Allen Rolfs – JL Puzzles http://mechanical-puzzles.com Mechanical Puzzles, Brain Teasers & Games Fri, 25 May 2018 03:05:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1 http://mechanical-puzzles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cropped-JL-Logo-2-32x32.jpg Allen Rolfs – JL Puzzles http://mechanical-puzzles.com 32 32 Adam & Eve http://mechanical-puzzles.com/adam-eve/ http://mechanical-puzzles.com/adam-eve/#comments Fri, 25 May 2018 03:05:03 +0000 http://mechanical-puzzles.com/?p=1527 I normally don’t quite fancy disentanglement  puzzles. But once in a while along comes something that looks to be quite manageable without all that twisting ropes and such and I will give one a try.

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]]> I normally don’t quite fancy disentanglement  puzzles. But once in a while along comes something that looks to be quite manageable without all that twisting ropes and such and I will give one a try. The Adam & Eve puzzle, with such a name, now who can avoid being curious just what sort of puzzle this is, is one such puzzle?

Adam & Even Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 in Paris
Roxanne & George Miller with me. Yes, both wore virtually nothing behind the aprons

This rather unusual disentanglement puzzle came to me courtesy of Roxanne Miller during the IPP37 Puzzle Exchange.  For those who attended IPP last year and did an exchange with Roxanne, you will have realised that there is a certain sort of theme going on. Planned by Roxanne (and George Miller) of course. This theme runs through the outfits (or lack thereof) which Roxanne and George wore during the Exchange, right through to the puzzle itself and its packaging.  Rather devilish you might say!

The Adam & Eve puzzle comes very nicely packaged in a red triangular ribboned box  stickered with all the information relating to the puzzle. Inside is the puzzle itself, consisting of Adam and Eve, locked together and made of thick square cross sectioned brass. Very well made I must say with nice attention to detail. It was even got some metal ring obstructions and a small bright red apple, which does serve a purpose as we shall see,  to complete the “fall of mankind” theme. 

Adam & Eve Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 Paris, designed by Allen Rolfs, George Miller & Tom Sun

Adam & Eve Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 Paris, designed by Allen Rolfs, George Miller & Tom Sun

Where’s the serpent?

The object of Adam & Eve is to “get the heads of Adam and Eve together”. At the starting position, Adam & Eve are joined somewhere around the lower limbs. The trick is to be able to navigate the two parts around and “along” each other to the final position as shown. It might have been relatively easy if the two circular metal rings and the red apple on the chain had not been present. The way the metal part have been bent and cut also causes some restrictions of movement.

I spent a while experimenting how the two figures interacted with each other, how to move Adam and Eve and so on. Not easy but later I figured out that I had to “dump” the apple to progress. It looks impossible to do so but like all good disentanglement puzzles, there is way of solving which is not obvious. Eventually with further trial and error, I got the two heads to lock together.

Adam & Eve Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 Paris, designed by Allen Rolfs, George Miller & Tom Sun

If I can solve this one without help, I would imagine that wire and disentanglement enthusiasts would not have a problem with this one. Its challenging no doubt but not frustratingly difficult at least IMHO. It will not get you into knots which you can’t extricate yourself, unlike some types of really complicated wire and rope puzzles. If that really happens, you can always dismantle the chain holding the apple. The Adam & Eve is one of those puzzles with just the right level of difficulty for an Exchange Puzzle. And did I mention that it was pretty fun to play with too? Nice design theme and concept, great to look at and a must-have for collectors.

Adam & Eve Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 Paris, designed by Allen Rolfs, George Miller & Tom Sun

Adam & Eve Puzzle exchanged by Roxanne Wong at IPP37 Paris, designed by Allen Rolfs, George Miller & Tom Sun

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