Mechanical Puzzle Collection

Richard Garriott showcases his collection of mechanically interlinked puzzles.

Mechanical Puzzles

Mechanical puzzles are three-dimensional games comprised of mechanically interlinked pieces. Unlike word or jigsaw puzzles, these fun and educational toys are handheld physical objects -- like a Rubik's Cube -- that must be manipulated to achieve a specific goal. Here, entrepreneur Richard Garriott shares highlights from his extensive collection of mechanical puzzles.

Puzzle Jugs
Often found in taverns or guildhalls, puzzle jugs are mugs or pitchers that challenge the drinker to consume (or pour out) the contents without spilling or dribbling.

Take-Apart Puzzles
Take-apart puzzles are made of interlinked pieces of wood cleverly assembled to create a finished form.

Tavern/Blacksmith Puzzles
Commonly found in old pubs, tavern or blacksmith puzzles are a complex set of chain, rings, and horseshoes.

Impossible Objects
The goal of impossible object puzzles is to discover how the object was made. They are not intended to come apart, though some puzzlers have taken them apart in cases of extreme frustration. Only one fact is given to eliminate an obvious solution: No glue or adhesive was used to make the impossible objects.

Ji Ga Zo
Ji Ga Zo is a contemporary puzzle game that requires a computer and printer. To play, begin by uploading a digital image to the Ji Ga Zo software, which will break the image into a series of shaded pieces on an icon map. Print your icon map, and then reference it to arrange Ji Ga Zo's pieces on the included assembly grid. As you put the pieces together, a mosaic-style image will start to take shape.

Karakuri Boxes
Karakuri, or "secret boxes," are the core of Richard's puzzle collection. The puzzle aspect of the intricate wooden boxes lies in figuring out how to open them. Originally created in Japan so craftsman and merchants could hide their valuables, karakuri can be simple boxes that are hard to open or detailed puzzles built into wooden furniture. Some of the most complex karakuri boxes require many hundreds of moves to open.

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Mechanical Puzzle Collection

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