Description
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. One feature that Brian builds into many of 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. Yes, there are lots of magnets in the puzzle but no “hitting” or “banging” is necessary to solve it. There is a tool to discover for every aspect of the solve.
The idea for Houdini’s Torture Cell came from one of the locks in the incredibly complex The Opening Bat puzzle (part of the Sold Out Limited Edition 2010 series). Brian felt the idea was unique and very satisfying to solve so he revisited the idea and made a separate puzzle. Unlike The Opening Bat where the puzzle was completely hidden inside, this 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 those tools to solve it. You can literally sit and think about the solution without even touching the puzzle.
The theme of the puzzle celebrates Harry Houdini’s first public performance of The Torture Cell at the Circus Busch in Berlin on 12th September 1912. The original wooden version of Houdini’s Torture Cell was made for 2011 International Puzzle Party which was held in Berlin. That wooden version has been sold out for many years and thus become quite collectible, usually only available at specialist auctions for quite high prices. This is an accurate factory-produced version of that same puzzle.
Brian has supervised the manufacture in China from standard brass and acrylic stock and we’ve tried to realistically represent the quality in the photo. It’s not intended to be a high-end high-quality limited-availability puzzle. There are draw marks in the brass and occasionally there might be a small hairline crack in the acrylic behind the rivet where they’ve been hand-assembled. We’ve inspected every puzzle here in Australia to ensure what we’re sending out is reasonable.
Brian is well-known for bringing very high-quality puzzles to market. But to be able to bring Houdini to puzzlers everywhere we have this time focused purely on the puzzling aspect rather than creating a finely crafted expensive puzzle. Enjoy the ‘Ah Ha’ moment.
WINNER: One of two Jury First Prizes given in the Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition 2012 at IPP in Washington, USA in 2012.
Peter Hajek also considered the mechanism worthy of mentioning in his new book “Enter If You Can”. Published in 2021 this is a comprehensive look at secret opening puzzle boxes and puzzle locks throughout history up to the present day. A must-read!
Size of puzzle: 80mm high and the hex nut at the bottom is 35mm across the diagonal.
Packaged in a plain white box with enclosed step by step solution sheet developed by Mr Puzzle.
Link to: Mr Puzzle’s original archive blog about the original Houdini’s Torture Cell
Link to: Chris Ramsey’s YouTube presentation of the solution for Houdini’s Torture Cell. This is a *SPOILER* so please do not click this link if you do not want to see the solution.
Michael Texler (verified owner) –
The first step is easy, and most people work it out.
Getting Houdini out relies on more thought and this stumps the casual player.
This puzzle relies upon the forces of gravity and magnetism (no surprises here because magnets are mentioned in the description).
To reset the puzzle is very easy.
Enjoy!
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Admin Sue Young (verified owner) –
This Review emailed to Mr Puzzle by a customer:
A very intriguing puzzle that had me baffled for some time until I finally clicked & realized what needed to be done.
Had a few ‘aha’ moments along the way & when I finally solved it I had a great beaming smile of satisfaction on my face.
What a nice little puzzle.
There’s also a dead-end in this as well to baffle you a bit more.
The only thing I will add is the way i solved it right at the end was not the exact intended way but it worked none-the-less.
The ‘real’ solution ( at the end) is very elegant & smooth.
My solution (at the end) was . . . . . er, ahm, errrr . . . . whatever the opposite of “very elegant & smooth” is.
Great advanced beginner to intermediate puzzle & at $36.00 it really is a no-brainer . . . . Just get it !
You wont regret it.
Really!
Kudos to Mr Puzzle for the very quick send & excellent service. Will certainly do business again.
Thanks guys
Cheers from Melbourne
Paul
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Peter Todd (verified owner) –
Oh the misdirection is wonderful.
I laughed when I tried the simplest and most logical of solutions… and it worked.
Brilliantly deceptive
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