New Ideas

GOODS & SERVICES

New Train. Philadelphia's Budd Co. unveiled its answer to other lightweight trains. The new stainless-steel Budd passenger car, the Pioneer III, scales 52,300 Ibs., or 595 Ibs. for each of its 88 seats. In mass production the Pioneer will cost about $95,000--just above the trainman's dream of $1,000 per head, vastly lower than the conventional car figure of $3,800. Budd cut weight with simplified hollow-axle rail truck and wide use of plastics for seats, walls, baggage racks, ceilings, washroom appliances. The company estimates that Pioneer's maintenance costs will be less than 60% of the upkeep for a standard 80-passenger, 65-ton car. One reason: it can be washed inside and out with a fire hose. Budd has run the car 5,000 miles in tests, will ride it 45,000 more before taking orders.

Clean Ribbon. Royal Typewriter Co. is bringing out a new portable on which the ribbon can be changed without dirtying hands. Two spools of ribbon, each in a separate plastic case, are slipped onto the carriage, and dropped into open ribbon slots. First stroke of a key automatically locks the ribbon in place.

Brighter Lamp. A fluorescent lamp that provides 2 1/2 times as much light as models now in use will be put on sale by Sylvania Electric Products Inc. The VHO (Very High Output) lamp comes in 100-watt, 4-ft., and 200-watt, 8-ft. models.

Prefab Synagogues. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and United States Steel Homes, Inc. have joined in a project to build, furnish and arrange financing for prefabricated synagogues, day schools and community centers now needed as a result of the exodus to the suburbs. U.S. Steel, which also markets prefab churches, branch banks and homes, says a 325-seat synagogue can be erected within four days for $32,000.

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