Heavy Metal From IPP34

Update 23 October 2017 - Dear Reader, please check out my new puzzle blog and e-store at http://mechanical-puzzles.com

These two puzzles came from IPP34. The Cast Metal Puzzle (cube) was Markku Vesala's Exchange Puzzle while the Brass Ball was purchased from Dmitry Pevnitskiy during the Puzzle Party.

The Brass Ball is a co-ordinate motion puzzle. Relatively easy to take apart (with some pressing and tugging here and there) but a real bummer to reassemble. 

Somehow every time I think I have all the pieces in position ready to slide back together, something will be stuck, not to mention its really difficult to operate all the 4 pieces at the same time. When Dmitry demonstrated the Brass Ball to me at IPP, he could put it back together in a matter of seconds!

I am still struggling with this one and it remains on my table in 4 separate pieces. If anyone has the solution to this, please help, thanks.

Edit: 7.5 hours later, I played with the Brass Ball again and after a while of fiddling, got it assembled.

The Cast Metal Puzzle #81/125 on the other hand is easier. Comprising 6 pieces of tetraminoes and pentaminoes, the pieces are "interlocked" together by a magnetic ball bearing in the centre. 

Nice concept, very well made and high quality. Being cast iron, its also very heavy in the hand for such a small puzzle measuring only 3cm square.

4 Street Elbows

Name
4 Street Elbows

Designer
Saul Bobroff

Manufacturer
Saul Bobroff. Puzzle available commercially from Eureka Puzzles for US$85.

Type & Classification
Impossible Object

Dimensions
6.2 cm (Length) x 6.2 cm (Width) x 2.2 cm (Height).

Materials & Construction
All four pieces of plumbing street elbows made of iron. Quality of construction is very good and the puzzle is coated with a sealant to prevent rusting. Wooden display stand included.

IPP
The 4 Street Elbows was Saul Bobroff's Exchange Puzzle during IPP28 held in Prague, Czech Republic in August 2008.

References
See http://www.puzzle-place.com/wiki/Impossible_Street_Elbows

Overview
The 4 Street Elbows is in reality an "impossible object". I had come by this "puzzle" through a puzzle exchange with Saul; my Ball In Cylinder No.1 for his Street Elbows. Consisting of four standard looking plumbing elbows, they are joined (and held together) by the screw threads of each elbow. Meaning to say that the pieces have not been joined by welding, glueing, force-fitting etc. When it first arrived, I was wondering how to solve it and whether in fact it was meant to be solved.

Like all impossible objects, it looks unsolvable. I did a check with Saul and he informed me that the puzzle is "solved already". I took it to mean that its really not meant to be solved in any way. Personally I am not sure if I want to try to dis-assemble it...it looks like some heavy duty tool might be needed for this task but I won't take the risk. I might just break something in the process.

Difficulty Level
Saul also mentioned that there is only one person who has removed and the elbows and put everything back into the solved state. Now I wonder who that person might be?

Summary
Not a puzzle for solving by any means, but something to be admired for its uniqueness and physical incredibility. Definitely worth collecting though.

Also by Saul Bobroff - "Too-Tite"...Impossible Object. Tennis ball in a bottle.
A gift from Saul, thank you very much.