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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2009 => Topic started by: Ray B. on October 15, 2008, 12:59:44 PM

Title: Whaddyacallit #187 - Transdrive Transportation system
Post by: Ray B. on October 15, 2008, 12:59:44 PM
Ever seen this ?

Please, respond below and let us know the make, year and special purpose of the car posted here.
If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.
Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 06:08:15 AM
Pro wisdom required...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 06:14:03 AM
Is that device used to condition or cool the air inside the car?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 06:18:27 AM
No. Its purpose is much more far out than this.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 06:48:06 AM
Designed to make a sound, perhaps to scare animals off of the road?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 07:38:41 AM
Very funny. As far out, but more serious.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: jotage21 on November 08, 2008, 07:48:20 AM
Pitot experimentation?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 07:48:38 AM
Does it transmit or receive signals?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 08:12:12 AM
Quote from: jotage21 on November 08, 2008, 07:48:20 AM
Pitot experimentation?
???
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 08:12:35 AM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 07:48:38 AM
Does it transmit or receive signals?
Nope, but you're on to something there.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 10:29:45 AM
Is it a guide, to follow a beam, cable, etc?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 11:05:40 AM
Yes as simple as that. Form follows function. Now, let's say this would be worth a point. The exact name of this project (it never was more than a project, or we would be aware of it) will be worth another point for you or whoever finds it.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 11:16:03 AM
Was this the system patented by Mr. Jaffe in 1957 (United States Patent 2818553)?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 11:35:12 AM
This I don't know. I have to search if there is a connection with my system.
...Searching...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 08, 2008, 11:41:43 AM
The year would match of course. I couldn't find the connection, but if you know where Mr Jaffe lived, that may be a way to link our sources.

UPDATE: I have another name and another year.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 09, 2008, 04:12:12 AM
OK - I'll leave this to another. That was my best guess.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 09, 2008, 05:08:11 AM
Well, you found the special purpose of that thing on the roof, and that was worth a well-deserved point which I've added to your account.
As I said, the name of the project will be worth another. No wild guesses please. It can be found. Oh, I was also asking for the make and year of the car, for the sake of precision.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Allemano on November 09, 2008, 05:23:44 AM
I'm not an expert on American cars. Is it based on a 1955 Ford Fairlane?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 09, 2008, 05:28:20 AM
A Ford, but not a 1955 and not a Fairlane. But, remember, what you're really after is the project name.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Allemano on November 09, 2008, 05:53:26 AM
Is it an Australian project?
I know you refused to tolerate 'wild guesses', but I'm stuck!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 09, 2008, 06:02:49 AM
Not australian. They didn't have enough traffic problems down there to need anything of the kind.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Delanye on November 13, 2008, 11:28:12 AM
I´m still looking for the Project Name, but in the meantime i would say...

1957 Ford Custom
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on November 13, 2008, 12:09:22 PM
1957 Ford Custom it is, thanks. You know it's too easy to get you a point, but it does get you my respect. Good luck for the rest (a much, much more difficult task).
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on December 30, 2008, 05:42:03 AM
A task much too hard for even the professionals ?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: ImpishGrin on December 30, 2008, 05:49:31 AM
OMG, I hope thy weren't thinking of some kind of a funicular for cars??
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on December 30, 2008, 06:17:12 AM
You gonna need your God because this is just what they did.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: K5ING on January 01, 2009, 03:57:36 PM
I'm guessing it some kind of detector for nuclear fallout and/or radiation detection considering that '57 was the height of the cold war and "duck and cover" drills. 

JWK
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on January 01, 2009, 04:13:49 PM
No, although I would have loved that. Otto Puzzell roughly guessed the purpose of this device (see above) and Impishgrin gave a more precise description. But I still need the exact name of the project.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on April 06, 2009, 01:57:06 PM
It's not only about gaining points. I offer an extra reward for this one: I 'll PM to the winner a big file with all the details and pictures about the project.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 06, 2009, 05:11:52 PM
I'm flummoxed. I looked and looked, to no avail.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Paul Jaray on April 06, 2009, 05:18:06 PM
I'm working on it too...without better results...but there's no hurry!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on April 06, 2009, 05:50:38 PM
At times, one is glad to find one who leaves his fellow puzzlers stranded.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on May 22, 2009, 07:22:35 AM
Is there more light here?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on July 14, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 08, 2008, 10:29:45 AM
Is it a guide, to follow a beam, cable, etc?

With this brilliant deduction by Otto, it shouldn't be too hard to find this. It's one of the many ideas developpped to make automotive traffic safer and more "efficient"
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on July 28, 2009, 08:11:39 AM
May I tease you with another picture?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 28, 2009, 12:09:04 PM
A-ha! Not Ford-specific then. I was Googling the wrong stuff.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 28, 2009, 12:14:18 PM
Part of a World's Fair exhibit?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on July 28, 2009, 04:35:13 PM
No. I searched for that kind of connection and didn't find a thing.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Paul Jaray on July 28, 2009, 04:48:30 PM
Are the cars supposed to be lifted and moved?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on July 28, 2009, 05:58:36 PM
Exactly.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: DynaMike on August 01, 2009, 07:09:57 AM
To help avoiding traffic jam on bridges by making it possible to use both side (up and under) of a bridge ?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on August 01, 2009, 07:42:10 AM
I am posting 2 pages of the brochure where the purpose and method are explained. But, as I said before, the purpose has already been found by Otto, and what I am after now is the name of the proposed system.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on September 18, 2009, 11:11:07 AM
 :)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 18, 2009, 01:39:53 PM
I'm trying - I really am!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on September 18, 2009, 02:09:50 PM
Since I found it, it has been uploaded on many other websites, don't loose hope.
As often, finding the right words to google brings the solution, other than the one that I masked in the brochure (and which is the brand name of the system).
You may make some guesses about them.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Allemano on October 08, 2009, 11:54:02 AM
Has it something to do with Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on October 08, 2009, 02:44:58 PM
No. It predates it by years from what I quickly read following your question. It's basically the same kind of idea, of course.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:44:12 AM
Lend me your ears, professionnals.
I've had a PM from an expert who thinks he has the answer. This one has lasted long enough, and once found, can be for all of you an open gate to some amazing web pages.

I am asking you so as not to be unfair. Do you agree for me to move it back to the open pro section?
If three of you give me a yes I'll consider myself entitled to do it.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Paul Jaray on October 10, 2009, 03:57:50 AM
I've never gave up on this, or any others, but it's been here for quite long, and IMHO it can be moved.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Allemano on October 10, 2009, 05:05:22 AM
IMHO the Pros And Feature Writers section is quite redundant anyway, so don't hesitate to move it back..
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 10, 2009, 07:45:11 AM
Quote from: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:44:12 AM
Lend me your ears, professionnals.
I've had a PM from an expert who thinks he has the answer. This one has lasted long enough, and once found, can be for all of you an open gate to some amazing web pages.

I am asking you so as not to be unfair. Do you agree for me to move it back to the open pro section?
If three of you give me a yes I'll consider myself entitled to do it.

Move at will!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: neilshouse on October 10, 2009, 07:49:01 AM
Yes please move it, I'd like to know the answer!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:14:24 PM
Now that's what I call fair play!

It's up to you now, cunning expert.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: metalshapes on October 10, 2009, 03:17:12 PM
Its the TransDrive transportation system.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: metalshapes on October 10, 2009, 03:39:25 PM
Quote from: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:14:24 PM
Now that's what I call fair play!

It's up to you now, cunning expert.

BTW, thanks for the fair play.

I didnt expect the puzzle to get moved...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:44:46 PM
Hurrah!

I'm glad to see this one solved. As promised before (read above), one point goes to Otto Puzzell. And I decided that metalshapes success was worth 2, in the end.
I also promised the winner that I would send him a PDF file with the description of the whole system.
The file weights 19 Mbits. Do you think your e-mail box can take it, metalshapes?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187
Post by: metalshapes on October 10, 2009, 04:09:09 PM
Quote from: Ray B. on October 10, 2009, 03:44:46 PM
I also promised the winner that I would send him a PDF file with the description of the whole system.
The file weights 19 Mbits. Do you think your e-mail box can take it, metalshapes?

I think so...

Thanks.  :)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187 - Transdrive Transportation system
Post by: Allemano on October 10, 2009, 04:21:59 PM
The PDF-file is easily to find on the net....
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #187 - Transdrive Transportation system
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 11, 2009, 04:07:42 AM
WTG, metalshapes!  :cheer: