The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-22
ALTERNATIVES
 DEVELOPED IN MANY FIELDS
ny GAYLORD P. GOODWIN

ny GAYLORD F. GOODWIN
 United Press Stan Corespondent)
 Chicago, April 22 Cup)--Alterna. lives, or substitutes, in merchandise requiring critical or priority mater ials, have been developed rapidly al1lca America entered the war.
 Many alternatives already have ben manufactured and are now on tho market. Others are still in the production stage and more are kelng planned for manufacture and release Ia the proper season.
 Simpllfication of design has play ed an important part in the develop Maent Of alternative products. There also haa been Q marked reduction in number of merchandising Items, For example, Sears Roehuck listings in lta current spring and summer catNl0g dropped from l22,000 items to e6,000, Q reduction of % per cent. This joint simpliflcatlon and reduc. tion has made for economy and efficiency In manufacture.
 Rain coats, Hats, Dresses
 Many alternatives thus developed have been found superior to the critical materials they were deSelop- cd to replace. A Sears spokesman pointed out that in many instances they also were cheaper
 One Item which probably never wil 60 back to the original mate- rial is women's ralnwear. Raineoats formerly were made of coated in- ported domestic silk fabric, Now they arc made with a coated domestic rayot fabric, equal In water proof ness to the silk but Slgihtly weaker in tearing strength.
 Mems hats formerly were made of Imported fur felt from England, France, and Australia, Now they arc being made from mixtures of fur felt and caseln fiber In propor- tions of about IS per cent fiber and by 30 per cent felt. Casein fiber. de- veloped within tho last two years, is a milk product derived from skim milk.
 Women's dresses, formerly of all wool, now are made with mixtures Of wool and rayon fiber fabrics.
 Brass Parts Reduced
 Sheep-skin lined shoes have given way to a shoe with a cowhide outer and an aplaca inner lining Compost ton shoe Soles which formerly con- tained 20 per cent rubber now eon- tain no rubber,
 Extensive changes have been made in plumbing and heating ma terials Sink faucets that formerly were oil brass now are made with malloablc iron body, spout, and handles of plaStics and only the working parts Of brass. Twenty-six brass parts in electric pumps were replaced with plastic, steel or mal- nlable Iron. Heating euemcnts for- merry all copper now are made with all Reel.
 Glass for Cooking
 Tn addition to alternatives and silnpliileationS, efforts have been made to make parts more widely Interchangeable. New parts, in new materials, will lt old units and thus keep the repair parts problem simple.
 Fishermen share in the alterna. tives program. Fly and leader boxes have been changed from aluminium to plastic, fishing rod handles from cork to plastic, and floats from cork 10 plastic
 ] Golf balls are being reclaimed with q new cover and serve just as well aS new ones.
 Many glass cooking utensils now nre available. Glass costs less than liltiininum and Iron and makes n llsable replacement for those yalu- able defense materials. "=-s~ar'saa-ls--zssa-
 Aboard ship United States Mar mes man the seco" iGry batteries and antl-alrcrnft guns.