Dr. Volker Matussek writes: “A tribute to Yasuhiro Hashimoto… With his designs, Yasuhiro Hashimoto has given friends of mechanical puzzles all over the world deeply felt moments of happiness. When I recently had the opportunity to work with his 4L puzzle for the first time, the thought matured in me to say thank you for the wonderful time that Hashimoto-san gives us. Now I could have sent him a message and somehow put my admiration into more or less appropriate words. However, I decided to ...

Nice puzzle made by Brian Menold and designed by Laszlo Molnar.Original description by Brian :"This was one of two of Laszlo's entries into the IPP Design Competition and a TOP TEN Vote Getter. You know when Laszlo makes designs a packing puzzle that it will be a good one! I think this one has a difficult to find Aha! moment, making it even more satisfying. This puzzle has some rather close tolerances so it may not be for high humidity conditions. I also tried something new with the Box Elder bo...

“Raindrops Puzzle”This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Sjaak Griffioen for the International Puzzle Party 37 held in Paris, France 2017 Objective:Arrange a flat composition of overlapping rings.8 Challenges see instructions booklet in the box.  Packaging: Cardboard boxPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg approx $ 21.00 to Belgium, Denmark (excl....

“Triplemino” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Sándor Bozóki for the International Puzzle Party 37 held in Paris, France 2017   Objective / Description The puzzle consists 9 pieces (the full set of ‘Trinars’) and a 2 sided tray.   A) [1/#1]: Pack the 7 pieces (A-G) into the 5*5 tray through the opening. B) [2/#1]: Pack the 7 pieces (A-G) onto the 5*5 tray to make a symmetrical arrangement. C) [1/#2]: Pack all pieces onto the 6*5 tray. D) [2/#2]: ...

Space Cube is an interesting puzzle that creates a pleasant box shaped structure.  It requires a skill I lack, dexterity.  But as with anything, patience and practice should enable one to not only assemble the single Space Cube, but many variations of multiple Space Cube configurations. An assembled Space Cube is made from 6 identical C-shaped (or U-shaped) plastic pieces.  The pieces come in colors of red, yellow, and blue.  A box comes with 18 pieces, 6 of each color.  This lot has 3 box...

6 Key Mine is a part of the Robert Rose's Mental Block Puzzle series.  This puzzle was a 2003 IPP Puzzle Design Competition 1st Prize winner.This is a Bits & Pieces version, but a very good reproduction of the original design.  This version is no longer available from Bits & Pieces.  A review of this puzzle is available by Jerry Loo at http://smallpuzzlecollection.blogspot.com/2011/08/six-key-mine.html.Original solution page available with puzzle.

“Gosper’s Modified “Conway” 7 cube” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Abel Garcia for the International Puzzle Party 34 held in London, UK 2014   Objective / Description Pack all pieces in the box / Multiple Challenges   Background: See pictures   Packaging: Cardboard boxPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg approx $ 21.00 to Belgium, Denm...

“TreGGony” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Juozas Grankas for the International Puzzle Party 34 held in London, UK 2014   Objective / Description Place six triangles and egg-shaped piece in the frame.   Background: See pictures   Packaging: Cardboard box and zip lock bag  Preliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg approx $ 21.00 to Belgium, Denm...

“Triangular Pentagon Puzzle” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Jeremiah Farrell for the International Puzzle Party 31 held in Berlin, Germany 2011   Objective / Description Place the pieces within the pentagon without any common sides having the same color.   Background: See picture.   Packaging: Plastic boxPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg ...

“Ménage à trois” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Jan Grashuis for the International Puzzle Party 28 held in Prague, Czech Republic 2008 Objective / DescriptionThe puzzle consists of 12 bars, 6 short and 6 long, that can be connected by 4 magnets on each side. Of these 12 bars 3 rectangles can be formed. The object is to buil dan octahedron of these 3 rectangles so that all rectangles are linked toe ach other.   Packaging: Zip lock bagPreliminary es...

“Going Square with Circles”   This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Rob Hegge for the International Puzzle Party 28 held in Prague, Czech Republic 2008   Objective / Description Fit all the pieces in the frame.   History: See picture   Packaging: Zip lock bagPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg approx $ 21.00 to Belgium, Denmark (excl. Faroe Is...

“Prague Six” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Jeremiah Farrel for the International Puzzle Party 28 held in Prague, Czech Republic 2008   Objective / Description The sixteen pieces are to be arranged into exactly (          (a)  One square                (b) two squares                      (c) three squares (d) four squares               (e) five squares                      (f) six sq...

“The UTC Puzzle” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Nick Baxter for the International Puzzle Party 31 held in Berlin, Germany 2011   Objective / Description 1) Construct a U-pentomino. 2) Construct a T-tetromino. 3) Construct other Challenges Packaging: Plastic boxPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.   Netherlands: from 0 - 10 kg approx $ 12.00   Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg approx $ 21.00 to Belgium, Denmark (excl. Faroe Is...

“Willem’s Puzzle” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Jan L. Grashuis for the International Puzzle Party 31 held in Berlin, Germany 2011   Objective / Description Make a 4 by 4 square.   Background: Willem van der Poel designed this puzzle many years ago. Even so long ago that he forgot the ratio behind it. An extra challenge is therefore to find the algorithm behind this puzzle.   Packaging: Zip lock bagPreliminary estimate of shipping costs from th...

“Osho’s Packing Puzzle” This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Rikishi Yamada for the International Puzzle Party 25 held in Helsinki, Finland 2005   Objective / Description: 1) Pack the eight pieces of the puzzle into the board such that it is “anti-slide”, i.e. none of     the pieces can slide. 2) Pack the eight pieces of the puzzle into the board such that it is “not-color match”, i.e. no two pieces of the same color may touch each other. 3) Pack the ...

The "TV Puzzle" is a long-discontinued Pelikan release that was the subject of particular obsession on the Mechanical Puzzle Discord. I somehow got roped into making it; I'm still not sure how. Those guys are persuasive. TV Puzzle is an interesting hybrid packing and take-apart puzzle. My interpretation stayed true to Jakub's original design with a couple of changes - we fully lacquered and changed grain direction for all pieces to make the solution more difficult. The result is trickier than I ...

“Always Seven!”This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Serhiy Grabarchuk for the International Puzzle Party 25 held in Helsinki, Finland 2005 Objective / DescriptionThe six haxagons are put within the tray. Add to them the seventh hexagon from the separate cell, and then put all the seven hexagons within the tray again. After you solve the puzzle, exactly seven (and only seven!) small triangle cells scattered across the tray should remain uncovered. None of them must touch each other e...

Kevin Sadler wrote about it:This takes the usual packing puzzle which we love so much to a whole new level of frustration and cleverness. With a box/frame and holes in it and a few simple pieces to be placed inside which completely fill the aforementioned holes leaving no gaps visible, we usually have to create a 3x3x2 shape inside which, despite such simple shapes, is quite a tremendous challenge. This time we have a 3x3x3 cube to be constructed and two HUGE diagonally opposite windows to put p...

It seems simple: Just fit the wooden "chain" entirely into the box.

"The artisan series is being discontinued; once these puzzles are gone they will not be remade.Half Lid Box by the famous Hajime Katsumoto is a similar challenge to Obstacle Box. With only two layers and one slider, you'd think it was easier. You'd be thinking wrong in this case...while there are fewer pieces, the smaller opening necessitates rotational moves which greatly complicate assembly.Construction of this puzzle is very sturdy with shouldered edges and milled, solid pieces. This puzzle i...