New Commercial Inventions
• THE LATEST IN OFFICE DESKS •
IF former models were built like a skyscraper, this desk is a Radio City. The lower right-hand drawer contains a special superheterodyne model, tuned from the top panel, together with a dynamic speaker. Closing the drawer automatically shuts it off. On the other side, one drawer contains a telephone and special index for convenient finding of names. Read the rest of this entry »
Profit for Farmer in Drugs Now Being Imported
American farmers may find profit in raising some plants which are the basis of crude drugs now imported to the extent of $8,000,000 a year. Dr. Perrin H. Long, of Johns Hopkins University, points out that United States soil and climate are favorable for producing licorice, mahuang (ephedrine), castor beans and tragacanth, now imported from Russia, China, Brazil and Persia. Read the rest of this entry »
BOY’S DREAM. This nine-foot model of the Empire State Building, displayed in the lobby of the original by A, C. Gilbert Co., is made of Erector set parts. It took a total of 690 girders, 1,500 nuts and bolts, 83 man-hours.
PORTABLE STEAM BATH
It turns any sunny spot into a reducing parlor Surprised one day by a door-to-door salesman while she was sunbathing in her backyard, Mrs. George Freitas of Glendale, Calif, discovered the plastic sheet she wrapped herself in was not only emergency clothing but a remarkable inducer of perspiration. As a result she designed the Ray-ducer, an outsize plastic jumper which fastens tightly at ankle and neck and costs $11.95. Read the rest of this entry »
NEW POCKET CASE HAS EIGHT DISTINCT USES
Eight distinct purposes are served by the versatile pocket case, illustrated above. A cigarette compartment occupies the center, supplemented by a concealed writing tablet, a telescoping pencil, and a stamp container. In addition the case contains a five-inch rule, a lighter, a pocket knife, and a watch. The entire outfit folds flat into small enough space to fit the palm of the hand and is so small that it can easily be slipped into your vest pocket exactly as an ordinary cardcase is carried.
Great Men of Korea Ride Safely one Wheel
Riding on one wheel may convey an impression of reckless driving, but it is a slow and stately form of locomotion in the Asiatic land of Chosen (Korea). When a dignitary prepares for a trip, he dons a costume that properly reflects his power and prestige, and mounts a vehicle like the curious single-wheeled carriage pictured here. Four strong coolies seize the guiding bars and trundle him toward his destination. Judging from appearances the passenger must necessarily be resigned to a certain amount of rather rough joggling.
Magnetic Light Bulbs Leap Into Sockets
Five turns are required to fit an ordinary light bulb into its socket, and five more turns are required to remove it. But now a new bulb with a magnetic base that virtually jumps into place has been developed to eliminate all this twisting. The socket contains a permanent magnet, and the base of the bulb is a metal plate which is attracted to it. No current is needed to energize the magnet. The bulb is expected to be useful in maintenance of large buildings, where a number of bulbs must be changed each day. For example, the Pentagon, the world’s largest office building, is illuminated by 68,000 fixtures, and 1200 of these bulbs must be replaced each day. Manpower savings also could be effected in maintaining theater marquees.
Prize CONTESTS Aid Science
by GILSON VANDERVEER WILLETS
Prize contests are always staged in the hopes that some definite object will be attained, whether it be increased business or the perfection of some scientific or mechanical achievement. In this article the world’s foremost authority on prize contests tells how these have aided science.
IT IS popularly conceived that prize competitions are conducted exclusively for the literati, or for those who enjoy solving puzzles and similar pastimes. Few persons realize that the history of scientific achievement is crammed with exploits of those who were inspired by monetary awards, which were nothing more or less than prize competitions.
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Dairy Industry In General Can Look Forward To Another Good Year
WHERE IS THE DAIRY INDUSTRY HEADED IN 1967? Generally the outlook is bright. Milk supplies, it appears, will be adequate. Production in recent months has recovered from a slump lasting a year and a half. Apparently this will not have great effect on the price processors must pay because USDA has moved quickly to stabilize prices. It remains to be seen whether these supports will slow the exodus of producers from dairy farming. Read the rest of this entry »
Ever Wanted to See what goes on inside a moving escalator? The management of Rich’s Store for Men, Atlanta, Ga., thought their customers did—and here’s the result. During a general alteration in the store, the moving and other parts of the Westinghouse electric stairway were painted different colors, and the opaque side walls replaced by several see-through glass panels.
Farming Inventions of George Washington
George Washington, whose two hundredth birthday anniversary America will celebrate this year, was not only the father of his country, he was also the father of a number of noteworthy inventions.
George Washington’s favorite pursuit was farming, and in this, as in his many other undertakings, he was always intent upon improving the methods and implements with which he worked. Read the rest of this entry »
TYPEWRITER REPLACES TYPESETTER IN NEW METHOD OF COMPOSITION
PROMISING a new departure in the methods of printing books, newspapers, and periodicals, a recent invention enables any typist to produce perfectly aligned columns of copy with an ordinary typewriter, since it corrects the usual irregularity of the right-hand margin. The resulting copy may be reproduced by standard photo lithographic methods, eliminating the need for present-day typesetting, matrix, and stereotype equipment. A sample of the new typewriter printing is shown in the center illustration above.
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