Things that make Life Worth Living

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 37, 28 March 1930, Page 23

Things that make Life Worth

Living

Smaller Electrical Appliances

\; HE number of small electrical appliances which the home |} Owner. can use for extra i comfort and convenience is @eSy} hardly yet realised, Fur "~3| years we have been content, or at least results so indicate, with getting our houses partially wired, our rooms only partially lighted, in short, with availing ourselves only partially of the full and complete service that can be obtained from electricity. Nor is it generally realised that for an extra shilling or two per month on the electricity account, already in most places surprisingly small, such extra services can be obtained as bell-ringing, cleaning, washing, ironing, constant correct time; water heating, radio amusement, tificial sunlight, stimulating exercise, baking, refrigerating, fan-cooling and ventilating, miscellaneous table cooking, operating sewing machines and i toys, body warming, dish washing, heating and massaging. Truly an impressive list of labour-saving, comfort- \ giving devices. Dlectricity is cheap, and the cheap- ! est way to use it is to take advantage ' of as many electric services as are available. The electric iron, now in almost general use, undoubtedly delighted every woman-who probably considered it perfect when she first used it.. Taking it as only one example of the improvements that have been.made. it. is now obtainable not only with a ' device to shut off and on automatically to prevent scorching and ‘burning, but so adjustable by means of a small pointer .on the iron itself that the heat can be maintained indefinitely at low, medium or high, to suit the fabric which is being ironed. One iron, indeed, has what is called a "button nook" into which the button neatly ‘slips at the side of the iron, enabling the material surrounding it to be neatily pressed. | Wlectrie kettles, too, which have ‘proved themselves to be a boon over ‘and over again, are now almost uni‘versally supplied with a safety-fuse, which prevents the expensive accidental burning-out of the element. "PRopaBy the quickest means we have of obtaining boiling water _is by means of the electrically-heated Jugs, which bring three and a half (pints of water to boiling point in as many minutes. Here again it was a common accident for the element to Be burnt out, owing to the operator emptying the jug before switching off the current. However, these, too, have now been rendered trouble-proof by the simple expedient of fixing the connection in the lid of the jug itself, } 1

so that disconnection of the current must take place before the fluid in the jug can be poured off. The small immersion heaters are also invaluable for heating small quantities, for example for shaving water or for bringing a tumbler or small jug of water to boiling point in a few seconds. Medical men appreciate them too for the purpose of sterilising small instruments, The smaller cooking appliances are innumerable, appealing in appearance, efficient in service, light and cleanly to handle; many of them enabling quite a meal to be cooked at the table, They range from the small oven with boiling plate, which will operate from any heating-point and yet do all the necessary cooking for a family of from four to six; to neat grillers, which will not only toast, fry and boil as well, but can also be turned on end to serve as a radiator; to shining little boiling rings which will also toast; to one or more hot-plates on a stand for fry and boiling; to waffle-irons, which cook these delicacies to perfection (both sides at once, preventing turning); to appliances for toasting sandwiches or "hot dogs," so popular with those desiring something substantial to eat in the shortest possible space of | time. Bed-head or bedside adjustable lamps are conveniences that should be found

in every home, as they not only save and preserve eyesight, a justification in itself for their existence, but they obviate the necessity for getting out of bed to switch off the light (no small blessing in itself). They soon pay for their cost many times over in the saving of electricity effected-so much less powerful a lamp being required. Wall fittings, too, have the same recommendation, giving added comfort and frequently enabling the larger central light to be dispensed with. "TOASTERS are a subject in themselves, some of them appearing almost miraculous. They are made in sizes to take from two to a dozen slices of bread simultaneously; they will toast to any required degree of brownness, automatically turning off the current, One particular make even tosses the toast up on to the table when cooked. The waterless cookers, which cook a whole meal with a minimum consumption of current in one vessel, conserving all the natural juices of the food, and those on the hay-box principle, which use hardly any current at all, have not yet caught the popular fancy as they deserve, and as they no doubht will do when they are more widely known. Lo Small heating pads, costing but a few shillings, are useful for airing pur-

poses or for warming a bed, and they also deserve to )e better known. ‘The use of small heaters, again most economical with current, makes all the dif; ference between misery and comfort when used in bedroom or bathroom in chilly weather, if only for twenty minutes at a time. An electric fan, too, provides comfort in the opposite direction, and is especially valuable in the sick room. "THE small cleaners, carried about so easily in the hand, accomplish easily and expeditiously many distasteful household tasks. Hlectrie curling irons are ready at any moment to complete or enhance my lady’s toilette, while an electrical exerciser will keep the whole family as fit as the prover bial fiddle at the cost of a few minutes daily. An electric inhaler ensures freedom from winter colds, and ‘renders easy individual inhalation of vapour from medicated salves or ointments without mess or fuss, by pressing a button. Coffee percolators are handsome and highly efficient, and egg-boilers are a convenience, enabling cooking to be done at the breakfast table, as and when required. That we cannot altogether prevent the exposure of our menfolk and children to rain, cold and other vagaries of the weather, we women know to our cost, but we can counteract these ills by providing in the home the health-giving rays of the summer sun. Sunshine lamps are not 2 fad, but something everyone needs for health’s sake to increase the resistance of the body, to disease. Only when the homes of New Zealand are fully equipped with electrical appliances shall we feel that we are really taking advantage of the sifte the gods haye sent us,

Tea or Coffee, Sir? ne

The Morning Cup can be quickly and ° delight fully made with an.

Electric Jug or’ an. Electric Coffee Percolator