Novelties and Puzzles

  
 
I have always had an interest in novelties and puzzles which provide both interest and fun, and something to talk about with friends and visitors alike.

At long last, I have decided to put a web page together to cover all sorts of things having novelty value, it's all for fun really.

The items appearing here fall into two distinct categories, those that are commercially viable and are produced for customer sales, and those that have been created as a one off for pure novelty value.

If you happen to see something you like, please do get in touch. 		 
 
 
 


My Best Friend



This piece has been created using two types of wood, and depicts a man and his dog, together, forever.

It takes time and skill to get the two parts to fit together correctly. They are not perfect, but it was my first atempt at this type of work, and I am reasonably pleased with the result.		    
 
 
 

Cat 'n Mouse Door Toppers



A very simple idea has been employed here. The animals are cut in "outline only", and are painted black. The cat can either be jumping down from the door frame as shown, or the other way round as if climbing up the frame. It is your choice as to whether the cat is after the mouse, or as depicted here, the mouse is following the cat.

In the second image. the cat simply sits, contemplating the long-term future of the mouse. If you purchase this item, you will have the choice of cat sitting or moving, and mouse sitting or moving.		  
 
     
 
 
 
 

The Stick-Stack



This is a very simple puzzle, but at the same time, it is quite surprising how many potential ways there are of putting it together.

The toy itself is nothing more than a 4 inch length of timber which is about an inch square. The blank was cut twice down the length, then taped together and laid on its side, before being cut down the length twice more.

As a result, you have one block of wood which has been cut into nine pieces. Pick up the stack, and drop it on the table.

Can YOU Put The Stack Together Again 		 
 
     
 
 

The Super Stick-Stack



The Super Stick-Stack is the next step. This piece has been cut 3x3 into a 16 piece puzzle.

It dosen't look a lot different to it's little brother featured above, but the potential ways of putting it together are way more.		    
 
 

Hook-It



This is an infuriating puzzle - but only if you don't know how it works.

You give very simple descriptions of the two parts. On one side you have a simple handle with a long hook fixed into it. On the other side you have a hole, and in the bottom of the hole there is a small loop of elastic.

The trick is very simple. Put the hook in the tube with the 2 dots aligned and give it a quarter turn. Pull the hook out a little way and see it spring back in because it has "hooked the elastic loop".

You can show people time and time again, but, because of the description you have given them, it takes a long time for most people to appreciate what is actually going on.

When you know how it works, this puzzle can provide hours of fun and ammusment for everybody (apart from the one left trying to hook the elastic).		  
 
     
 
 
 

Spin-Out



A simple puzzle that can come apart faster than the eye can see, and then takes a good while to get together again.		  
 
     
 
 
 

The Six Part Square

  
 
It is easy to create a square, but.....		  
Can you make a square which is all the same colour.		  
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 


Items Normaly Made For Novelty Value Only

      
 
 
   

The Nail


The nail is completely free to move in its wooden frame. This item always causes a fair amount of head scratching.

When talking about it, I start off by making two statements, both of which are true. First, the piece of wood has only ever been "one piece", and second, the nail has NEVER been cut or bent, and is exactly as it was when it came from the hardware shop.

Allowing for that pair of statements, it is always interesting to see how people try to mould their thoughts into some sort of formula that would allow the nail to enter the frame which now traps it.		  
 
 
 


Boris and Simmo



These figures are based on the German Smoker design originally released by Colwin Way.

The top section of each figure can be removed to allow an incense candle to be lit inside, producing a continuous smoke plume from the mouth.

In spite of the overall complexity, all parts of these figures are turned on the lathe, that is, except for the feet. They need to be made by hand, so that you get one left and one right.		  
 
 
 


The Chain



Around 2009 I often saw something like this at several craft exhibitions, and I always wanted to give it a go.

The principals are very simple. First, you start with a single piece of wood, with the corners removed down the whole length.

Second, the chain links are drawn on and cut out with care to leave a chain with no joins or cuts in the links.