Press: Can It Be Done?

¶Glass that will bend, not break, for shop windows?

¶A teletype recorder of telephone messages in your absence?

¶A gadget to press pants while they are being worn?

¶An upper deck to float free of a sinking ship?

¶Fireproof paint?

¶Waterproof paper umbrellas for 5¢?

For some 15 years Cartoonist Robert LeRoy Ripley has derived wealth and fame from his feature “Believe It Or Not,” graphically reporting curiosities from all over the world. Fortnight ago the New York Evening Post was endeavoring to syndicate a similar feature, depicting marvels like the above, not yet in the world but which might exist. Title: CAN IT BE DONE?

Author of the new feature is Ray Gross, 38, a dark, dome-browed man who worked five years for Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp. and who has been inventing things for 18 years. When he managed a chain of clothing stores he got the idea for the pants-presser. While working for Goodyear, he says, he actually landed a blimp by means of a harpoon-anchor like the one which he depicts in his cartoon series. Two of his inventions are now in production: a coathanger with attached compartment to hold mothballs or perfume; a truck tailgate which lowers to receive freight, elevates it to the truck’s level. Another Gross invention, not in production, is a combination ashtray & pipe-bowl cleaner which operates like the orange-juice extractors used by soda fountains. Mr. Gross’s father was an inventor. His son. 6, and daughter, 11, invent things like bedside bookracks.

Cartoonist Lumen Winter supplies the drawings for the Post series, which was originally turned down by King Features Syndicate. Inventor Gross says he has an unlimited supply of material for his series. Anyone who wants to cash in on one of his notions may do so with his compliments.