Ball-in-a-maze puzzles are dexterity puzzles which involve manipulating either a maze (or labyrinth) or one or several balls so that the ball or balls are maneuvered towards a goal. Toys like this have been popular since Pigs in Clover (also spelled Pigs-in-clover) was invented by Charles Martin Crandall and then patented on September 10, 1889. The game was a craze in the United States from mid-February to May 1889, at 8 000 puzzles being produced daily according to The Waverly Free Press. It was played at home, on buses, in the street, parks, and even by US politicians. Sam Loyd falsely claimed to have invented it in an interview in 1891.[1][2][3][4][5]
A simple wooden ball-in-a-maze
In some versions, a wooden labyrinth is tilted using two knobs and the ball has to be navigated past a series of holes and obstacles. A magnet is used in other versions where the balls have to be manipulated rather than the maze.[2]Perplexus is an example of a 3D ball-in-a-maze.
Another version, usually molded in transparent plastic, uses the ball as a key to opening an internal compartment by manipulating the ball into position, and then operating a sliding mechanism that releases an access door. They are sometimes called "Money Maze" banks or puzzle boxes.
ball, maze, puzzle, dexterity, puzzles, which, involve, manipulating, either, maze, labyrinth, several, balls, that, ball, balls, maneuvered, towards, goal, toys, like, this, have, been, popular, since, pigs, clover, also, spelled, pigs, clover, invented, char. Ball in a maze puzzles are dexterity puzzles which involve manipulating either a maze or labyrinth or one or several balls so that the ball or balls are maneuvered towards a goal Toys like this have been popular since Pigs in Clover also spelled Pigs in clover was invented by Charles Martin Crandall and then patented on September 10 1889 The game was a craze in the United States from mid February to May 1889 at 8 000 puzzles being produced daily according to The Waverly Free Press It was played at home on buses in the street parks and even by US politicians Sam Loyd falsely claimed to have invented it in an interview in 1891 1 2 3 4 5 A simple wooden ball in a mazeIn some versions a wooden labyrinth is tilted using two knobs and the ball has to be navigated past a series of holes and obstacles A magnet is used in other versions where the balls have to be manipulated rather than the maze 2 Perplexus is an example of a 3D ball in a maze Another version usually molded in transparent plastic uses the ball as a key to opening an internal compartment by manipulating the ball into position and then operating a sliding mechanism that releases an access door They are sometimes called Money Maze banks or puzzle boxes Virtual versions of the puzzles have been made See also EditLabyrinth marble game Rubik s 360Notes Edit Pigs in Clover Elliot Avedon Virtual Museum of Games 25 May 2007 Archived from the original on 26 January 2010 Retrieved 12 December 2010 a b van Delft Pieter Jack Botermans 1978 Creative Puzzles of the World Cassell p 141 ISBN 0 304 30300 3 R Journet Archived from the original on 2011 07 13 Retrieved 2010 05 12 Slocum Jerry Sam Loydʼs Most Successful Hoax PDF p 2 Archived from the original PDF on 17 March 2019 Retrieved 4 December 2022 US 410956 Crandall Charles Game or Puzzle No 410 956 issued 1889 This toy related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ball in a maze puzzle amp oldid 1147265949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
