WOMAN THE INVENTOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 6, 29 March 1927, Page 5

WOMAN THE INVENTOR

Woman, so long described as “uninventive,” is rapidly refuting the charge and proving that she can* originate helpful ideas, especially in her own realm. For women have recently invented a variety of household devices which fulfil the “long-felt want" slogan by lightening labour and improving results. The straining saucepan lid is one result of feminine enterprise. This lid is equipped with pegs which hold firmly to the pot while it is being tilted to allow' the liquid to be poured away from boiled vegetables. In this way only just sufficient space is allowed for the passage of the water, the vegetables being retained safely in the pan. The tilted position can also be maintained while the pan is on the stove, so that by admitting a passage of air, porridge can be kept from boiling over Similarly, soups may be kept simmering W'ith the lid but partially on. The pegs, incidentally, prevent the lid from leaving a greasy or wet mark when it is laid down, and a hole is pierced in it so that it may be hung on a hook wh«n not in use. Another woman’s invention is the tall lid, made with a wide projection at the base, so that when placed above a pan, similarly designed, the two flat rims prevent all escape of steam. The steam is thus preserved within the confines of the lid ,and serves to concentrate the heat in such a way that food is cooked with a smaller expenditure of fuel. Also invented by a woman is the cooker which operates by means of a single gas-ring, thus functioning as a means of heating both the oven and the hot-plate and so reducing the gas bills.