Over the past 20 years we've been designing and manufacturing puzzles. This page is for the interest of collectors. It has historical records of puzzles that were previously made and since sold out. Before it's all forgotten with time we thought we would get some facts and figures on paper instead of being in a little green folder floating around Brian's woodworking shed.
There were 150 of these puzzles made. 91 were given at the Puzzle Exchange. Unfortunately all of these puzzles have been sold and will not be made again.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Helsinki, Finland, August 2005 Presented by Frans de Vreugd. Made by Brian Young. Designed by Frans de Vreugd.
DIFFICULTY RATING 7
The object of the puzzle is assemble the six plated end pieces (shaped like "L") into the six piece burr.
Puzzle pieces made from Queensland Silver Ash with Queensland Blackbean ends. Size: 80mm x 80mm x 80mm (pieces made from 20mm x 20mm stock)
We will no longer be making this puzzle although we do have a small number of standard range available. Once sold they will also be discontinued.
The object of the puzzle is find the T inside the Boston Tea Chest.
The differences between this puzzle and the Standard Range (click here) version which was the Exchange Puzzle presented at IPP26 in August 2006 are: - The puzzle is crafted from exotic Australian hardwoods. - The locking mechanism is much more complex and therefore more difficult in this version.
19 directional moves to remove the first piece from an 18 piece burr!
In 1953 Willem L van der Poel, a leading Dutch computer scientist, set out to design a puzzle with as many interlocking pieces as possible and came up with an 18 piece burr that took 4 moves to get the second last piece in and 3 more for the last piece. In 1997 Mr Puzzle changed the burr to create a puzzle with 5 moves to get the last piece in. In 1999 he came up with this version which takes 19 moves to get the first piece out! And it doesn't finish there.... After you get the first piece out there is still 5 more moves to get the second piece out, you will then be able to easily remove the next two pieces, but watch out for the 5th. HINT... Beware when trying to remove the 5th piece - it will take you a further 9 moves - and remember no force or rotational moves are necessary to solve this puzzle. Yes, it's so difficult you now get the puzzle assembled.
This puzzle was designed by Brian (alias Mr Puzzle) without the use of a computer.
It was however analysed using a computer program by Andreas Roever (see the end of this detail page) and he found and even more difficult assembly of the puzzle, being a level 14.10.3.2.5.11.10. That makes 65 moves for complete disassembly.
REMEMBER - As well as a presentation card we provide a separate sheet showing a clearly and professionally printed solution with both graphics and text is packaged with every puzzle. Will this puzzle prove to be your "coming of age" as a puzzler?
Packaged ASSEMBLED - Yes, we feel this puzzle is so difficult that even getting it apart will prove very difficult!
Size 120mm x 120mm x 120mm (each piece 120mm x 30mm x 30mm)
Click here to see the Coming of Age MkII as it's coming apart (puzzle shown in photo is Craftsman Range puzzle not Standard Range puzzle). Click here to see a video clip of Brian putting the Coming of Age MkII together. Puzzle shown is Craftsman Range. Check out these different solutions to the Coming of Age MkII on YouTube; thanks to Barry. Level 14.10.7.3.5.12.10 assembly. Level 16.3.1.1.3.4.1.1.2 assembly.
Analysis completed by Andreas Roever using his BurrTools program. The lastest version 0.5.0 can be downloaded from: http://burrtools.sourceforge.net/ Statistics: - highest first level is 19. There are 2 such solutions which are very similar to one another. Both solutions take 46 moves to completely disassemble. - other high level solutions exist with primary level 16, level 14.10, ... - the most interesting solutions in my eyes are 2 solutions with level 14.10.3.2.5.11.10. That makes 65 moves for complete disassembly, which is more than required for Burrloon. Burrloon requires only 64 moves with its level 33.8.something solution. - the analysis took 1214463 seconds, which is 14.06 days of continuous calculation time - the analysis found 880338023 assemblies - that is an average of 725 assemblies per second that needed to be analyzed - 7621 of those are actually assembable, that is less than 1/115000th of all assemblies (so if you found an assembly it is probably not assembable)
19 directional moves to remove the first piece from an 18 piece burr!
This puzzle was designed by Brian (alias Mr Puzzle) without the use of a computer. It was however analysed using a computer program by Andreas Roever (see the end of this detail page) and he found an even more difficult assembly of the puzzle, being a level 14.10.3.2.5.11.10. That makes 65 moves for complete disassembly.
Click here to see the Coming of Age MkII as it's coming apart (puzzle shown in photo is Craftsman Range puzzle not Standard Range puzzle). Click here to see a video clip of Brian putting the Coming of Age MkII together. Puzzle shown is Craftsman Range. Check out these different solutions to the Coming of Age MkII on YouTube; thanks to Barry. Level 14.10.7.3.5.12.10 assembly. Level 16.3.1.1.3.4.1.1.2 assembly.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - San Francisco, USA, August 2009 Presented by Frans de Vreugd. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Jack Krijnen in 2008.
Jack Krijnen has invented a number of different 18 piece burrs in the past few years but this one stood out from the others. The puzzle has 29467 possible assemblies.
To assemble the puzzle in this symmetrical colour combination the puzzle has a unique solution. This solution is a level 62 disassembly; this means that it will take a minimum of 62 moves in exactly the correct order to remove just the first piece. The puzzle requires a total of 105 moves to remove all pieces and take it completely apart. The number of moves to remove each piece in order is first piece - 62 next piece - 4 next peice, then 21 next piece 1 and so on - 2.2.1.1.1.2.2.2.1.1.1.2.
We cannot stress enough how hard this puzzle really is - that's 105 moves in exactly the right order as a computer would solve it and along the way you will find that there are many, many moves you can make which will lead you in completely the wrong directiion.
In almost 20 years of manufacturing puzzles for a living Brian says that Condor's Peeper is up there as one of the hardest puzzles he has ever had to assemble. The only one that he remembers being harder is Puzzlers Cage http://www.mrpuzzle.com.au/category103_1.htm which he made as a Limited Edition in 2002. At least he only had to make and put together 24 of those!
The object of the puzzle is to disassemble the thirty pieces and reassemble into this attractive collection of stellated rhombic dodecahedrons. There are 288 saw cuts in this puzzle.
The puzzle is made from different shades of Red Silky Oak, a native Australian wood.
There is an interesting sequence of 13 forward and backward moves required to disassemble this puzzle... Yes, that’s 13 moves to get the first piece out and that’s not the trickiest part of the puzzle.
Once completely apart, there are 5485 false solutions (in other words, false assemblies), meaning the puzzle looks like it should go together but you can’t get the last piece in. Only the specific sequence of 13 moves will allow you to insert the last piece and solve this puzzle.
This puzzle is made under license to Goh Pit Khiam. Goh Pit Khiam invented this twelve piece puzzle in December 1999 without the use of a computer. We’ve given the puzzle a rating 9 out of 10 because it’s sold assembled. To solve the puzzle from a disassembled state without clues it could definitely be worthy of a rating 10!
Click here to see the Decemburr in Jarrah as it's coming apart.
There is an interesting sequence of 13 forward and backward moves required to disassemble this puzzle... Yes, that’s 13 moves to get the first piece out and that’s not the trickiest part of the puzzle.
Once completely apart, there are 5485 false solutions (in other words, false assemblies), meaning the puzzle looks like it should go together but you can’t get the last piece in. Only the specific sequence of 13 moves will allow you to insert the last piece and solve this puzzle.
This puzzle is made under license to Goh Pit Khiam. Goh Pit Khiam invented this twelve piece puzzle in December 1999 without the use of a computer. We’ve given the puzzle a rating 9 out of 10 because it’s sold assembled. To solve the puzzle from a disassembled state without clues it could definitely be worthy of a rating 10!
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - Osaka, Japan July 2010 Presented by Brian Young. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Brian Young.
The object of the puzzle is to get Mt Fuji to blow it's top and find the Buddha of All-Illuminating Wisdom, the Dainichi Nyorai.
DIFFICULTY RATING 7 The puzzle is to build a solid cube from the eight pieces.
Rick Eason invented this puzzle and presented it as his Exchange Puzzle at IPP24 in Tokyo in 2004 and it is with his kind permission that we make this puzzle.
All eight pieces of the puzzle are different which increases the degree of difficulty of the puzzle. There are four possible solutions but three of them are false solutions. A false solution is when all the pieces look like they will fit together, but there is no order of assembly that allows the puzzle to go together completely.
To achieve the only possible correct solution you must find the unique combination of dovetails and grooves, and the correct order to assemble them, that allows the pieces to fit together to form the solid cube.
Packaged Disassembled for extra puzzling enjoyment. Size: Each cube 30mm x 30mm x 30mm. Final puzzle 60mm x 60mm x 60mm.
This puzzle available in our Craftsman Range made from Burdekin Plum. Click here for details.
The object of the puzzle is to free Houdini from The Torture Cell. To do that you'll have to discover the tools and work out how to use them.
The idea for Houdini's Torture Cell came from one of the locks in the incredibly complex The Opening Bat puzzle (part of Limited Edition 2010 series http://www.mrpuzzle.com.au/category86_1.htm).
Brian felt the idea was unique and very satisfying to solve so he revisited the idea and changed it to present in a way that would suit IPP; this way it's available for lots more people to experience a great 'Ah Ha' moment.
The puzzle has been presented in such a way that most elements of the puzzle are visible to you. The puzzle is to then work out how to use them to solve it. After discovering these tools you can literally sit and think about the solution without even touching the puzzle.
Another feature that Brian builds into these types of sequential discovery puzzles is to give you something to find almost immediately; better to maintain interest in the puzzle. You'll find that with this puzzle too.
There were 340 of these puzzles made. 98 were given at the Puzzle Exchange. Unfortunately all of these puzzles have been sold and will not be made again.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Antwerpen, Belgium, August 2002 Presented by Brian Young. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Brian Young.
lateral thinking n. Method of solving problems other than by conventional logic.
Use all seven pieces to make the letter L Use all seven pieces to make the letter T The real challenge is to use all seven pieces to make the letters L and T at the same time. Note: the dimensions of the vertical and horizontal strokes in the letters L and T are in all cases exactly equal and symetrical. An added challenge may then be to get the puzzle back into the tray.
AUSTRALIAN DESIGN REGISTRATION APPLICATION No.1542/2002
Puzzle made from Queensland Silky Oak (also known as Lacewood outside Australia click here to read more)
The object is to be able to slide the large black block to the opening....
BUT - nothing is to slide through the opening except the large black block. CLUES - place the black blocks on the marked positions; place all other blocks inside the frame with all other rectangular blocks vertical.
This puzzle presents four different challenges: Challenge 1 - Pack all 8 blocks under the closed lid. 30 possible solutions. Challenge 2 - Make room for all 8 blocks and the gold rod under the closed lid (not in it’s packing position). 4 solutions. Challenge 3 - Make Room for all 8 blocks and the key (dowel) under the closed lid. Unique solution. Challenge 4 - Can you remember how the puzzle came packaged with the key in the lid? 3 solutions.
In 1997 Stewart Coffin originally designed Make Room and allocated it #127 in his numbering system although only one of these puzzles was made. At IPP21 in Tokyo in 2001 a larger version of the puzzle #127-A was given by Jerry Slocum as his exchange gift. That version had 14 separate solutions to fit just nine pieces in the box.
Brian had never made a packing puzzle before.... That all changed after IPP21 when he found himself playing with Jerry's exchange puzzle for many, many hours. He then got interested in redesigning the puzzle to include a challenge with a unique solution.The puzzle is made with the kind permission of Stewart Coffin.
Click here to see the legend of the different timbers used in this puzzle. Click here to see a photo of the pieces inside the box. Click here to view this original design by Stewart Coffin.
The puzzle is to stack the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos & Aramis, joined by d'Artagnan so they are self supporting in the frame; ie: no loose parts. You must be able to pickup the frame without touching the Musketeers, so that the Musketeers do not fall out. Judged in the TOP 10 at THE 2010 Nob Yoshigahara International Puzzle Design Competition. This puzzle is not one of Mr Puzzle's Limited Edition however at this stage we only have permission to make 30 puzzles.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - Osaka, Japan July 2010 Presented by Pantazis Houlis. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Arcady Dyskin & Pantazis Houlis.
The puzzle is to stack the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos & Aramis, joined by d'Artagnan so they are self supporting in the frame; ie: no loose parts. You must be able to pickup the frame without touching the Musketeers, so that the Musketeers do not fall out.
In addition to fitting the pieces back into the rectangular frame there are 100 other shapes on the accompanying sheet to make with them.
Click here to view the sheet with 100 shapes you can make with these pieces. It is supplied with the puzzle. Click here for more information about Richter Anchor Stone Building Sets.
The puzzle is to assemble the 31 blocks into the planet Saturn with it’s ring.
The puzzle is similar in concept to the Rubik’s Snake but it’s been connected into a complete ring.The puzzle also has a combination of right angled pieces and some straight through pieces to make it more challenging.
What a great Christmas present to commemorate the release of the Huygens probe from Cassini on Christmas Day 2004.
Click here to go to the NASA Home page of the Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn
The blocks are strung on a closed ring of strong elastic cord so it’s difficult for you to find where the puzzle starts and ends. The puzzle was designed by and is exclusive to Mr Puzzle.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Gold Coast, Australia, August 2007 Presented by Patrick Major. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Brian Young.
The simplest maze in the world, or is it? Simply get the ball bearing from START to FINISH.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - San Francisco, USA, August 2009 Presented by Grant Smith. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Grant Smith & Brian Young.
Like most interlocking burr puzzles the T Burr puzzle should be more difficult to assemble once apart. However, the T Burr has a unique set of moves to take this puzzle apart so we decided to sell it assembled and give the puzzler the very interesting challenge of disassembling it.
This multi-level six piece burr is quite unusual in its disassembly because it is not always just a single piece that moves at each level. The minimum number of moves to remove the first piece is four.
Grant had the idea to design a burr that looked like a letter T on each end. He and Brian then collaborated to refine the basic shape to include more complexity in the actual assembly of the burr.
The first puzzle is to open the telephone box to allow you to have fun with the packing puzzle inside; its a sequential discovery puzzle in it's own right.
To open the telephone box you will need to solve a series of puzzle locks; three locks in all and each has a number of steps to it. To do this you need to find the required tools, and work out how to use them, to open the door.
The three dimensional packing puzzle inside has 12 pieces that spell the words TELEPHONE box. Its a difficult puzzle with a unique solution.
The box is a replica of a full size 1950's Queensland PMG telephone box. We have one here at home which Brian has restored. For the IPP27 Giant Puzzle day pieces have been made from cardboard to make this same packing puzzle inside the real telephone box.
It's not just an ordinary puzzle box. Apart from the sequential discovery puzzling aspect and the use of ten different exotic Australian woods, this piece is a sculpture to be displayed as a piece of art in it's own right.
The dimensions are 115mm x 115mm x 225mm tall. The telephone box is made from Sycamore wood. The letters of the telephone box are made from other exotic Australian timbers: T Blush Alder E Grey Gum L Queensland Blackbean E Grey Gum P Red Oak H Brown Quondong O Saffron Heart N Flooded Gum E Grey Gum b Red Oak o Black Wattle x Blackbutt
A sneak peak into the open box; we don't want to give too much away.
There were 580 of these puzzles made. 84 were given at the Puzzle Exchange. Unfortunately all of these puzzles have been sold and will not be made again.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Los Angeles USA, August 2000 Presented by Brian Young.
The puzzle is to assemble the six pieces into this unique shape.
This burr has a locking mechanism unlike any other that we know of. It was designed in 1999 by Brian and is covered by Australian Design Registration No 142132. This puzzle is EXCLUSIVE to Mr Puzzle Australia.
The puzzle is to assemble the six pieces into this unique shape.
This burr has a locking mechanism unlike any other that we know of. It was designed in 1999 by Brian and is covered by Australian Design Registration No 142132. This puzzle is EXCLUSIVE to Mr Puzzle Australia.
A unique framed burr design invented by and exclusive to MR PUZZLE.
The puzzle is to take The Collective apart. Unlike normal framed burrs the five piece burr encased in the twenty-four piece frame work as one in this puzzle. After you get the puzzle apart will you be able to assimilate the pieces again into one unit?
The 5 piece burr at the centre of the puzzle is crafted from Queensland Silver Ash. The frame consists of 24 individual interlocked pieces and is available from Queensland Blackbean (option 2. Western Australian Jarrah is sold out)
8 hexagonal sticks & 8 dowels. Two stick-dowel pairs joined to form two different elbows. Another two joined to form two different cross pieces. 12 pieces in total.
4 hexagonal sticks & 4 dowels. One stick-dowel pair joined to form an elbow. Another joined to form a cross piece. 6 pieces in total. Commenting on the change from the original design that had all separate pieces Stewart’s words are “this makes the puzzle rather more interesting”.
12 hexagonal sticks & 12 dowels. Six stick-dowel pairs joined to form six elbows. 18 pieces in total. Aka “The Monster”. The more elbows the harder the puzzle.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Tokyo, JAPAN, August 2004 Presented by Brian Young. Another completely new design by Brian Young. Entrant IPP Design Competition 2004
The puzzle is to separate the two nails. The concept for this original design was found by accident during the manufacture of our TWISTED puzzle. The only similarity with the old nails puzzles is it's simplicity and the fact that once you pick it up you can't put it down until you've solved it.
12 hexagonal sticks & 12 dowels. Three stick-dowel pairs joined to form 3 elbows. Another six joined to form 6 cross pieces. 3 single hex sticks and single dowel pieces. 15 pieces in total. Assemble the pieces to form a symmetrical spherical shape.
Mr Puzzle - We've got puzzles! 
Over the past 20 years we've been designing and manufacturing puzzles. This page is for the interest of collectors. It has historical records of puzzles that were previously made and since sold out. Before it's all forgotten with time we thought we would get some facts and figures on paper instead of being in a little green folder floating around Brian's woodworking shed.
