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lockedroomguy New user New York, NY 65 Posts |
I'm sure most people here are familiar with this puzzle, a nice variant of the redistribution puzzle. (If not, you can Google "vanishing leprechaun" in quotation marks and get the idea, or you can just look here: http://www.roadshow.org/activities/explanation.html
As I understand it, this version was designed by Pat Lyons (also the illustrator for Ibidem among other things) and a quality wooden puzzle was built by the W.A. Elliot company in Toronto in 1968. Gardner referred to it somewhere, and one of the Elliot puzzles is (or at least was) in the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto. I think David Ben at one time held the rights to the puzzle, and may still hold them for all I know. I once made the mistake of buying a cheap knockoff at Tannen's in Manhattan - it's on cardboard and someone has painted colors over the top of the leprechauns to turn them into clowns - they didn't even bother redrawing the puzzle, just drew over the original and turned it into clowns. I imagine they were trying to avoid a copyright issue, but don't know that for sure. I have always regretted paying for something that was (possibly) a ripoff, but I didn't realize till later what it was. Anyway, my question is, does anyone know where I can get one of the original Lyons/Elliott puzzles? I'm looking for one of the wooden versions. I have done web searches and I'm watching eBay as well - I just thought someone in this group might know some offline sources. As I write this it strikes me that I could try reaching David Ben, but I'll still try here first... Regards |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
I once saw a motorized version of this puzzle on the wall of a science museum somewhere here in the states, but I can't remember where. Maybe the Exploratorium in San Francisco?
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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The Bonnie Kids Loyal user Sweden (Västerås) 267 Posts |
I saw it when I was kid, I din't know it was famous, and it was in wood. But I think there were some rabbits on it... another rip-off?
By the way, I like it very much and would like to print it on the rear of my visit cards (or better actually, I want to make some post cards out of it that I can give out to mi kids). I wonder if it is fair (or ethical) but I will post this in the correct place.. Thanks for the tips lockedroomguy! //Andrea |
Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
On this page with the Vanishing Bavarians knock-off, they acknowledge the original, they mention, "Alas, Tannen's said that the folks in Canada who owned the copyright had died and no more Vanishing Leprechauns were being made."
At the Archimedes' Laboratory store, they have several original types of this illusion available. |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Thanks folks, I believe Mel Stover was at the Ibidem get together in 1980. Wonderful to hear his work is remembered and enjoyed.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
If I remember correctly, wasn't there also a circular version called something like Get Off the World by Sam Lloyd?
Jack Shalom
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
Nir Dahan Inner circle Munich, Germany 1390 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-28 20:03, landmark wrote: Jack, get off the earth is really amazing. I think the illusion there is stronger than the "linear" version IMHO Nir ----------------------------- visit me at http://www.bidthegrid.com |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
I believe one of Martin Gardner's books discusses several versions of this puzzle. I'll look it up when I get home.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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idris New user St. Louis, MO 38 Posts |
There is a mechanical version at The Safe House in Milwaukee, WI. It is mounted on the wall, with a button patrons can push to swap the pieces. I don't remember if it uses Leprechauns or some other image.
Jerry
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
THAT'S where I've seen it - the Safe House! One of my favorite places in Wisconsin, by the way.
Gardner covers it in Chapter 7 in 'Mathematics Magic & Mystery'. He starts with 'The Line Paradox' and 'Sam Loyd's Flag Puzzle', then moves into Leprechaun-style vanishing puzzles. He mentions 'The Vanishing Face', 'Get Off the Earth', 'DeLand's Paradox' (vanishing card), and 'The Vanishing Rabbit'. He finishes with what he calls 'Stover's Variations', which include faces/beers and colored pencils, which can be constructed with real pencils. Interestingly enough, he never mentions leprechauns. Not once. But he does include pictures of each.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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The Bonnie Kids Loyal user Sweden (Västerås) 267 Posts |
A challenge: is anybody able to design a new one where you see 5 magic huts from which exit 5 rabbits.
Than you switch two pieces and still you see 5 huts, but only 4 rabbits... (or similar ideas..) // Andrea |
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