In the Lucy Collection at the State Library of South Australia there are numerous puzzles and tricks that were used by the Lucy family for entertainment. These puzzles are of many types: dexterity and patience, tanglement, assemblement and interlocking.

William Everard Lucy also had the answers to working out the puzzles: Professor Hoffmann's Mechanical puzzles, as well as his Arithmetical puzzles and Miscellaneous puzzles. All of these were published in the late 1890s, when William Everard was already an adult and with a young and growing family. It is easy to imagine him amusing his children with the puzzles and them, in turn, learning the secrets.

Lucy, William Everard (1860-1939)

The Australian kids' book of brainteasers and puzzles, illustrated by Patrick Cook, London; Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1984

Bayfield, Juliana. The Lucy Collection children's books and games of the nineteenth century, [Adelaide: The Library], 1984

Costello, Matthew J. The greatest puzzles of all time, New York: Prentice Hall Press, c1988

Everyman's classic puzzles, [compiled by] Gyles Brandreth, London: Dent, 1985

The Puzzle Museum: Puzzle definitions and classifications

State Library of South Australia: Children's Literature Research Collection. The Lucy Collection

Wikipedia: Mechanical puzzle

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-