My grandfather, Joel Daniel MARTIN (1886-1955) made several sets of Chinese Rings. He may have called them Devil’s Needle.
Chinese Rings puzzle made by my grandfather, Joel Daniel Martin
For Christmas one year, I received a plastic version of this puzzle from a co-worker. I learned how to work it, and I enjoyed doing it now and then. Little did I know that doing it again and again was probably exercising my brain.
Mom had it all along
It was years later when my mom, Gladys Martin HEISER (1921-1999) showed me the one made by her father. I don’t know why I hadn’t seen it sooner, but knowing my mom she didn’t want it to get damaged so she kept it hidden away when we were kids.
My plastic version is long gone. I have this one instead. It can be used, but that happens rarely now. I’d like it to last so that other descendants of my grandfather can hold it and work it, and have their family history come alive.
Do you have any handmade toys that have been passed down in your family?
Copyright © 2017 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
I’ve never seen this game in action. You should record a video of you working it and embed it! 🙂
That’s a good idea, Michael! Here’s a YouTube video of someone doing it until I can do my own video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_615136&feature=iv&src_vid=qtkvROd1YLY&v=cHxJFMsvAII
Wow! That’s an robust, focused process – both to get them off and on. Who thought of that?! 🙂 I suppose it was a good game to keep you focused and occupied in an age of no internet and TV.
Or when the power goes out!