Brick riddle

I am not sure I understand your question. I'll give it a shot though.

Put one brick from each pile on the scale (the scale will then have three bricks = total weight 4.5 kilos)
Remove 1 brick and note the weight then remove 1 more brick and note the weight. That will tell you what each brick weighs.

Otherwise all 3 bricks on scale = 4.5 kilos
1) Remove one brick (scale now shows 3 kilos) which means that brick
weighed 1.5 kilos
2) Remove one more brick (scale now shows 1 kilo) which means that
brick weighed 2 kilos
3) Remaining brick on scale weighs 1 kilo

The scale only works once...

Put one brick from pile one on the scales, together with two bricks form pile two and four bricks from pile three...

If the scale shows ..., we have...
12 kg: 1 - 1kg, 2 - 1.5kg, 3 - 2 kg
11 kg: 1 - 1kg, 2 - 2kg, 3 - 1.5 kg
11.5 kg: 1 - 1.5kg, 2 - 1kg, 3 - 2 kg
9.5 kg: 1 - 1.5kg, 2 - 2kg, 3 - 1 kg
10 kg: 1 - 2kg, 2 - 1kg, 3 - 1.5 kg
9 kg: 1 - 2kg, 2 - 1.5kg, 3 - 1 kg

Is it a balance scale ie can put bricks on both sides?

See, I read it as the scale can only be used once.

The number of solutions using Bohne's technique is only limited by the number of bricks in each weight category as long as the requirement that the six possible combinations result in 6 different total weights is satisfied.

[quote="epenthesis"]The number of solutions using Bohne's technique is only limited by the number of bricks in each weight category as long as the requirement that the six possible combinations result in 6 different total weights is satisfied.[/quote]

Yes, you are right...
This was just the first I found working, as 1,2,3 did not...
Further I obviously did not search!

Bohne is; not for the first time, absolutely correct:

1: 2: 3: does not produce six unique results. However at first glance 1: 2: 4 does.

Congratulations, a unique answer for a very difficult problem.

We have a winner thanks for the help all it got me a free dinner!!!!

Shouldn't I get at least dessert then?