Ferris Box

Wheels in Motion: Apothecary Part III

Moving along the bottom row of the Apothecary Chest (introduced in Part I) we come next to one of the more distinct and recognizable “drawers” in the chest, Peter Wiltshire’s “Ferris Box”.  Distinct because unlike most of the drawers, the external face is quite unique.  Once you remove the box, or if you have seen it before, you notice that all six sides of the cube are the same.  Actually that is not entirely true if you are holding one of the original puzzles from the Apothecary Chest – on those, there is an additional panel which Robert Yarger fashioned to hold the box inside the chest.  This comes off easily enough and the true puzzle begins.  The box is a framed cube, with a contrasting maple exterior and a patterned walnut interior which is sectioned into nine small squares on each face.  The box holds a secret, given away slightly by its name, which will put a smile on your face.  The movement is unique and surprising.  So much so, and with such a clever and satisfying solution, that the puzzle box won the Jury First Prize in the 2012 International Puzzle Design Competition.   Peter is a cinematographer, and clearly likes the motion in motion-picture.  This is one movie I’d watch over and over.

Ferris Box by Peter Wiltshire

I’m toasting Peter Wilthshire’s fine box with another tribute to the fantastical flight of fancy which first debuted at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (“World’s Columbian Exposition”).  The 264 foot high structure of spokes invented by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. resembled a giant bicycle wheel and represented a technological marvel of the time which had fair goers dizzy with excitement. The Ferris Wheel cocktail from San Francisco mixologist Summer-Jane Bell might also make your head spin.  Featuring sweet pear liqueur and the French aperitif Suze, it is finished off with a wheat style beer.  I swapped the wheat beer for a grapefruit style radler from Texas’s Shiner brewery, which did not disappoint. This spin on a beer cocktail goes perfectly with the Ferris Box and is an equally giddy experience.

Ferris Wheel by Summer-Jane Bell

1 ½ oz William’s Pear Liqueur

½ oz Suze or similar gentian aperitif

½ oz lemon juice

1 ½ oz soda water

1 ½ oz German Weisse style beer (I used Shiner’s Ruby Redbird)

Shake all but the beer together with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Top with the beer and set the wheels in motion.

This pair will make your head spin