Chinese Puzzle Rings

[Cheops]

Greetings, puzzle friends !

Also known as Meleda - or in Chinese translation as 'Ryou-Kaik-Tiyo' - the "delay guest instrument", the Chinese Puzzle Rings is one of the oldest mechanical puzzles in existence. Its beginnings are still unknown.

Originally used by French peasants to lock chests, it was called 'Baguenaudier' - which means 'time-waster' in French.

All over the web, and throughout the ages, it has been called by a wide variety of names, such as:

* The Devil's Needle Puzzle
* Iron Irritation
* Computer Loops
* K'niblin Pins
* Indian Rings
* Catacombs
* Brain Game
* Dragon Lock
* Prisoner's Lock
* Gangnails

Well, enter the modern version :

Chinese Puzzle Rings with the
SPIRAL--FLEX handle.

You can see it for yourself here, as well as perusing its entire History through the ages :
http://home.comcast.net/~l-whiting/attbi/CPR.html

You can purchase one here:
http://puzzlegrail.homestead.com/

Thank You for your time and consideration

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[Roby]

It looks like quite an interesting puzzle that could also double for a medeival torture device that could beat eggs for breakfast.  Whomever designed it is an evil genius.   

[LEAP]

I've had the TavernPuzzle version of that for years and everytime I pick it up I have to figure it out all over again.

[bkuehner]

I like these also. I made a small one out of jewelry findings (headpins, jumprings, etc.), which turned out surprisingly workable (see attached).
And Wei Zhang has one a little bit bigger:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_f-3ryVE9WuE/SI1zB5K6MxI/AAAAAAAAEH0/0kCLVCL7GIU/s320/WP.9Rings.20040325.3small.jpg

Brett


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[Canuck]

Very cool Brett

Yikes...Wei Zhang, must really like them to make one that big