Evening star., 1940-10-12
New Electric Faucet
Heater Will Supply
Hot Wafer Quickly
Clever New Switches
Add Lighting
Conveniences
BY DOROTHY DUCAS and
ELIZABETH GORDON.

An electric switch plate need not
be a mere device for control of lights
and nothing more. If you were
under the impression that rectan-
gular brass or bakelite plate on the
wall was designed to accommodate
the switch alone, better look at a
new line of combination switches,
outlets and plugs. Almost every
item has something more than the
familiar "on" and "off" switch in it..
There's one that has radio out
let and plug to take care of antenna
and ground connections; it can be
installed in combination with one
or two power outlets under the same
plate, so you can sit and read while
listening close to the radio, without
a tangle of wires behind your chair.
One of the power outlets furnishes
the current for the radio, the other
supplies the lamp Beneath these
two is the radio outlet, which looks
just like a power outlet except that
one of the prong holes is upside
down. L-shaped. The plate is stand
ard size. so it takes up only the
usual wall space. This combination
costs from 81 cents to s1.10, unin-
stalled.
Idea for
Night Light.
Another new combination-sWitch
and night lights a good idea for
1f n
tiny bulb capped with metal to
match the wall plate, so that the
light shines down toward the floor
to guide you through the hall. 1t
uses little current and takes up
such small space that two switches
may be installed on the same wall
plate with the light. Two switches,
the night light and the plate cost
from s1.54 to 81, uninstalled.
There are night lights, switch and
outlet combinations, pilot light and
two outlets, switch and outlet, and
three sWitch-plate combinations
all available in bakelite or metal
with new finish in ivory or brown.
When you see what is available in
lighting switches, you will find many
new places and new combinations
suitable for your house-cloSet lights
that turn on or off as the door Is
opened or closed; bathroom lights
with outlets for electric razor or
curling iron built in; switches with
pilot lights that glow when the Gel
lar light is left on; weatherproof
outdoor outlets. The night light and
switch and the radio outlet are the
newest-but they are all worth in
vestigating.
Heaters on Faucets.
If you are thinking of using your
country house on these brisk fall
week ends, but finch at the thought
of getting along without hot water
which might have been all right
In the middle of summer-consider
an electric faucet heater which
gives hot water, running at normal
pressure, at the rate of SO gallons
an hour at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
It costs about $50, uninstalled.
This type of heater requires no
boiler. no pilot light, no servicing
once it is installed. 1t is what is
known as an instantaneous heater,
taking approximately seconds
to make cold water hot by passing
1t over an electric coil The faucet
handle operates the electric switch
which turns on the current. Turn
1t one way and the water is hot;
turn it the other way and cold water
comes out. The temperature of the
water can be set at almost any de-
gree of warmth you desire. A small
control valve located on the side of
the heater takes care of that
This instantaneous heater is not
plug-in type. 1t is permanently
wired into your house and in some
cases special wiring may be neces-