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 Links to Linda Hall 2015 exhibit: article, 2nd Saturday, interview

 Links to mechanical Puzzles:

SlocumPuzzles.com
Slocum Puzzle Collection - Lilly Library, University of Indiana
John Rausch's Puzzle World - comprehensive info about mechanical puzzles
Stewart Coffin 
The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections by Stewart Coffin –online version
Association for Games & Puzzles International (AGPI)
Brochure - The Art of the Puzzle: Astounding and Confounding briefly describes different genres.
Links to Wood Puzzles
Gathering 4 Gardner - honors Martin Gardner's interest in math, puzzles, and magic. Also gathering4gardner.org

  Mechanical Puzzle Types (Example names are in bold)

1. Put-Together Puzzles-Putting the object together is the puzzle.

1.    .2 Dimensional assembly puzzles (Tangrams, Anchor, T, jigsaw,etc.)

2.    .3 Dimensional assembly puzzles -Non-Interlocking (Soma,etc.)

3.    .Miscellaneous put-together-(Instant Insanity, puzzle rings, etc.)

4.    .Matchstick puzzles

 2. Take-Apart Puzzles-Taking the object apart or open is the puzzle.

  1.  Trick or secret opening puzzles -(Puzzle boxes,...)
  2. Secret compartment puzzles (Slopes, coins, ...)
  3. Trick locks & keys
  4. Trick matchboxes (matchsafes )
  5. Trick knives
3. Interlocking Solid Puzzles-Disassembly & assembly to solve puzzle.
1.    Figural (Animals, objects, etc.)
2.    Geometric objects (Cube, etc. )
3.    3-D jigsaw puzzles
4.  Burr puzzles
5.  Keychain puzzles
6.  Miscellaneous interlocking solid puzzles

 4. Disentanglement Puzzles-Disentanglement & entanglement to solve puzzle.

1.    Cast Iron & sheet metal puzzles
2.    Wire puzzles (Chinese Rings, etc.)
3.    String puzzles ( Non-rigid disentanglement )
4.    Miscellaneous disentanglement puzzles

 5. Sequential Movement Puzzles-Moving parts of object to a goal is the puzzle.

1.    Solitaire puzzles (Remove pegs, counters, etc. by jumping )
2.    Counter puzzles (Rearrange counters, pegs, etc. by jumping )
3.    Sliding piece puzzles (2D & 3D )
4.    Rotating piece puzzles (3D-Rubik’s cube
5.    Maze & route puzzles, etc. )
6.    Mazes and Labyrinths for People
7.    Miscellaneous sequential movement puzzles (Tower of Hanoi, etc.)


6. Dexterity Puzzles-Manual dexterity is primary to solve puzzle .

1.    Throw & catch (Cup & ball, etc. )

2.    Rolling ball puzzles

3.    Maze dexterity puzzles

4.    Miscellaneous dexterity puzzles


7. Puzzle Vessels – Drinking without spilling, or filling a vessel is the puzzle. (Puzzle Jugs, Bottom fill wine & tea pots, Pitchers, etc. )

8. Vanish Puzzles – The puzzle is to explain a vanished or changed image. (Loyd’s Get Off the Earth, etc.)

9. Folding Puzzles – The puzzle is to fold a paper or hinged object, to form a specified pattern. (2D & 3D) (Fifth Pig Puzzle, etc.)

10. Impossible Puzzles – The puzzle is to explain how an object was made orwhy it behaves in a seemingly impossible way. (Arrow thru bottle, celt, etc.)