Boxes and Booze 5/1/21 Boxes and Booze 5/1/21

The Joy of Hex

From the mischievous minds at play in the Two Brass Monkeys workshop in merry old England comes their most raucous achievement yet, a set of twelve hexagonal burrs stick puzzles that are sure to make you blush.

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Monolith

Just when I was beginning to get melancholy for having to say goodbye to Wonderland and head back through the looking glass to reality, aliens have landed to distract me. A giant silver monolith has appeared out of nowhere and may hold the secrets of the Universe, if only we are clever enough to decode them.

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Canfield-Shaker

I’m about to shake things up here at Boxes and Booze – figuratively, literally and otherwise.

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Lo-Fer

Things are afoot here at Boxes and Booze, and there’s no time to loaf(er) around. Fresh off the heels of the brass beer stein from Rocky Chiaro comes the next step in this series, surely a shoe-in for a favorite.

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Beer-Stein

“Beer, if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.” – Thomas Jefferson

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Feed the Monkey

“The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind.” – General Joseph Stilwell

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Hip Flask

Here’s a beautiful little object which falls into the category of “perfect boxes and booze” puzzle, since the puzzle itself reflects the theme of the blog.

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Lotus

The Lotus flower is an important symbol for many Eastern cultures and religions, representing the concepts of purity, enlightenment, regeneration and rebirth.

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Bloom-Box

“Ignorance is like a delicate fruit; touch it, and the bloom is gone.” – Oscar Wilde

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Brass Monkey

The burr, for the uninitiated, is an ancient mechanical puzzle likely dating back centuries. There is correlation with the classic six piece interlocked burr, a fusion of six sticks with internal notches that fit together in a specific way, and Chinese joinery techniques from the fourth century B.C.E.

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Popplock T9

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Rainer Popp’s fabulous T9 puzzle lock, regarded by many as one of his very best.

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Haleslock 5 (Firestarter)

Over the years Shane has created a number of devious and mysterious wooden puzzles, and more recently, a series of puzzle locks. He loves to restore old and vintage locks, and knows the fascinating history of his craft. It’s no wonder he comes up with such intriguing and clever mechanisms.

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HoKey CoKey Lock

The HoKey CoKey Lock was an exchange gift from Steve Nicholls at this year’s IPP. He famously made everyone who received a copy do the actual dance with him first. It was quite a sight.

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T-Cupe

Rocco Chiaro, best known as “Rocky”, is well known for his home made puzzles of solid brass which he hand mills in his Colorado workshop. His cleverly named interlocking puzzles, take apart bolts, and key puzzles each provide a new and unique challenge.

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Popplock T11

Rainer Popp is a German craftsman who has turned his passion for restoring and collecting vintage antique locks into his own brand of modern day puzzle locks. Because of his skill and creativity, many believe that he is the greatest puzzle lock maker living today.

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Angel Box

Inspiration can strike at any moment, and in the most unusual ways, if you let it. The international man of mystery and metal mayhem, the diabolical Dutch designer of devious delights, yes the one and only Wil Strijbos, knows how to let life inspire him.

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Butterfly Box (Pleasure and Pain)

Now for something pleasant. And painful. From the international man of mystery and mayhem, the Dutch devil of devious delights – that’s right, Wil Strijbos, the brilliant puzzle designer from the Netherlands – comes more mischievous merriment.

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Pachinko Box

Like pinball, with many tiny metal balls cascading their way down the playing field, pachinko is part arcade game, part casino game, and wildly popular in Japan.

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First Box

At last we get to the first. The First Box, by Dutch puzzle designer William Strijbos, that is. Wil’s Streetwise puzzle company produces beautiful anodized aluminum mechanical puzzles. He travels the world looking for design ideas and inspiration.

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Hales Lock 1

Shane Hales has a lock on some brilliant puzzle designs.

A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles