New Ideas

GOODS & SERVICES

Sleep Stopper. An ear alarm to keep truck drivers and night watchmen from dozing was put on sale by Wright Airborne Electronics, Kansas City, Mo. Called Driver-Larm, the device contains mercury that rolls about when the head nods, and closes a transistorized circuit sounding a buzz in the wearer's ear. Price: $8.95.

Radical Boat Design. Higgins, Inc., New Orleans boat builder (World War II PT-boats), demonstrated a new 52-ft.-10 1/2-in.-long aluminum boat that can carry 30 passengers at 40 m.p.h. in rough waters. The boat's hull has a series of protruding edges angled to reduce water resistance and cushion pounding. Two 500-h.p. gas turbine engines power the craft. Price: about $175,000.

Mixi. A midget-sized (1 pt.) portable plastic mixer for cocktails, milk shakes, etc. will be put on sale by the Sibert Mfg. Co., Newark. The mixer will run for four months of normal use on two flashlight batteries. Price: $5.95.

Gas `a la Carte. A portable gasoline station for shopping-center parking lots was demonstrated by American Petrofina Inc. in Oklahoma City. The battery-powered, 10 1/2-ft.-long cart pumps two grades of gas from two tanks with a 300-gal. capacity, sells oil, dispenses air for tires, water for batteries and radiators.

No-Sag Sofa. The Simmons Co., biggest U.S. mattress maker, will bring out a line of upholstered furniture (sofas, love seats, lounge chairs) with a new device to guard against sag. Instead of woven jute-webbing supports for the furniture's coil springs, Simmons' pieces will have a steel-grid support suspended by rubber torsion springs. This will not only make furniture more comfortable but prevent sagging after long use, says Simmons. Sofa price range: $300 to $700.

Steelie. A permanent steel sander was put on sale by the Buckbee Mears Co., St. Paul, as an improvement over sandpaper. Named Steelie, the new sander uses etched and hardened carbon-steel sheets in rough and smooth finishes for the abrasive. Since the sanding surface is an integral part of the steel, it wears longer than sandpaper or other sanders with affixed abrasives, can be cleaned with a stiff brush or solvent. Price: $1.95.

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