The tower treasure

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1. mdanielDec 2022
   > Franklin W. Dixon (pseudonym), The Tower Treasure (the first Hardy Boys book)

   I loved those books growing up

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2. dryarkJan 2026
   I've been working on two projects recently. A video game titled TentFires, and letterpress book remastering.

   TentFires is a variant of the puzzle game Camping / Tents-and-Trees, but with a huge overworld.

   Creating the overworld led to some advancements in topology, which led to realizing those advancements can be used to accurately reconstruct a theoretical "metal die shape" that was used for a glyph to creation impressions in old letterpress books.

   As a result, my current first application of that is to remaster and re-release the first book of the "Hardy Boys" series from 1927, "The Tower Treasure".

   To do that, I've constructed a "macrogrammetry rig", which is essentially a 2d x y panning machine using 3d printer parts and stuff from my local hardware store, and a camera with a macro lens, in order to "scan" the pages of the book at the highest possible resolution I can reasonably do so at, which is currently around 6000dpi.

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3. SukottoSep 2010
   wow, I had no idea...

   I just dug out my old Hardy Boys hardcover books from way at the back of the book shelf (behind the Saberhagen Swords books) and sure enough, mine were all from 1959.

   Here's the inscription from inside th cover of book #1 "The Tower Treasure"

     (c) Grosset & Dunlap, Inc. 1959
     all rights reserved
     ISBN: 0-448-08901-7 (Trade edition)
     ISBN: 0-448-18901-1 (Library edition)
     
     In this new story, based on the original of
     the same title, Mr. Dixon has incorporated
     the most up-to-date methods used by police
     and private detectives.
   

   Unlike the book referenced in the article, mine begins

     Chapter I
     The Speed Demon
     
     Frank and Joe Hard clutched the grips of their motorcycles
     and stared in horror at the oncoming car. It was careening
     from side to side on the narrow road.
     
     "He'll hit us! We'd better climb this hillside -- and 
     fast" Frank exclaimed, as the boys brought their
     motorcycles to a screeching halt and leaped off.
   

   A little later comes what I believe is the scene referenced at the start of the article:

     Frank chuckled and sad, "After the help we gave Dad on his
     latest case, he ought to set up the firm of Hardy and
     Sons."
     
     "Why not?" Joe replied with a broad grin. "Isn't he one 
     of the most famous private detectives in the country? And
     aren't we bright too?" Then, becoming serious, he added,
     "I wish we could solve a mystery on our, though."
   

   Now I'll have to try and dig up a couple of the originals just for fun. I loved these books when I was 10~13... practically inhaling them one after another.
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