CAR CULTURE : Brilliant Deductions

ARROGANT, PRECISE, keen-witted--that was Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. The movies he and Nigel Bruce (as Dr. Watson) made in the ‘40s are classics. But did you know they also had a radio show during World War II? These wonderful original radio broadcasts--a great antidote for the commuter blahs--have recently been issued on audio cassette (about $10 each).

In “The Iron Box,” Holmes and Watson are entrained for Edinburgh on The Flying Scotsman when Holmes reveals that they are traveling at 53 1/2 miles per hour. How does he know that? Elementary, my dear Watson. You take your watch and . . . well, you’ll have to tune in to find out. There are more than 20 of these radio shows now out on audio cassettes (two adventures per tape).

The tapes are available from Simon & Schuster Audioworks; (800) 678-2677.