The French are good at many things. French
vintage wines are the standard to which the rest
of the world’s vintners aspire. French breads are
merveilleux. So are French perfumes, designer
clothing, and cheeses. And, I’d like to add one
more thing to the list for admiring Francophiles:
wooden games.
On a recent trip to Paris, I saw all sorts of
Frenchfolk, young and old, playing in the spring
sunshine with a variety of wooden toys and
games. Many of them, like the now-popular
cornhole game and giant Jenga, I had seen
before. A few, like the Nok Hockey carrom board
and wooden skittles, brought back memories
from a long-ago past. But I saw one that seemed,
at least to me, brand new and a lot of fun. The
French call it Jeu Gruyère (or Jeu du Gruyère),
which translates, more or less, to the “Swiss
Cheese Game.” (Figure
A
)
Jeu Gruyère is like an enhanced, three-
dimensional version of Chutes and Ladders
mixed with Milton Bradley’s Operation game. But
it’s more than that: when you add the ability to
control the ball carrier using a pulley system, you
get a game that’s a challenge to both mind and
body. The game consists of an inclined wooden
board with holes placed at intervals and a wooden
ball carrier that the facile Gruyèrist glides over
the board via a system of ropes and pulleys that
works just like a two-axis X-Y plotter. If the player
is good, he or she can guide the ball to the top
of the board without the ball falling through any
of the Swiss cheese holes. If the player is not
so good, well, then expect a fair amount of time
watching the ball fall to the ground.
The game builder chooses the size and spacing
of the holes in the board. Lots of holes, closely
spaced, and a small-diameter ball create a
tough challenge: mastering a Jeu Gruyère board
like that takes a cool head and a keen eye and
some practice. But for those a bit less dexterous
and steady-handed, a board with wider paths
and smaller holes makes for a perhaps more
satisfying experience. In addition, you
can vary the experience by using
different shaped ball carriers,
different sized balls, and
longer or shorter rope
handles.
WILLIAM GURSTELLE’s book
series Remaking History, based
on his Make: column of the same
name, is available in the Maker
Shed, makershed.com.
TIME REQUIRED:
4–6 Hours
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
COST:
$40–$50
MATERIALS
» Plywood, ¾" thick, 48"×28" Get the
smoothest you can find; Baltic birch is a good
choice. If you use rougher grades, make sure
one side is sanded and filled.
» Pine or fir lumber, nominal 2×2, about 24' total
length Cut list: 58" legs (4), 18" leg brace (1), and
28" top brace (1)
» Board, 1" thick, 3¾"×3¾" square
» Rubber or wooden ball, 1" diameter
» Welded steel rings, 2" diameter (2) for the
handles. You can also use wooden balls for
handles.
» Steel chain, #3 size, 10" lengths (2)
» Deck screws: 2" (12) and 2½" (4)
» Screw eyes, #12 (6)
» Cup hooks, ⁄" (2)
» Fixed pulleys, ¾" (2)
» Paracord, ⁄" diameter, 12' total length
» T-hinges, 3" (2) with mounting screws
» Paint and primer
TOOLS
Having the right tools for making the holes plays
an important role in how safe and successful
you will be in building this project. Here’s what
you’ll need:
» Corded electric drill
» Driver bit for your deck screws
» Tape measure
» Needlenose pliers (2)
» Sandpaper, medium grit
» Marking pencil
» Hole saws: 3⁄" and 2" diameters
» Safety glasses and gloves
Adobe Stock - Anna
73
makeprojects.com
A
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