[jarrett]

I'd prefer to try to riddle it out without resorting to cutting the bottle open. That would take all the fun out of it. If you had a reliable way to cut bottles and reassemble them with no telltale marks, then a single trick would explain all the different bottles. Much less interesting than if each bottle required a unique, clever solution.

Ignoring the wood for a moment, I'm focused on the padlock. Suppose it's not a real padlock. There are stripes on it which, to my eye, look like they might be corrugation. Perhaps it's hollow and can collapse like an accordion.

Edit: Or, per the description of the second-to-last bottle, the lock is broken down into parts and reassembled in the bottle.

[evilduck]

About the stripes on the padlock, that looks like a fairly standard laminated steel padlock: http://www.masterlock.com/product_details/LaminatedPadlocks/...

Now, if you were to delaminate the lock's layers and reassemble it piece by piece inside the bottle with authentic-enough looking rivets, I can see it fitting through the neck without a problem, but I don't have an explanation for the solid piece of wood that large.

[tlrobinson]

The padlock seems like the least of your worries. How the hell did the plank get in there? The only thing I can think of is the plank was split and glued back together once inside.

I think the padlock would fit if you took the shank off.