Recent content by selectomatic

Last I knew, Canon was still manufacturing their own lenses. As to the glass, a lot of it is made by Ohara, an optics manufacturer which supplies glass to many companies, including Canon, Nikon, and Olympus. As it turns out, Canon owns Ohara. Another thing to consider about lenses is that...

On page 21 of the Owner's Manual, in the Troubleshooting Problem: Washer does not dry Possible Cause and Remedy (#3): Is the water turned on? The dryer uses cold water during the dry cycle to create the condensation process. Is the unit connected to cold water?

At work, we usually recommend Canon products, although Nikon has really caught up lately. Remember that lenses are a big part of the equation, and you cannot get a good picture without one. It used to be that Nikon had far better lenses, but they've been pretty chintzy in the last several...

Pete, I do have a supplemental wood furnace that can help in three rooms, but it was always difficult to keep it lit and keeping wood in it cost nearly as much as it saved. I need to look into a more modern, efficient unit, I guess. I haven't researched pellet stoves much. Time to look into...

Tom, When I decided to make fun of an old ad and vent a little about my high power bills, I certainly didn't expect that anyone would get upset or take it personally. I also didn't quite expect to have people insult me. I'm sure nobody wants me to go into excruciating detail about my house's...

My mom had one much like that one. I think hers had a grey switch lever. I don't know anything about when such things were made, but I guess I assumed that she got it as a wedding present in 1959. It was the main mixer that she used up through the 1970s, when it finally died. -kevin

I can't help but wonder Just what you were searching eBay for. -kevin

The price of fuel is affecting food prices in another way. As more and more fossil fuel is being replaced by ethanol, more and more corn is going to that purpose. This directly affects the cost of feeding cattle and other animals, and therefore increases the cost of producing meat and milk...

I'm sure that newer systems are more efficient, But they're well outside the context of the ad. As are ceiling fans, low-e glass, triple-pane argon-filled window units and all of that. I'm also aware that my house is an unusual case because of the choices the original owners made. This month's...

I worked at a radio station during the first Gulf War, and one night a story came in on the AP teletype. Somebody was quoted as saying about another person that he "wouln't know Shi'ites from Shinola." -kevin

I like electricity for everything except heat. If it were possible in my home, I'd love to have forced-air heat. It gets heat all over the rooms, the vents are small, it's easy to add air-conditioning, and a whole-house humidifier would make my sinuses very happy! Unfortunately, between the...

Launderess, I hadn't noticed that, but you're right. No doubt the real mother was just off camera. On a related note, if you examine advertisements where a model is holding a product in their hand, they're seldom actually looking at it. That's because if you look at something up close you have...

Neil (and all), I was looking through a bunch of my old magazines and I posted a batch of advertisements over in the Super forum. About half-way through there's an ad for Hoover Twin-Tubs and the companion dryer. They're older than yours, but I thought you might like to see it. -kevin

Pete, Funnily enough, it was because I brought home a Popular Mechanics from April, 1948 that I started going through magazines this afternoon. -kevin

Not just anybody looks good in a button-up pleather singlet But Tappan Gallery ranges are always cool. -kevin