New Ideas

GOODS & SERVICES

Bigger Bug. Germany's Bavarian Motor Works has put on the market a five-passenger mate to its two-passenger Isetta 300. In addition to the door opening from the car's front, the new Isetta 600 has a rear curbside door and back seat, is 21 in. longer (115 in. overall) than the 300 model. Its air-cooled engine has two cylinders to the 300's one, doubling horsepower to 26, though gasoline consumption of up to 58 m.p.g. is about the same. U.S. price: $1,398, v. $1,048 for the 300.

Smaller Strobe Light. The first self-contained electronic photoflash unit was introduced by Minneapolis-Honeywell's Heiland division. Instead of the usual bulky power unit dangling from a photographer's shoulder, the 35-oz. "Futuramic Strobonar" attaches to any camera equipped with speedlight synchronization. is powered by three size D batteries or ordinary household current. Price: $49.95.

Better Ballpoint. Paper Mate brought out a ballpoint pen which writes easily on grease-smeared paper or slick surfaces that usually balk ballpoints. The pen has a new ink containing a detergent that cleanses the writing surface. Price: $2.49.

Flat Tube. Britain's government-sponsored National Research Development Corp. has patented a video system that cuts the depth of a TV tube to only 5 in. The secret is a new method of guiding an electron beam to the screen more accurately than before. Theoretically, such tubes will eliminate many costly controls, cut prices of future color receivers, make a TV set flat enough (about 7 in.) to hang on a wall.

Hurricane & High Water. A four-room prefabricated beach house designed to withstand hurricane and high water was shown by Pre-Bilt Construction Co. of North Dartmouth. Mass. It stands on V-shaped steel stilts, 9 ft. tall, which are bolted to a 41-yd. concrete block that acts as anchor. Price: $12,500 with finished interior, $7,900 without.

Sputnik Choo-Choo. A space-age toy electric train with an airborne satellite was introduced by Kusan-Auburn Inc. As the train starts, a white ball of styrofoam rises on a steady stream of air from a car with a twin-turbine compressor, floats along one foot above the train until it stops. Other gimmicks: a revolving radar screen, searchlight, laboratory car, four extra satellites. Cost: $49.50.

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