The Marketplace: New Products

With spring comes a revival of the gypsy instinct in the U.S. family. For the determined weekenders heading for the shore, the mountains or the lake, there is a spate of new items designed to aid and comfort:

> A portable refrigerator, which will operate equally well on 1) 12-volt auto or boat batteries, 2) standard no-volt house current, 3) bottled gas. The Escort Mark II refrigerator, made by the Selectra Corp., Buffalo, weighs less than 30 Ibs., takes up little more room than a suitcase, keeps up to 35 Ibs. of food and drink chilled on even the longest trips. Price: $120.95.

>Sneezeproof pepper, designed to take the ah-choo out of cooking-out, is now being made by the Albert Ehlers Co. of Brooklyn. Ground to a uniform medium size rather than the traditional ultrafine powder, the new pepper stays put, is not as likely to be blown into noses by passing breezes. Research conducted by the company’s laboratory shows that the new grind, with its larger particles and less dust, brings on 73% fewer sneezes than the old kind. Price: 49∧.

>In case of a roadside stop for a quick snack, customers may be spared the soggy sponge with which the waitress often swabs down the counter. The Linen Supply Association of America now offers a gadget that, in effect, provides fresh linen tablecloths for each counter diner. Operating on the old roller-towel principle, the fresh section of mat is pulled into place after each meal by the waitress. Price: on the house.

>To ease the strain on Daddy’s eyes on the long trip back home at night, the Vacha Glare-Guard has rectangular filters that clip on over ordinary eyeglasses or are worn on frames of their own. A slight forward tilt of the head banishes the dazzle of oncoming headlights by bringing a small filter tab into the line of vision, blocking out the glare while leaving a clear view of the driver’s lane; the larger upper portions of the filters cut glare from overhead lights and rear-view mirrors. Filter tabs may be aligned to suit each driver’s eyes. Price: $6.95 (clip-ons). $8.95 (on frames).

>Once the weekend is over, an enlargement of Sister balancing on Eagle Rock is made easier by the Instant Photo Vendor, introduced by Quik-Chek Electronics and Photo Corp. The customer places his negative (from 35 mm. to size 120 roll-film) under a glass cover, sets the opening of the enlarging lens according to a number indicated by a built-in exposure meter, and puts a coin in the slot. In 15 seconds, out comes a black-and-white glossy blowup, practically dry. Enlargements four times the negative size can be made. Price per picture: 25∧.