New Ideas

GOODS & SERVICES

Automatic Valet. In the lobby of a Cleveland office building last week, U.S. Hoffman Machinery Corp. placed an automatic dry-cleaning vending machine. The customer phones the cleaning company from the machine and puts his suit in a locker. The clothes are picked up by the cleaner, returned to the locker in four to seven hours. The customer deposits his money and the locker opens. U.S. Hoffman plans to install 20 "Valeterias" in Cleveland, start nationwide distribution by next year.

Tinless Cans. Reynolds Metals Co. announced two ways to make cans without using scarce tin. One method uses heavy aluminum foil coated with plastic material; the other uses steel coated on either side with aluminum. Price: "very competitive" with tin cans.

Agricouture. The Agriculture Department, always ready to help the cotton farmer, showed newsmen some bright print dresses made from cotton fertilizer bags. Dresses from flour bags are old stuff, but the department had worked for months to invent a dye that would withstand the chemical effects of the fertilizer. Purpose: to make cotton fertilizer bags competitive with cheaper paper ones.

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