Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/55 - Eliza's Surname

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $55$

Eliza's Surname

Readers will remember the old puzzle of the "Dutchmen's Wives," nearly two hundred years old.

Here is a new extension of it (sent by C. C. P. S.):

Smith, Brown and Robinson have provided themselves with a penny pencil each,

and took their wives to a stockbroker's office to buy shares.

Mary bought $50$ more shares than Brown,

and Robinson $120$ more than Jane.

Each man paid as many shillings per share as he bought shares,

and each wife as many pence per share as she bought shares,

and every man spent one guinea more than his wife.

What was Eliza's surname?

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Age and Kinship Puzzles: $55$. -- Eliza's Surname