How is this tripod base made?

[Mark Gibney]

I'm stumped - I can't figure how this tripod table base goes together. Or if it can come apart.

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The legs are 2" x 4 3/4".
One legs appear to have a slot 2 x 4 3/4, the second leg appears to have a smaller rectangular slot of 2 x 3 3/8, and the third leg has a slot of 2 x 4 3/4 plus an additional 2" piece cut out of one side of this slot.
I'm pointing to this cut in the next photo here.

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As far as I can see, in photo #2, the leg (leg A) coming from the bottom right has a 2 x 4 3/4 slot.
The vertical leg (B) has a 2 x 1 3/8 slot, and the leg coming from the bottom left (C) has the 2 x 4 3/4 slot plus the 2" long cut-out on one side of the slot.

It could be that leg C is made in two halves and mortise and tenoned together after A and B are put in place. But in that case why not mortise and tenon on both sides of leg C?

I'm stumped. Tempted to saw it apart to find out but figured I'd consult the oracle!
Thanks.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Thats a good puzzle. My guess is that it is 4 pieces of wood made to look like 3. I imagine a dowel or rod passing through the joint.

[Brian Runau]

Just guessing. Could it be that one piece has a rectangular mortise that a 2nd piece slides into @ halfway, then the piece with the slotted mortise slides onto that assembly into the joint? brian

[Maurice Mcmurry]

It reminds me of the kids book Anno's Alphabet.

Anno's alphabet - Impossible world (https://im-possible.info/english/articles/anno-alphabet/index.html)

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[Rob Luter]

https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q5h6a.jpg

[Tom M King]

Could even be 6 identical pieces with metal rods in holes. Whatever it is, I like it.

[Rob Luter]

Here's another method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/finewoodworking.s3.tauntoncloud.com/app/uploads/2019/04/27141904/view2-700x475.gif

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Great contributions from Rob Luter. These remind me of tank traps

[Eric Arnsdorff]

This is how it's assembled.
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[Mel Fulks]

I think that years ago one of the “Popular “ mags. showed that configuration, then later showed the knock- down puzzle

[Mark Gibney]

Thanks Rob - yes to my eye it has the same cut-outs as your first response shows, the three legs lying against the wall.
Eric your graphic has an additional piece cut out.
Still can't see how they slide together, but I've just made coffee so there's hope.

[Eric Arnsdorff]

I drew it up so I could see how that particular one is assembled. This looks like how they did it.
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[Mark Gibney]

Thanks Eric. Think I'll make a scale model of this.

[Rob Luter]

I made one up from some scrap. The joinery needs to be really precise. This is an example of not very precise.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52366891156_b6e3f42ed3_b.jpg

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I made one up from some scrap. The joinery needs to be really precise. This is an example of not very precise.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52366891156_b6e3f42ed3_b.jpg
I still have not solved the mental puzzle. Is this the technique seen leaning against the wall in your earlier image?

[Rob Luter]

I still have not solved the mental puzzle. Is they the technique seen leaning against the wall in your earlier image?

It’s the technique in post #9 from Eric

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I guess I should make coffee an do some experimenting.

[Mel Fulks]

I’ve seen it on line in several places. Don’t remember where. It was easy to find pics and instructions after I first heard about it.

[Rob Luter]

Here's a clearer set of plans. It's in metric but it works in Imperial too. Scale it to whatever size your stock is.

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[Mark Gibney]

Maurice, this short youtube video shows how this works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kV4a4RqLnG4

I'd love to know who came up with this idea!

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Thank you Mark! I had decided I was going to have to look on You tube. I sure wanted to puzzle it out.
Dad would say at this point...
"I see said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw".