The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-19
CADETS
FOR LAZY PERSON
Willie Fred Dixon Lies In
Bed Thinking Up Con-
venient Inventions
BY r

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Jan. Is
tire salesman who says
he is Just naturally mechanical
ly minded" has turned his hobby
of lying in bed and dreaming up
little conveniences into a large
scale turnout of practical inven-
tons.
Suppose, for instance, you're on
the road and out of gas, or look
ing cor a seat in a crowded thea
ter, or just too lazy on Sunday
mornings to get out of bed and
get the paper. Willie Fred Dixon
OF Chattanooga has invented little
gadgets which he thinks will solve
your problems.
Four Of his inventions have been
patented - the automatic theater
usher, the mechanical paper de-
liverer {it'll bring the paper di-
rect from the mail box to your
BEDROOM, a beam ray. and a col
lapsible bedside tray. He has ap-
piled for patents for an automatic
seE-service gas pump and a two
compartment bottle and says ne
has about 10 additional ideas TO
work or.
Dixon, a poetic sort Of fellow
who likes to make up little rhymes
and enter them in soap contests,
is more enthusiastic about his the
alter usher invention than his other
gadgets.
Each row Of seats is equipped
with a panel board with numbers
OF the seats on it," explained the
quick witted, partly bald inventor.
AS a seat is occupied, the light
.extinguished by a switch under
the seat. A person entering a
darkened theatre just looks FOR a
number"
Dixon said he had numerous
calls from theater managers who
wanted to use the invention. But
it's not On the market yet" he
added.
The beam ray is Dixon's gift
to- the Navy.
The 33-year-old tire salesman,
a Navy veteran Of World War II.
said the ray is used to detect any
at least 10 feet wide.
When an object enters The raw
area. the ray is broken and that
registers on a detector at a near
BY base" Dixon explained. "The
planned to use it as a har-
Dor. defense against enemy SUBJ
marines. The gadget was still in
he experimental stage at the
close Of the war"
A trip to Florida started Dixon.
who was born in Meter, Ca, and
1as lived in Chattanooga FOR the
last 10 years, thinking about an
automatic gas pump.
Il couldn't find any filling sta
ions open in the early hours of
morning along the way so |
decided to do something about it,"
ne said. Il rugged up a tank which
Sakes a 50-cent piece through a
slot. In turn the coin releases a
lever which releases so cents
worth Of gas"
Dixon said his Accompaniment
bottle will come in handy for out
door sports enthusiasts.
'1nstead Of worrying about a
whisky bottle and a chaser bot
tie at a game, the Fan need carry
only this one bottle" he asserted.
BY pressing one lever the valve
to the whisky compartment opens
while another lever does the same
thing for. the chaser side"
The tire salesman's collapsible
tray can be used as a food tray
fastened to the side Of a bed or
can be turned into a vanity set.
His paper deliverer operates on
a system Of chains and pulleys.
u work out my inventions ly-
ing in bed" Dixon said. II like
to be in bed by 7 pm. So I'll have
more time to think. Often I've
thought 0. an idea around mid
night and have gotten out OF bed
to try out the idea in my work
shop.
sI'm Just naturally mechanical
" minded" he added. II made
my hrst gadget. at the age. Of 10.