GOODS & SERVICES: New Ideas, Sep. 27, 1954

GOODS & SERVICES

Giant Tractor. General Motors entered the earth-moving equipment field last week with a 26-ton, twin-diesel (each engine 190 h.p.) Crawler tractor, more powerful than any now in production. The tractor will be on sale early next year at a price to be set later.

Plastic Boat. A 51-ft. plastic boat drawing less than two feet of water when loaded to its five-ton capacity has been built for the Army by the Englander Co. Constructed in bolted sections, the craft can be taken apart for air shipment. The 1½-in.-thick hull of resin-treated cotton duck sandwiched between layers of Fiberglas is five times stronger than steel of equal thickness, only a fourth as heavy.

Little Savers. To encourage savings by children, the Bank of Commerce in Woodbury, Tenn. has installed a three-foot-high teller’s window. First week’s results: 20 new depositors.

Check Records. A checkbook with carbon paper inserts similar to a sales-slip book was put on the market by Mor-Ezy Co. of Dallas. When a depositor writes a check, the carbon copy serves as a record.

Telephone Commercials. Chicago’s Bargain Shopping Services, Inc. has launched tape-recorded commercials on the telephone. By dialing B.S.S.’s number, a shopper can hear plugs for six items billed as the day’s “best buys.” Advertiser’s cost: $15 daily plus 1¢ a call.

Radioactive Guard. To protect factory workers, Hazatrol Corp. of San Francisco has developed a radioactive leather wristband that stops machines when a careless worker endangers himself. The wristbands are radioactive enough to set off a Geiger counter that controls a safety-stop mechanism. But the radioactivity is too low to harm workers. Installed price of the control mechanism: about $300.

Chemical Scarecrow. To keep birds off window sills, ledges, etc., National Bird Control Laboratories of Skokie, Ill. put on the market a chemical in an aerosol container. The chemical, harmless to people and birds, will keep birds off any surface it is sprayed on. Price: $2.50.

Easy Popper. Pre-seasoned popcorn, in an aluminum-foil package that can be popped by putting the pan-shaped container on the stove, has been put on the market by Top Pop Products Co. of Detroit and Taylor-Reed Corp. of Glenbrook, Conn. The foil expands as the corn pops, keeps the popped corn hot for an hour. Price: 30¢.