Boxes and Booze 6/17/23 Boxes and Booze 6/17/23

Simpleton

Simplicity of design and elegance in motion can make for historically great inventions or products throughout history. The same can be said for puzzles.

Boxes and Booze 1/14/23 Boxes and Booze 1/14/23

Reindeer Games

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Boxes and Booze 8/13/22 Boxes and Booze 8/13/22

Cheap Goods

“The North American word schlock”, according to Vocabulary.com, “comes from the Yiddish word shlak, … "junk," or from the German Schlacke, "dregs," "slag," or "refuse."” It’s crap.

Boxes and Booze 1/22/22 Boxes and Booze 1/22/22

Box of the Celts

How do you fit all the “Gauls, Celtiberians, Gallaecians, Galatians, Britons, Gaels and their offshoots” (Wikipedia) into a little box? That stunt would take some gall, I imagine.

Boxes and Booze 10/17/20 Boxes and Booze 10/17/20

Champion

I’m unlocking a new edition of “Locks and Libations” this week to feature another fantastic creation from magician and inventor Eric Stevens. Let’s look at another one of his unusual, innovative and original ideas – a puzzle lock made entirely from playing cards.

Boxes and Booze 8/25/18 Boxes and Booze 8/25/18

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.

Boxes and Booze 4/28/18 Boxes and Booze 4/28/18

B-Lock

Locks appear to run in this family, and it should come as no surprise that the debut from Dan’s son Boaz is a brilliant puzzle as well. Growing up in a house full of puzzles must have had something to do with it.

Boxes and Booze 4/7/18 Boxes and Booze 4/7/18

Haleslock 4

I’ve extolled Shane’s virtues as a brilliant carpenter and locksmith before, but he has some newly acquired credentials as well now. He recently joined the ranks of the prestigious U.K. Master Locksmith Association, and has started his own locksmithing business.

Boxes and Booze 11/19/16 Boxes and Booze 11/19/16

Haleslock 2

The Haleslock 2 presents a striking contrast to its predecessor. The first lock was created from a standard solid brass ABUS padlock and had a single key attached to the shackle by a tamper proof ring.

Boxes and Booze 4/16/16 Boxes and Booze 4/16/16

Hales Lock 1

Shane Hales has a lock on some brilliant puzzle designs.

A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles