Lighthouse - Doug Haig by Bits and Pieces

This cool puzzle is a nicely made reproduction by Bits and Pieces.

Here’s an excerpt from Boxes and Booze about the history of this classic design:

“This one can be found somewhat more commonly as a reproduction, and many may not know its true origins or provenance.

The story involves two magicians, as many good tales do. If you have ever read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, a book I highly recommend, you will know what I mean. The first magician was named Doug Haigh, who lived in Bradford England and discovered his love of magic at the age of 40. He was a prominent member of his local magic society, becoming its president in 1971. The second magician was named John Ergatoudis, a mild mannered civil engineer by day who was also prominent in and president of his own local magic society in Leeds. John became famous for amassing one of the foremost private collections of magic memorabilia in the world, which was auctioned off in 2005 after his death the year prior. The two must have met at the Northern Magic Circle, a prominent regional society with members from across the North of England, the UK and even overseas, to which both of their local chapters were affiliated. Doug Haigh was the president of that society as well, in 1975.

Doug Haigh was also a puzzle and magic trick maker, with metalworking and lathe skills. John Ergatoudis was a generous friend, and member of the international puzzle collector community. He commissioned a small set of brass puzzles from Doug, to give out to his friends as gifts. Over a period of eight years, Doug created puzzles for John, each based on classic Victorian wood turned treen puzzles from Professor Hoffman’s Puzzles Old and New, although with occasional new “twists and turns” of Doug’s invention. He made just one design per year, and only made ten of each type, keeping a few for his family and giving the rest to John, who never sold them, but gave them as gifts or trades. Later, the puzzle company Bits and Pieces reproduced a few of Haigh’s original designs. Their Lighthouse reproduction, which had a little “diamond” prize inside the lamp, was given as an exchange puzzle during the International Puzzle Party in 2000 and has become a coveted collectors item in its own right. The very rare Haigh originals were presented in a display stand case and can be distinguished by a tiny embossed “H” stamped at the base.”