New Ideas

GOODS & SERVICES

Clearer View. After three years and some $50,000 in research, a group of headlight manufacturers headed by General Electric Co. announced an improved sealed-beam headlight for autos which will be available within two years. The new light, approved by a subcommittee of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, gives wider vision down the righthand side of the road, has greater overall range, cuts down on flareback in fog and rain, thus virtually eliminates the need for separate fog lights.

Robot Salesmen. At the National Automatic Merchandising Association convention in Chicago, manufacturers showed the latest vending machines, which will dispense anything from an ice cream cone to a shot of shaving cream. In addition to machines that serve hot or cold sandwiches and chocolate sundaes, make change and give massages, there was an automatic vendor, suitable for race tracks and ballparks, that is installed under a seat and delivers a seat cushion in return for 25-c-.

Dr. Kildare Call Box. An electronic system for paging physicians that eliminates public calls over hospital public-address systems will soon be installed in the Long Island Jewish Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The Royalcall works on the radio principle, broadcasting coded impulses to tiny (11-oz.), transistor-equipped receivers, which each staff doctor carries in his pocket. Beamed from a central transmitter, the impulses cause the particular receiver to buzz. The doctor then uses the house phone to learn where he is needed. Cost of the transmitter: $4,000; receivers: $170 each.

Kaffeeklatsch. Al Rothschild, president of the Rothschild Co. department store, second largest in Rock Island, Ill. (pop. 48,710), has served 40,000 cups of coffee and 40,000 cookies free to shoppers since last October. Starting his plan as a goodwill gesture, Rothschild offered $125 a month to any women's church group that would volunteer to do the serving, has had plenty of takers. The snack is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, has helped boost sales in Rothschild's 16-month-old store as much as 30%.

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