The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-11-19
YOUR DOLLAR
By CONSUMERS UNION

Early Christmas shoppers this yeal
are likely to find more variety, better
quality and lower prices. In the
| Christmas buying issue of Consumers
Union Reports, C. U. rates a large
variety of popular gifts-radio-phono
graphs, sewing machines, mechanical
pencils, record albums, pianos, cleo
trio shavers, electric clocks, bicycles,
science sets, leather goods, footballs,
movie cameras and projectors.
| Here are summaries of a few Gu.
recommendations
SCIENCE SETS
Don't get your child science set
unless he's old enough to read and
understand instructions, and unless
he shows natural interest in science.
Look over the materials. Read the
instructions to see if the experiments
are interesting and constructive. Long
and tedious problems will discourage
the child flashy ones will be tried
just once. Make sure the directions
are clear, with plenty of warnings and
instructions in case things go wrong.
A science set should be more or
less foolproof, so that even If the
child deyises new experiments, or has
an accident, the results will not be
disastrous.
GU. rated physics sets and chemis-
try sets on safety, educational and
onto In, MT uo1, uariQfU of
experiments possible. Best Buys of
the physics sets were Gilbert No. 1
(s125), Sciencecraft No. 302 ($2.5O),
Gilbert No. 2 $3.50.
1912 AUTOMOBILES
What's happened to all those saw
ings auto manufacturers were sup
posed to make, to aid the national de-
Tense? Gu. found few traces of them
in this seasons models. True, some
have been forced on the
land it's too soon yet
to tell how they will turn OUT. But
the manufacturers have made expen-
sive and unnecessary changes in body
styles. Use of brightwork and plas-
tic trim is more extravaganza than
ever Improvements for significant
gas economy have not been intro
duced. Bodies are heavy; engines
about the same. Most 1912 cars will
have difficulty even in meeting the
gas mileage of previous models. One
exception is Stakeholder, which has
changed it's axle ratios toward greater
economy.
Prices are higher all along the line.
Some manufacturers, like Chrysler, |
are refusing to set any list price-a |
move against consumers. The 1941 |
models at the old prices are definitely |
better buys. The Studebaker Cham
oion is likely to be best buy in its
price class for the coming year.
VACUUM CLEANERS
You may choose between two main
.ypes of cleaners: those with handles
which you push around and those with
.anks which rest on the floor. Best
plan is to try them both in your home.
Don't take the list price too seriously,
in the vacuum cleaners sold
rom door to door. You can often
get them cheaper.
Gu. tested 20 models, priced from
1895 to $S2, for cleaning ability,
durability, convenience and economy.
Best Buys were: Sears Cat No. 727
$29.95 plus transportation, tank
ype; Electrolux 12-A Rebuilt ($33.50)
ank type; Coop Deluxe ($29.95),
landle type; Sears Cat. No. us
$29.95 plus $685. for attachments
illus transportation, handle type;
coop 500 s3S.90), tank type; Wards
lat. No. 991 ($44.95 plus transporta-
ion), tank type; Wards Cat. No. Sal
34.95 plus transportation, handle
ype.
y
YOUR DOLLAR is a regular =
monthly feature. The facts and
opinions given are based on Con-
sumers Union Reports, the month
ly magazine of Consumers Union,
IL Union So. W., New York,
non profit organization whose
main object is to safeguard buyers
by testing and reporting on con-
sumner goods. Note especially the
information on labor conditions
under which products are made.