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What’s New

TOGETHERNESS by the tubful is the latest in bathroom decor. Twin tubs were designed by Gerald and Phyllis Yellin, a Manhasset N. Y. couple who believe that cleanliness is being next to your spouse.

MUSIC typewriter has 46 characters and can copy almost any kind of musical notation. Photo shows inventor Lily Pavey of Britain using the Imperial Pavey Musigraph.
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No Shrink- No Spot

A DISTANT cousin of the sulfa drugs, melamine, is being used to “cure” some of the serious “ailments” of textiles.

Its most striking use is in a resin which, applied to woolens, solves the age-old problem of shrinking and matting in water.
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In the next issue: “Woman Scientist’s Invention Makes Water Wet!”

Woman Scientist’s Process Makes Glass Invisible

GLARE from reflected light, which has made it difficult to see pictures framed under glass at certain angles, has been removed by a new process developed in General Electric’s research laboratory by Dr. Katherine B. Blodgett (above).” By applying thin chemical films to the surface of glass, Dr. Blodgett has been able to nullify or neutralize rebounding light rays with the result that pictures framed with glass so treated appear as though there was no glass at all, regardless of the angle viewed from, as represented by center panel section of the portrait above. Read the rest of this entry »

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NEW PRODUCTS of scientific and mechanical interest

A THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED SOLDERING iron is announced by the Sound Equipment Corporation of Glendale, Cal. The Kwikheat takes only 90 seconds to be ready for use by means of a 225 watt heating unit controlled by the thermostat. Eliminating the excessively high temperatures acquired by ordinary irons during the idle period, this new iron has an unusually long life expectancy.
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Take A Seat—But Watch For Splinters

MANUFACTURERS of upholstered furniture, who are no longer able to get metal for springs because of priorities, were invited at a furniture show recently to take a look at the spring pictured at right. Band-sawed from a piece of wood, this spring has plenty of resilience, may well replace in many peacetime functions spring steel needed for war uses. Weight for weight, it is said to be as strong as steel.

If you just looked at the first page of this you’d think it was about BBQ.

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Man Makes His Own Rubber

THE diversified chemical manufacturing industry of America is finding a way to make this country free from dependence on foreign sources for an increasing number of vital raw materials. Only a few years ago, America depended on the nitrate beds of Chile for fertilizers and raw materials for industry. Today, it makes its own nitrates from the air.
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BUSINESS Welcomes NEEDED GADGETS

Motor cleaning fluid which is poured into an auto engine through the spark plug openings is said to clean out carbon deposits overnight.

Bottle cap with a new measuring cone permits accurate pouring of the correct medicinal dose without using a spoon or dropper.

Centrifugal water pump powered by 10 h.p. outboard engine is designed for fire fighting, small irrigating jobs, or even for pumping dirty, sand-laden water. Read the rest of this entry »

Racing Canoes With Large Umbrella for Sails Is Popular Water Sport

RACING canoes with umbrellas for sails has become a popular water sport at the southern resorts and will undoubtedly be taken up seriously everywhere this summer.

The canoes are jockeyed into place along the starting line by paddling, and the over-grown umbrellas are then opened for action. At the starting signal, paddles are taken from the water and the canoes start off under full sail. In some races the “skipper” is allowed to use the paddle to keep the canoe in its course and prevent collisions.

GYP of the MONTH

Want to be a better crook? Harry the Hyp will help.

EVERYONE HAS HEARD some American tourists complain about being gypped by the natives in Europe, but now we give you a tourist who reversed the story. He bought a railway ticket at a station in Scotland and paid with a $50 bill. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Mystery of the Shrinking Oranges

A Sad Story from Southern California

by John Devaney

California’s Valencia oranges are shrinking. The Golden State’s summer orange, which provides the entire nation with orange juice from July to November, has become little larger than a golf ball. And nobody in California knows why. Read the rest of this entry »

Tricycle Vender Solves Girl’s Unemployment Problem
UNABLE to find suitable employment in her profession as a typist, Miss Clara Cage, of Hollywood, discovered an unusual method of earning a living. She rigged up a tricycle as a delivery wagon and now delivers cartons of ice cream direct to consumers. During hot spells Miss Cage turns many a pretty penny by pedaling her way about the streets on her tricycle, which is shown in the photograph at the left. Along Hollywood boulevard, her favorite selling area, she attracts attention by her novel togs and vehicle.

Electric Banana Ripening
THE ripening of bananas, which are cut from the trees when green, requires carefully controlled heat and humidity. A new and positive method has been devised by using electric strip heaters mounted under water pans suspended from the ceilings. The rooms in which the bananas are ripened are specially constructed, practically air tight, and with refrigerator-type doors. Thermostatic control maintains the room temperature between 60 and 75 degrees, depending on how green the bananas are when placed in the room and how soon it is desired to complete the ripening process which is from 48 to 60 hours.