Thrift Treasure: Tree Puzzle
Along with games we also like to pick up unique puzzles for our Thrift Treasure series. Not the typical jigsaw type, but 3D versions usually made from metal, wood or plastic. This week not only will I show you a wooden one from one of the oldest game companies in the States, my 10-year-old will embarrass us all by showing you how easy (not) it is to solve!
This Tree Puzzle by Drueke Games was issued some time ago. There is no date to be found anywhere on the box or puzzle, but by the design and font choices I would put it solidly in the 1950’s or 1960’s. Drueke itself has been in business since 1914 (over 100 years!) and is widely known for their wooden puzzles, checkers and chess boards. All hand-made in their factory in Michigan, they are now in their third generation of family owners and still offer a wide range of game and puzzle products!
The premise behind the Tree Puzzle is simple – move all of the blocks from one post to another. You must move them one at a time and never stack a larger one on top of a smaller one. Pretty easy to do for the first few planks, but not so much when you start getting to the lower levels.
As you would expect with any hand-made product, the fit is not perfect. The planks vary in width and the holes are tight on some of them. This definitely gives the puzzle some character, even if the fit can frustrate you a bit. But what would a puzzle be without knowing how to do it and what it looks like when it is finished? Our puzzle prodigy, Kennedy, decided to give it a quick run-through to show you how the whole thing is done. Can you keep up?
If you think you’d like to add some of Drueke’s puzzles to your collection, look for them on Amazon and eBay. I think you’ll be amazed by how many different they have made over the past 100 years!
That looks really cool. Both of my kids like puzzle games like this!
That would have me in tears from frustration! I am horrible at those types of puzzles. My strp brother, on the other hand, is a whiz–wonder if he ever had this one.
Now that is one cool find, this type of puzzle always takes me back to Christmas as a child. x
I live in a small town in Michigan it’s great seeing Michigan business going strong after so many decades.
Great video demo the puzzle looks like something my kids would all enjoy.
Looks like an interesting puzzle. I think most kids would like it.
What a cool puzzle. I normally put puzzles like this in my sons Christmas stocking.
My kids love to do puzzles, especially in the winter. This would be a good one to get.
Ahh, this looks like fun! My kids would definitely like this!
This teases the brain in a similar way to a crossword, substituting objects for words. I’d like to have a go myself.
Wow, at first glance this honestly looked too simple. Then I found myself just staring at the pictures trying to figure it out. LOL This would be perfect for a fun coffee table game!
What a fun puzzle! I love how it is unique, gonna have to possibly get one for my niece and nephews!
I don’t have the patience for this kind of mind teaser! My daughter loves them though, and this looks like a challenging one.
This looks like a lot of fun. My kids love puzzles.
That looks really neat. Definitely much harder than it looks!
Oh, I bet my older son would enjoy this! He likes to be challenged.
This is totally an awesome game indeed. I love puzzles like this one that make you think. Your daughter is totally amazing doing this puzzle and she makes it look so easy when we all know we could be out done by her. Thanks for sharing.
I love games/puzzles like this, it really makes you think and use that brain! My kids love them too.
Looks fun!
Cool looking puzzle.