Hardy Boys Book question

[Kirk G]

A recent question on this forum regarding the Three Investigators has rekindled my interest in serial books for kids. I read most of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books, back when there were only about 40 or 50 of each series.

I recall one Hardy Boys adventure the climaxed with an old man scrambling to the rooftop during a storm to retrieve his invention. I believe it was the solution to a maddening "locked room" puzzle, and involved his lowering a battery operated or wind-up toy car that had pincers that walked forward out of the fireplace several feet, and then released it's claw and wound backwards to the firepace...where he pulled it up again.

It also seems like the boys had to rescue him or someone else from the rooftop when they tumbled off, and caught themselves by the eves, danging several stories above the ground... but that may have been another story.

Can anyone help me identify the first senario with the inventor and the wheeled cart and claw? I remember it was a neat solution, but one that no one could solve. I want to give it to my kids...:rolleyes:

[Sir Tim Drake]

The Books board is a more appropriate home for this thread.

[Red Oak Kid]

I recall one Hardy Boys adventure the climaxed with an old man scrambling to the rooftop during a storm to retrieve his invention. I believe it was the solution to a maddening "locked room" puzzle, and involved his lowering a battery operated or wind-up toy car that had pincers that walked forward out of the fireplace several feet, and then released it's claw and wound backwards to the firepace...where he pulled it up again.

It also seems like the boys had to rescue him or someone else from the rooftop when they tumbled off, and caught themselves by the eves, danging several stories above the ground... but that may have been another story.

Can anyone help me identify the first senario with the inventor and the wheeled cart and claw? I remember it was a neat solution, but one that no one could solve. I want to give it to my kids...:rolleyes:

There is a Hardy Boys website that has a very brief synopsis of each book.

http://hardyboys.bobfinnan.com/hbos.htm

It says that "While the Clock Ticked" is a locked room mystery.

[foxley]

It's been more than 20 years since I read it, but I'm pretty sure that's While the Clock Ticks.

[Kirk G]

It's been more than 20 years since I read it, but I'm pretty sure that's While the Clock Ticks.

It's been about 40 years for me, but I think you have nailed it.:biggrin:
I started digging about in my daughter's old junk box of old kiddie books, and found about 14 of the newest versions of the first 18 books, and found that only one of the run was missing (#7, I think.)

But when I came across #10 & #11, something about that cover to #11, looks right.

I flipped through the book, and read the last page or two, and sure enough, the solution I recall is there in black and yellowing page!

So, the mystery is solved!

Thanks for your help. I guess my daughter has already read this one, and my son, at age 11, may be just past the target reading audience, but I'm going to try to interest him in solving the mystery before they reveal it.:biggrin: :biggrin:

[foxley]

Glad to have been of assistance. :smile:

That was probably my favourite Hardy Boys mystery (and the reason why it stayed with me all these years).

[Deathstroke]

My favorite Hardy Boys book was The Shattered Helmet.