Wellington Enterprises

Bldg. No. 5, 55 Railroad Avenue, P.O. Box 315, Gamervffle, NY 10923
Phone: (914) 429-3377 Fax: (914) 429-3765

As a mechanic and a builder, I have always been interested in objects which when viewed in three dimensions, pose an impossibility. I am particularly intrigued by things whose construction techniques I cannot figure out. The following is a simple example and is not original with me. I don't know its source, but it intrigued me enough to make one of brass mounted on a hardwood base. The version below can be cut out of paper and you'll see how it can appear to be a mechanical impossibility, I've even considered making these up with the company name and giving them to perspective clients, telling them that we specialize in impossibilities. I don't know how common this item is among the sort of folks at this gathering. I hope you haven't seen it and enjoy the puzzlement of it.
The impossibility of this construction is best when made of metal, but making it with paper will allow you to understand it more easily. First cutout the square below, and then cut halfway through the width along the line between boxes A and B. Next, hold the paper by box with the letters facing you and fold box A away from you along the top line of box C. Then fold box B towards you along the same centerline. Make a good crease along the centerline. Now unfold boxes A and B so that they are in the same plane and at 90 degrees to the plane of box C. Keeping this configuration, place the paper on a table with the folded tabs against the table surface. Box C will be vertical and at 90 degrees to the table. Boxes A and B will be flat on the table, one on each side of box C. The illusion looks best if the tabs are cemented to a piece of differently colored cardboard.
When most people look at this, it appears as though half of box C was folded up from side A and half from side B - yet there is no seam in the middle of C.
If you construct this from metal, you must be sure before you start that both sides of the metal look the same.

I hope you have found some enjoyment with this little construction. Please don't hesitate to give me a call if you have any comments, questions, or other ideas in this category - I'd enjoy discussing it with you.
Bill Schmeelk
Office:
914-429-3377
Home:
201-358-1955