Charlie Buoy Carryall Life Vest

Charles Trager started Trager Manufacturing in 1914 in Seattle, but it wasn't until 1929 that he struck it big by adopting Lloyd "Trapper" Nelson's external back pack design (which itself was inspired by native Alaskan packs of sealskins stretched over willow sticks) and made a mint. The success of the external frame pack design helped make Trager one of the early outdoor gear success stories in the U.S.

Many still look back fondly on the "Trapper Nelson" packs. The original patent for the pack is not to be missed as it proudly displays the pack in use by a fellow after he has just lit his pipe while, ostensibly, hiking in the woods.



Later in the history of Trager Manufacturing the "Charlie Buoy" was created and sold. Developed to be half life vest and half fishing vest this unit features a receptacle for a CO2 cartridge for inflating the vest, pockets for gear, and plenty of straps for the fishing fan. Although some have found the unit to not have enough room for all their items.



According to Rick Trager, great-grandson of Charles Trager, and grandson of George Trager (who bought the business from his father):

Most REI sleeping bags,packs and tents were Trager made until the 70's, as were products from Eddie Bauer, Roffe and the first Jansport pack was designed and stitched by George Trager. Trager was also a primary sponsor and supplier of equipment for Jim Whittaker's successful ascent of Mt. Everest in the early '60's.

Rick Trager also appears to have created art for a Tower Records postcard which was part of a larger set.

Today Trager makes a range of bags, but has moved their focus from outdoor gear to more urban use (laptop bags, messenger bags, etc.) equipment.

Variety of Units

This week we have a light listing of a variety of units that didn't make the cut for full investigation.

3-Ring Binder Compendium of "Peanuts" Strips


Array Of Retired Slide Projectors



Champagne Flutes You Can't Put Down



Fine Art - From Adobe


Treasure Chest (Treasure Sold Separately)



Wonder Woman saves the world from an oil crisis when she exposes a magician's method of changing lead into gold.

Rival Cookie Factory - Cookie and Snack Maker

Released at the end of Rival's second run as a private company (1932-64 private, 1964-1986 public, 1986-1992 private, and public since then) this unit sports a triple X line of gingerbread men on the front somewhat reminiscent of moonshine jugs. While Rival once had a strong run of *-O-Mat products (Juice-, Can-, Broil-, Steam-, Shred-, Knife-, Grind-) the peak of its history was reached in the early 1970's when the crock pot craze was in full swing and sent sales of the electric warmers from 2 to 93 million dollars in a just a few years.

The major selling point of this unit seems to be the ability to bake cookies (or other snacks) without using your whole oven. As evidenced by the original patent for the factory, there is a single heating element that snakes beneath the matrix of gingerbread men alcoves. The triumph of this unit over the problems of the tradition cookie making method are outlined in the document:

"Portable cookie makers for household use are desirable because they allow small quantities of fresh cookies to be made quickly. When using a conventional oven it is prudent to bake a large batch of cookies. Otherwise, due to the necessity of preheating and maintaining the large volume of oven space at a constant baking temperature, the energy waste is substantial."

But the core of their argument is:

"Thus, instead of being a spontaneous endeavor, cookie making usually requires advanced planning. Portable cookie makers overcome these disadvantages..."

Not to be confused with other cookie factories this type of unit has been discovered by others. A similarly named product, the Bonjour Cookie Factory, has sadly proven to be a disappointment to some.



Rival's trademark for the "Cookie Factory" has been canceled and Rival has diversified into sump pumps and hand-held massagers, but the box's suggestion to "Let the fun begin" lives on in Rival's 2 LB Chocolate Fountain (Black) and the cryptically named Snow Cone Maker w/ Bonus.

Storage Made Easy

While not quite as intriguing sounding as "Decorative Eggs", this glossy unit penned by the uniquely named Candace Ord Monroe seems to have been popular enough to warrant multiple printings.



This particular copy bears a personalized message.



This may be the most elegant phrasing of "Clean your room" I've ever seen.

Slice

Presto Bread Slicing Guide



This is the greatest invention since... oh wait. Not to be confused with the the Presto Mail Service, the maker of this unit no longer offers it as part of its product line. Likely spawned by the bread machine craze of the late 1990's this tool seems to be a pale imitation of the original bread slicer.

The Cheese Machine



Of course most folks will want to put something on their freshly sliced piece of bread, and what better than an equally fresh slice of cheese. The manufacturer of this unit appears to have sensed a similar desire in the market for a tool to help regulate slicing. The large wheel has an inner gear which drives a belt that pushes the cheese out of the opening in graduated units. The white slider on the open end houses a wire which actually handles the slice'n. The patent for the slicer clues us in to its inventor, David A. Holcomb. Mr. Holcomb appears to be a prolific inventor who once owned a skateboard company and may now own a boat called "Trixter".


Banana Slicer



Why not?

VWR Treck Q50/100 Dual Range Quartz Lamp

Wow, this has been a hard nut to crack. The story behind this unit has been rather elusive. The most definitive result is courtesy of
Vicki Lynn Frank who reaches across time from the year 1999 in the tiny town of Celina, TX.


View Larger Map

The unit has a knob for timing and buttons for setting some kind of levels. From Vicki's inventory:

VWR-Trek vacuum table with VWR Trek timer and Quartz lamp

- primarily reverse polarity camerawork - all aspecs.

Sadly I think this one will remain a mystery for now...

Shiny New Kid Award

Apologies for the poor photo quality on this one. It seems that Kate Wood was less than excited about receiving the "Shiny New Kid Award" presented by ACME Business Consulting (or maybe some nefarious soul rent it from her clutch and donated it independently.) Kate was excited back in 1996 after attending a speech by then candidate and President Bill Clinton, saying "it was exciting to be around so many supporters."



While Kate's profile is still available on the site, she appears to be missing from the general staff listing, which may signal a parting of ways and provide a reason for discarding the award.