Books

Jerry Slocum and Dic Sonneveld

This book contains the definitive, illustrated history of one of the most popular and important mechanical puzzles of all time. It can be argued that the Fifteen Puzzle in 1880 had the greatest impact on American and European society of any mechanical puzzle the world has ever known.

- The true story of the puzzle is told here for the first time

- The REAL inventor and his patent application records were found

- The story of how the puzzle came to be manufactured

- Proof that the 15 puzzles is mathematically impossible to solve.

- How a young New Yorker solved it.

- The worldwide puzzle craze that it created.

"This is a book that everyone interedted in puzzles will enjoy." - Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, New York Times.

"This is a monumental work which resolves one of the great historical puzzles of puzzledom" - David Singmaster, Professor of mathematics and Metagrobologist

"The research done by the two authors is awesome. It is a book hard to put down." - Martin Gardner

Hardback - 144 pages in full colour.

A fantastic history of the Tangram puzzle, with over 2000 puzzles to solve.

Jerry Slocum and his team has researched the puzzle and give the definitive history of this wonderful puzzle.

by Major Percy MacMahon

MacMahon set out to demonstrate the principles by which an interested reader, with some work and thought, could create his or her own amusements. It also contained a completely original approach to visual puzzles, where edge matching could be forced by altering the profiles of the edges. The results of these transformations are remarkably similar to work produced by Maurits Escher, and predate him by a decade and a half.

Sliceform modelling is a technique which lies happily on the borders between art and mathematics. The models are made from intersecting sets of parallel planes which slot together in a clever way to generate interesting three-dimensional surfaces. In the 'fully open' position the planes are at right angles and the surfaces are correctly defined, but all the models fold flat in two different ways, making them easy to store until they are wanted next time. When 'popped up', the play of light and shade on the planes creates objects of great beauty. The book includes a varied collection of eight models to cut out and make and a detailed explanation of how to generate the slices for models of your own.

Turned Puzzles and Boxes Featuring Chased Threads

John Berkeley

Expert box and puzzle turner John Berkeley provides in-depth instructions for 20 intriguing puzzle projects. Includes chapters on tools, methods and safety, woods used for puzzles and hand thread chasing, and a list of suppliers. This book will appeal to woodturners and puzzlers everywhere looking for interesting and intriguing gifts, or marketable ideas for crafts fairs, small businesses, etc.

46 Puzzles & Other Novelties to Make & Solve

E M Wyatt

A reprint of this delightful puzzle book for all woodworkers to enjoy. It shows how to make wooden interlocking puzzles, like the eighteen-piece double cross, and novelties such as the coin trick and dominoes. Guaranteed to test your accuracy and your patience!

E M Wyatt

Reprinted from the 50's, this book will keep wood workers amused for hours. Includes many pieces, from a double lock dovetail joint to a secret lock tool box.

12 puzzles, new and historic, 4 different basic types are described in this guide, along with the tools and techniques needed to make them, with expert advice on the woods, glues and finishes to give best results.

Metamorphs are curious and interesting paper models which will transform step by step through a sequence of different shapes before finally returning to their original starting positions. There are ten colourful two and three-dimensional models to cut out and make and also an informative text which discusses and explains the principles by which they have been designed.

This 169 Page book contains details on 40 3x3x3 cubes, 81 4x4x4 cubes, 16 5x5x5 cubes, and 20 6x6x6 cubes along with a list of puzzle designers/bibliography and a revised version of the 1996 handbook. A must for any serious puzzle collector. Available exclusively online through PottyPuzzles!

A sample page can be seen by clicking on the image of the book

A 'Must Have' book for puzzle collectors. Details of all the major puzzle types are given with history and details of designers. 150+ pages with loads of pictures/diagrams. Softback Edition

All the colourful models in this collection, when cut out and glued together have curious and interesting properties. Some rotate, some fold and unfold, some twist and others fit together in unexpected ways. All illustrate mathematical ideas in an amusing and interesting fashion. Also included is a minibook which gives background information and further ideas.

A second book with more interesting mathematical ideas.

Flexagons are made by folding paper in certain ways and when they are flexed, turned and unfolded in different ways, they show puzzling and curious effects. Some of this extensive collection are in the form of puzzles to be solved, others have rather mysterious properties.