Gilbert |
Complete without the box
Binary Arts Fifteen
| Maker Binary Arts |
Work or Golf
| Maker Binary Arts |
Honor & Glory
| Maker Binary Arts |
The Puzzle Key-Ring
| Date 1879 |
| Designer George W. Jopson |
| Patent US221571 |
Appears in Hoffmann's Puzzles Old and New
Bashful Lock Cigar Cutter
| Date circa 1915 |
| Maker Tafo Mfg. Co. L.A. Cal. |
| Designer Charles G. Taylor |
| Patent US1136735 |
Unlocks behind your back
IMP 15 Puzzle
| Date 1933-1934 |
| Maker Modern Brands, Inc. |
15 Puzzle IMP (blue)
Somehow the 14 and 15 are reversed
Old Shackles
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1981
Iron Heart
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1981
Patience Puzzle
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1984
Dirty Dog
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1985
Devil's Stirrup
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1985
Sneaky Pete
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1990
Tinker's Bell
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1992
Long Island Catch
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1995
Self-Restraint
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1996
Traveler's Woe
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1997
U-Turn
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 1998
Black Jack
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 2000
Freedom's Ring
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 2002
Wise Guy
| Maker Tucker-Jones House, Inc. |
Released in 2003
Electro No. 1
| Maker Tenyo |
Computer Puzzler #1
| Maker Tenyo |
Computer Puzzler #2
| Maker Tenyo |
Computer Puzzler #3
| Maker Tenyo |
Computer Puzzler #4
| Maker Tenyo |
ryede-like square puzzle
| Maker Charles Richard |
Uncle's Rope
| Maker Uncle's Puzzles |
Same as Ball and Chain
Double Treble Clef
| Maker Pentangle |
| Designer James Dalgety |
Devil's Halo: The Infernal Puzzle
| Date 1974 |
| Maker Pentangle |
| Designer James Dalgety |
U.K. Registered Design No. 967536/1974. Deliberate attempt by James Dalgety to invent a puzzle similar to the Chinese Rings but with a non-binary solution
Electro Puzzle No. 2
| Maker Tenyo |
9 Wheel Spring
| Maker Fujita Iron Crafts, Takayama, Gifu, Japan |
https://www.hidanosyokudai.com/
The Hello Puzzle
| Designer William J. Akin |
| Patent US896344 |
An advertisment from 1909 says 'Can You Ring Off? You simply can't drop it until you have removed the steel ring from the celluloid disk.'
Butterfly
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Bunny
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Fish
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Teapot
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Wheel
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Horsehoes
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Longevity
| Designer Ruan Genquan |
Richter Anchor
Queen's Jubilee
| Date 1887 |
Uncle Sam's Divorce Puzzle
Missing the ring but same as Queen's Jubilee
A-B-C Puzzle
RD 577846 (1911)
A-B-C Sico Toys Puzzle
| Ad Sico Toys |
RD 849365 (1947)
WJ Wolf 2 Ring Puzzle
Missing the connecting piece
Trilby
Link the Link
| Date early 1900s |
| Designer Edward S Mowry |
| Patent US732954 |
Faint engraving, but I believe it says Link The Link, Pat July 7 '03
VIM
| Ad VIM cleanser and polisher |
Vermont Castings Maze (The Amazing Gizmo)
| Date 1981 |
| Maker Vermont Castings, of Randolph Vermont |
| Ad Vermont Castings |
Each section represents the 4 seasons.
Tennis Racket and Ball
Baroq
| Maker Hanayama |
| Designer Akio Yamamoto |
Marble
| Maker Hanayama |
| Designer Bram Cohen and Oskar van Deventer |
O'Gear
| Maker Hanayama |
| Designer Oskar van Deventer |
Zelda Master Sword
| Date 2023 |
| Maker Hanayama |
Zelda Triforce
| Date 2023 |
| Maker Hanayama |
Mosaik Puzzle Germany
Cadaco Cluster Puzzle
Slidem Solitaire: A Yank Thru the Lines
| Date 1942 |
| Maker Electric Corporation of America, Chicago |
C6 in Hordern
Turtle Puzzle
| Maker Shackman |
Houdini's Torture Cell
| Maker Puzzle Master |
| Designer Brian Young |
Three Ring Horseshoe
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
Six Ring Horseshoe
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Jean Claude Constantin |
The First Black Swan Puzzle
| Date 1980 |
| Maker Ilaria Cornaggia Medici |
| Designer Angiolo Logi |
No. 200. Husband and Wife team. Angiolo drew the designs, and Ilaria executed them.
Cannon
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Doug Haigh |
Based on puzzle in Hoffmann's book
Lighthouse
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Doug Haigh |
Based on puzzle in Hoffmann's book
Jailbreak
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Doug Haigh |
Based on puzzle in Hoffmann's book
Solid Brass Key & Ring Puzzle
| Date 1973 |
| Maker Shackman |
Zip code on box is 10001 but zip code on instructions is 10003. Shackman moved from 2 West 35 St 10001 to 85 Fifth Ave 10003 around 1973, which is why I guess 1973.
Brass Bolt
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Rocky Chiaro |
07-7863. Same as Ring-N-Nut
Treasure Chest
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Rocky Chiaro |
Roc-Key
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Rocky Chiaro |
07-7862
Brass Jax
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Rocky Chiaro |
48858
Trick Bolts
| Maker Lee Valley Tools Ltd. |
Nut & Bolt Puzzle
| Maker Shackman |
The Rainbow Puzzle
| Maker Montauk Specialties Co, Chicago, ILL |
Get each ball in the same colored slot
Lunatic Lock
| Maker Bits & Pieces |
| Designer Gary Foshee |
Binary Key II
| Date 2022 |
| Maker CubicDissection |
| Designer Goh Pit Khiam |