NEW PRODUCTS: 1 6,000 Nazi Tricks

What made Germany tick through six years of war despite skimpy resources and raw materials? After V-E day, hundreds of scientists, technicians and researchers from U.S. industry, started fine-tooth-combing Germany for the answer. From abandoned mine shafts, underground storehouses, and even river beds came documents, equipment and gadgets. This week officials concerned with the search lifted the veil from some of the 16,000 machines and processes that showed how cleverly the enemy had improvised and improved. Some of them:

¶ The magnetophone, a lightweight sound-recording machine, using plastic tape coated with a special magnetic iron oxide instead of the steel wire in U.S. machines. A mile of plastic tape weighs one pound; the same length of wire 55 pounds.

¶ A commercially feasible process of making synthetic mica. (The U.S. must import its supply of natural mica.)

¶ A new method of transmitting high-voltage D.C. current some 600 miles from its generating source, about twice the distance now possible.

¶ Jet-propelled helicopters; designs for supersonic planes with swept-back wings and propeller blades.

¶ Yeast from beech wood: 100 tons of wood yields seven tons of yeast and 50 tons of cellulose.

¶ Ionized air (electrically charged) to step up efficiency. A negative charge, the Germans found, produces a feeling of buoyancy and optimism, reduces high blood pressure and nervous strain. (A positive charge has the opposite effects: it produces ill-temper, depression and fear.)

In general, there was no reason for U.S. industry to tip its hat to Germany. But in a few things, the Nazis had an edge. With synthetic rubber, for example, the Germans had slightly better methods of producing medical and surgical rubber goods. They had little to teach Detroit’s motormakers. But they had new tricks to melt metals in vacuums and new electro-medical gadgets. As to how or when the Nazi processes and patents will be available to U.S. industry, the Federal Government has not yet made up its mind.