# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 159
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3162 "2020-06-03T15:15:51Z")
I really thought I had it with escalator. I looked up the history _after_ I guessed. I think that’s allowed, right? And I already knew some of it. Even the year 1859 matched. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3163 "2020-06-03T15:27:42Z")
Is it traffic lights? Or some sort of precursor? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3164 "2020-06-03T16:12:10Z")
Is it a roundabout? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3165 "2020-06-03T16:25:34Z")
[del]Was it stop sign or traffic light related?[/del] Was the device employed for trains, carriage or pedestrian traffic? Edited as I missed Peter Morris’ post. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3166 "2020-06-03T19:07:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I really thought I had it with escalator. I looked up the history _after_ I guessed. I think that’s allowed, right? And I already knew some of it. Even the year 1859 matched. Wow, I had no idea 1859 matched. But nope, that is not it. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it traffic lights? Or some sort of precursor? NO > [@Chronos](#): > > Is it a roundabout? NO > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > [del]Was it stop sign or traffic light related?[/del] > > NO > > Was the device employed for trains, carriage or pedestrian traffic? > > NO > > Edited as I missed Peter Morris’ post. kk ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3167 "2020-06-03T20:42:10Z")
Is this a thing someone might find: - in or on a vehicle? - in a place where passengers might board or dismount a vehicle? - in a place where vehicles move, such as on a road, or on a rail line? - in a place where vehicles are built or repaired? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3168 "2020-06-03T20:51:50Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is this a thing someone might find: > > - in or on a vehicle? > > NO > > - in a place where passengers might board or dismount a vehicle? > > YES > > - in a place where vehicles move, such as on a road, or on a rail line? > > YES > > - in a place where vehicles are built or repaired? > > NO KK ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3169 "2020-06-03T22:54:20Z")
Transportation… Land? Sea? Air? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3170 "2020-06-03T23:18:49Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Transportation… Land? Sea? Air? NO However, closest to “air” in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3171 "2020-06-04T00:45:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > NO > > However, closest to “air” in my opinion. Sort of air… Elevator? It’s not escalator, but elevators I’m sure had the same sort of dangerous rep when they debuted. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3172 "2020-06-04T02:32:13Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Sort of air… Elevator? It’s not escalator, but elevators I’m sure had the same sort of dangerous rep when they debuted. He did not invent the elevator, no. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3173 "2020-06-04T03:57:54Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > He did not invent the elevator, no. Was this the year of the invention of the elevator safety brake? ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3174 "2020-06-04T05:19:10Z")
Does the device make some sort of widely recognizable noise? ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3175 "2020-06-04T07:57:39Z")
Sorry, wrong post. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3176 "2020-06-04T13:41:59Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Was this the year of the invention of the elevator safety brake? I don’t know the exact year, but I’ll say **NO**. > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Does the device make some sort of widely recognizable noise? NO Let me nudge you and see if you can start to put things together… He did not design or develop the elevator or elevator brake… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3177 "2020-06-04T13:45:16Z")
Is it elevator related? Elevator doors? Buttons? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3178 "2020-06-04T13:59:59Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is it elevator related? > > YES > > Elevator doors? Buttons? > > NO kk ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3179 "2020-06-04T14:27:38Z")
I forget what it is called, but is it that type of elevator that is constantly moving and you step on and off while it goes by? Is it something associated with or associated with the lack thereof of: elevator doors? buttons? cable? lighting? shaft? motor? elevator box or enclosure? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3180 "2020-06-04T14:42:46Z")
Lighting up the buttons? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3181 "2020-06-04T15:06:25Z")
Does it have to do with a passenger operated elevator? An elevator specifically intended for passengers rather than freight? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=158) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=160)