“What would you do ?” used to figure on the cover of a boys’ comic called “Boys’ World”. This was a publication, obviously, aimed at boys, and first appeared on January 26th 1963. There were 89 issues before the comic was merged with Eagle in 1964. The last issue of “Boys’ World” came out on October 3rd 1964.
I used to buy “Boys’ World”, and this was mainly for the front cover which always featured a kind of puzzle. It was called “What would you do ?” and was based on somebody being in what Ned Flanders would call “A dilly of a pickle”. Here’s the situation:
And here’s an enlargement of that box:
And the correct solution given on page 2 of the comic is:
So, the answer is taken, more or less, from that wonderful war film of 1958, “Ice Cold in Alex” with John Mills, Sylvia Sims, Anthony Quayle and Harry Andrews. All the four of them can think about in all that heat and all that sand is an ice cold beer in a bar in Alexandria, but at one point they have to wind the truck up a steep sand slope in exactly the same way, more or less, as the solution says:
John Knifton 
Cor Blimey! Now that’s a much better escape plan that I came up with. I hope the clever safari troopers celebrated with a hearty slap on their backs and a nice cold something or other! I’ve put “Ice Cold in Alex” on my must see list — the original Brit release not the shortened Yank version — fabulous cast. There’s a bunch of other marvelous wartime movies listed under ‘More like this’ (lower down on the Ice Cold page on the IMDB website) that I’d love to see too… https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0053935/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Makes me want to wack a few conkers for old times sake!!
CD
It’s certainly a film worth seeing. I would think that it has probably been remastered by now.
Now THAT’S ingenious!!
I’m glad you liked it! Would that we could solve all the world’s problems as neatly and as quickly! Still, at least the truck is fixed and now we can drive to get some ice cream!
Chocolate or raspberry swirl for me! 🍨
Drive on after untangling the rope from around the axle
In Ice Cold in Alex I recall that Anthony Quale (the strong German) turned the wheels by turning the engine with the starting handle after removing the spark plugs. No rope involved. He had to do it twice because first time to the top John Mills let loose and the ambulance slipped right back down to the bottom.
Yes, I remember that bit of the story too. It was a bit of a “whoops!” moment.
I presume the army truck was an old one and for that reason had a starting handle. I can’t see a hole for a starting handle in this particular vehicle. I think it must be too modern.
My dad’s 1964 Hillman Minx had started with a handle.It was very useful on occasion in winter.
My granddad had an old black Austin something or other with a starting handle.
We had an A40 Devon, and there was also a relatively small A30 (or maybe an A35), and the Austin Somerset, which I remember as being fairly similar to the Devon. Big old buses they were!
You do John Mills a disservice: it was Sister Murdoch (the gorgeous Sylvia Sims) who let go of the starting handle.
Yes, I remember now. John Mills was drunk at the time on gin. What a great film that was.
I wonder at the solution 🙂 Maybe boys who read the magazine believed anything was possible 🙂
All I can say is that the solution is theoretically possible, but I agree with you that in practice, something is sure to go wrong. For me the weakest link is the rope. What will happen if it is too short, or if it breaks? Disaster!!
I like how they said it’s “a simple matter to replace the tyre”. Have they ever tried to change a bicycle tyre let alone a car tyre!! I think I’ll do it the John Mills way by sticking in gear and turning the starter.
As Devil’s Advocate, I would have to say that there might be a problem if the truck has no hole for a starter. There certainly isn’t an obvious one. I wish I knew what brand of truck it is.
I think k there were a number of ‘ifs’ in this, but then I would be spoiling it for all the boys who would read it. It was a good one!