Still Life Hints

How can I jam the master tumbler?

  • Beginning once again at the "reset" position (i.e., the initial position of the tumblers, when the puzzle was originally started), select either pick and depress tumbler "A".  Then switch picks, and depress tumbler "J".  As before, tumbler "A" is now jammed in the open position.

    Switch picks again (using the pick by tumbler "A"), and use it to depress tumbler "B".  When you do, you should see tumbler "J" jam, and hear the telltale "clicking".  This signifies that tumbler "B" also affects tumbler "J" (as did tumbler "A") -- i.e., depressing *either* tumbler "A" or tumbler "B" will cause tumbler "J" to react.  And since it was being held down at the time, it jammed open.

    At this point, tumbler "A" is jammed open; tumbler "B" is being held open by a pick; and tumbler "J" is jammed open.  Tumbler "C" -- the master tumbler for the "blue" section -- is accessible, if only there were a pick to use on it.  The pick holding tumbler "B" cannot be used, because tumbler "B" is not jammed, and would return to a locking position if the pick were removed.  But tumbler "J" is jammed open, so that pick can be removed and used elsewhere.  Select the pick on tumbler "J", and use it to depress tumbler "C".

    As tumbler "C" is depressed, watch how *all* of the blue tumblers are jammed into the "open" position -- including the master tumbler "C".  Those that were already jammed remain jammed; those that were depressed (but not jammed) are now jammed; and even tumbler "K" -- which had not been depressed at all -- is now both depressed and jammed open.

    At this point, both picks may be retracted, and the blue tumblers will all remain open.