Rainer Popp - Popplocks

[AndrusyszynPM]

Has anyone been putting any pressure on Rainer Popp to make some more of those T1-popplocks? They seem like they would be really fun, and an excellent addition to any puzzle collection.

[TheWaveCarver]

I wish someone would convince him, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[jerryloo71]

I have just managed collect all 5 locks, T2 to T6 and have solved the T3 (reviewed in my blog below). Excellent quality and very unique/clever from a puzzling aspect (at least from my impressions of the T3). The only downside is the cost...while it is well worth the money for what you get, ie lock is milled from solid brass block with steel shackle and workmanship and finishing is superb, the absolute $-cost for each lock is still rather very expensive.

What I understand is that Rainer Popp doesn't produce locks full time, its a hobby thing of his and hence new models don't come out often and even existing models have limited runs....

[allardwza]

..I think only a handful of the T1s were ever made, and given the complexity of manufacture, and the difficulty of solving them, they are highly unlikely to ever be made again. From memory I think even Rainer reckons they're too hard!

I think it's fair to say that they are all in the hands of some serious puzzle gurus and I've heard a story or two about them being given to others to look at because they 'were broken' only to have it confirmed that there was nothing wrong with them and they worked as expected - I think one of our number has spent a good deal of time on one and got virtually nowhere... perhaps he'll chime in...

I wouldn't get your hopes up, but if you succeed, I'll be in the queue with you! [and yes, I think that Rainer uses a friend's workshop after hours so puzzle-making needs to fit in with a lot of other things like life and his friend's business needs]

allard

[bluesign2k]

Just to expand a small amount on Allard's points... Rainer's real "thing" is locks and padlocks not necessarily puzzles. I was under the understanding that the T1 was his attempt at putting a number of tricks used in older locks into once of his own creation - it wasn't meant as a puzzle, just a really hard trick lock. The T2 was where he started moving into something more puzzle like that could actually be figured out, but I'd still class it more of a trick padlock than a puzzle.

[Paradox]

The T1 was widely considered to be too difficult. Even some of the people who had the instructions couldn't open it. That's why Rainer has carried on producing locks with fewer tricks that are easier to solve and also cheaper to manufacture. Of course this doesn't mean that they are easy in general, just in comparison to the T1.

[03SVTCobra]

Does anyone know where I can find a Popplock T6?

[allardwza]

Have you tried Rainer directly through his website or Grand Illusions yet?

Wil Strijbos had them as well...

allard

[03SVTCobra]

I emailed them all I'm just awaiting a response

[jerryloo71]

There is a T6 being auctioned off at Ebay now....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Popplock-German ... _500wt_922