The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Last updated 2/4/2024

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Lock 'em Up
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of the Lock 'em Up papefolding puzzle. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

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1942

This puzzle is described in Martin Gardner's article 'The combinatorial richness of folding a piece of paper' which appeared in 'Scientific American' Vol. 224, No. 5 of May 1971, pp. 110-117. The solution was published the following month.

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Martin Gardner subsequently sold his copy of the puzzle to the Jerry Slocum Mechanical Puzzle Collection, now held at the Lilly Library, Indiana University. The designer is said to be R Lichter and the date of publication 1942.

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The images below are of both sides of a version of the puzzle which advertises the Hotel Garde. The solution is printed in mirror-image writing.

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The Lilly Library also possess a copy which advertises a different hotel, the Hotel Dixie in New York.

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