Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again!

Thread Games
2642

Why did little Eddie send four toothpicks and some string to the Quaker Oats Company?

Note: I came upon this story in the past week and it really made me smile. There have not been a lot of smile-producing stories in the past month, so I hope this one cheers some of you up as much as it did me. Though I love reading about the unusual, I somehow had never had crossed paths with this tale. And interestingly enough, in researching stories about this event I stumbled upon a thread from the SDMB back in 2010 that covers the gist of twist. Our regular LTP player Chronos discussed it then. So he may have to bow out because it is extra knowledge.

But, assuming you do not already know the bizarre story, can you perhaps guess what little Eddie had in mind?

2643

Did Eddie think something was wrong with the Quaker?
Did Eddie think the material he sent could build something?
Was Eddie responding to a Quaker Oats commercial or ad?
Did Eddie think the material would help with somebody’s oral hygiene?

2644

reply to Knowed Out

Did Eddie think something was wrong with the Quaker? No
Did Eddie think the material he sent could build something? Yes
Was Eddie responding to a Quaker Oats commercial or ad? Yes…sort of…
Did Eddie think the material would help with somebody’s oral hygiene?No

2645

Did Eddie misunderstand an advertisement from Quaker?

2646

No

2647

OK, then, to be fair I’ll bow out of this one… but I don’t remember that at all, and am currently just as puzzled as anyone else.

…Wait, actually, I think I might know what this is about. Let me see if I can think of a confirmatory question that doesn’t give it away…

Did this happen in January-February of 1955?

2648

Yes, you are indeed correct :wink:

2649

Was he responding to something printed on the Quaker Oats box?

2650

Did he send other relevant materials other than the ones listed (aside from the envelope or whatever)?

Were the toothpick and string assembled into something or otherwise connected together in some way?

Did Little Eddie assemble or connect them in some way?

2651

Meant to add this before…

Did Eddie send along instructions to assemble or connect the items in some way?

2652

Frustrating… I know the general context here, but I don’t know the specifics of this particular case. So I can’t play, and I can’t answer questions, either.

2653

No

2654

reply to Folly:

Did he send other relevant materials other than the ones listed (aside from the envelope or whatever)? No

Were the toothpick and string assembled into something or otherwise connected together in some way? No

Did Little Eddie assemble or connect them in some way? No

2655

Yes

2656

Sorry :frowning:

I am sorry I missed the original thread years ago. I shouldn’t have been surprised that this had been discussed before.

You can probably guess why Eddie sent the items, I bet.

2657

Did the instructions that were sent say to connect all the toothpicks together using a single string?

Do any of the toothpicks touch any of the other toothpicks when assembled?

is there any glue involved in assembly?

Is there anything involved in assembly aside from the toothpicks and the string?

2658

Was the string elastic?

Was the assembly meant to be a slingshot?

Anything that might be considered a miniature weapon?

Anything that might launch a piece of cereal? catch a piece of cereal?

2659

Did the instructions include the use of a Quaker Oats can? Is it string telephone related?

2660

reply to Folly:

Did the instructions that were sent say to connect all the toothpicks together using a single string? Not sure what the instructions exactly said. But you could probably do it that way. I think I would probably cut the string, but that’s just me.

Do any of the toothpicks touch any of the other toothpicks when assembled? No

is there any glue involved in assembly? No

Is there anything involved in assembly aside from the toothpicks and the string? I think the idea was just to use the toothpicks and string.

2661

reply to Folly:

Was the string elastic? I don’t think so.

Was the assembly meant to be a slingshot? No

Anything that might be considered a miniature weapon? No

Anything that might launch a piece of cereal? catch a piece of cereal? No. No airborne grains or otherwise propelled/snagged kernels involved.