Manipulative or Mechanical Puzzles
Challenging fun for those who like a "hands-on" experience of manipulative or mechanical puzzles, including Burrs, interlocking block, wooden assembly, and wire disentanglement puzzles, three-dimensional puzzles, puzzle boxes, shape puzzles, abstract form puzzles and sculptured/fine art puzzles.
Rubik's Cube, a 3D puzzle invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, was awarded best game of the year in 1980. Over 350 million of these cubic conundrums have been sold as of January, 2009, making it the world's top selling puzzle game.
Sliding block puzzles, tangrams and other mechanical puzzles to give your brain a workout. Fun for all ages.
A selection of tavern puzzles for kids of all ages.
Cleverwood has a great selection of Puzzle Boxes and mechanical puzzles. They accept most major credit cards.
This company specializes in the production and sale of wire disentanglement puzzles. The goal is to separate two interlocked parts, most often a ring or a handle, from the main body of the puzzle.
A good source for 'manipulative' or mechanical puzzles including Burrs, interlocking block, wooden assembly, and wire disentanglement puzzles.
No puzzle directory would be complete without a listing for John Rausch's, 'Puzzle World'. Offers a wide assortment of puzzles and also has puzzles you can play online. Most of the puzzles presented are not mass-produced, but limited production puzzles designed and produced by craftsmen working primarily in wood.
To solve Tantrix puzzles you must re-arrange the tiles using your mouse. Your objective is to make a loop of one specific colour using all the tiles of the puzzle. Wherever tiles touch, the colours of connecting links must match and there must be no holes in the solution.
From the IBM research site. These puzzles consists of at least three rods intersecting each other at right angles. The site lets you explore six piece burrs. Select either from a list of a few precalculated burrs, or you can select six pieces of your own making and then have the possible solutions calculated for you.
