RATINGS BY BRAND NAME FOR

Tools·Home care and cleaning·Foods

Grooming aids ·Energy conservation
TV· Photographic equipment
---
Cars· Appliances· HI-Fl
 THIS IS THE DECEMBER 1982 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS
VOLUME 47, N0.12
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 Contents

Page 5 How to use the Buying Gulde Issue

Suggestions for making full use of the Buying Guide; what
the Ratings and prices mean
8 Kitchen and laundry
Washing machines, clothes dryers, laundry boosters and
detergents, microwave/ convection ovens and oven
cookWare, countertop broilers, ceramic cooktops, rice
cookers, can openers, electric frying pans and woks, food
processors, com poppers, dishwashlng liquids, paper towels,
freezers
55 Foods
Breads, orange juice, "fruit" drinks, hot dogs, peanut butter,
bacon, cake mixes, frozen fish portions, frozen pot pies, beef
stews, frozen fried chicken, canned soups, salad dressings,
bottled water, cottage cheese, turkeys
121 Energy
Saving fuel at home; kerosene heaters (not recommended);
solar, electric, and gas water heaters, plus heat pumps; high-
efficiency replacement burners for oil furnaces; energy-
saving thermostats, caulking compounds, insulation,
weatlierstripping, storm windows, window insulators;
ceiling, whofe-house, and portable fans; air-<:onditioners
162 Home care
Garbage/trash bags, vacuum cleaners (uprights, canisters,
and power-nozzle models), floor polishes, upholstery and all-
purpose cleaners, smoke detectors, burglar alarms, fire
extinguishers, light bulbs, electric bug killers
195 Personal products
Men's and women's trench coats, disposable diapers, life
jackets, hand-held calculators, insect repellents, exercise
bikes, heating pads, cleansing creams and lotions, bookpacks
for children, carry-on luggage
221 Photography
Color-film processing, single-lens-reflex cameras and
interchangeable lenses for them, pocket llO cameras,
teleconverter lenses, tripods
243 TV and audio
Video cassette recorders, small-screen color TVs, small
black-and-white TVs, shopping guide for hi-fi components,
mid-priced receivers, low-pricecf speakers, phono cartridges,
mini component systems and separate mini loudspeakers,
turntables, low-priced cassette decks, FM antennas
282 Home workshop
Electric drills, hammers, socket wrenches, stepladders, string
trimmers, pruning tools, hedge trimmers, toofs for applying
and removing paint, latex wa11 paints, paints for exterior
siding and trim, aerosol paints
333 Autos
Buying a new car; buying a used car; 1982 models as used
cars; trouble and cost indexes, 1976-1981; auto clubs (with
Ratings of 35 AAA and other clubs); auto antitheft devices
372 Five.year listing of Consumer Reports monthly Issues
Where to look in back issues
378 Index to 1983 Buying Gulde
Alphabetical index of all reports in this guide
 How to use the
Buying Guide Issue
In one handy source, we have gathered the major test reports,
brand-and-model Ratings, and general buying guidance from the
last several years of CONSUMER REPORTS. Major product reports
from the 1982 issues have been summarized, and earlier summar-
ies have been carefully reviewed and, where necessary, revised.
1. To find the report on a specific type of product, look in the Index to the 1983 Buying
Guide on page 378. That's where you'll find the page number if this issue has a Ratings
report or a discussion of that product. If you're planning to paint your house, for example,
look in the Index under " Paints"; there are listings for house paints, wall paints, spray
enamels, and tools to remove paint.
2. H you don't find what you're looking for in the Index, tum to the Cont'ents in the
front of the book and check the product's general subject area. This year's Buying Guide
has no report on porch and deck paints, for example, but the Home Workshop chapter
has related articles in which you can find valuable advice about choosing a paint and
examining it for defects.
3. If the related articles in the appropriate chapter don't help you, look on page 372 for
the Five-year Listing of CONSUMER REPORTS Monthly Issues. This section is a back index to
articles that were published by CONSUMER REPORTS from January 1978 to October 1982
but are not summarized in this Buying Guide Issue. (Articles from the November 1982
issue will be summarized for the 1984 Buying Guide.) We do not attempt to summarize
general articles on economics and medicine. Copies of January-through-November issues
up to 11 m<;mths old may be purchased, as supplies permit, by sending $1.50 per copy to
Back Issue Department, Consumers Union, P.O. Box 1949, Marion, Ohio 43305. Your
local library may have bound volumes of CONSUMER REPORTS or back issues on file.
4. Detailed background and technical information concerning many of the Buying
Guide's summary entries can be found in past regular monthly issues of CONSUMER
REPORTS. We commend them (and our regular 1983 issues) to you as supplemental
resources.

The 1983 Guide covers the products you
need to update your home for fuel econo-
my-insulation, modem thermostats, and
other fuel-saving devices. There is a shop-
ping guidance article on high-fidelity com-
ponents along with reports on all the
equipment necessary to assemble a very
good sound system at minimum cost. The
automobile section covers advice on buy-
ing a new or used car along with Ratings of
the 1982 models and Cost and Trouble
Indexes for all cars back to 1976.
6 HOW TO USE THE BUYING GUIDE ISSUE
How CU selects products for testing
In determining what products to purchase
and test at a given time, we consider a
number of elements, including patterns of
consumer expenditures, environmental
considerations, expressions of reader inter-
est, the extent of a product's availability in
the marketplace, and the special nature of
a new product or of a significantly altered
existing product.
Not all products lend themselves equal-
ly well to useful testing and reporting.
Either the product category is dominated
by unbranded models readers cannot iden-
tify, adequate test methods have not been
developed, or the tests would cost too
much for the amount of useful information
they could yield. Where comparative Rat-
ings would not be valid, CU often provides
general guidance .concerning competing
types of products and their generic differ-
ences.
CU's Ratings are based on laboratory
tests, controlled use tests, and expert judg-
ments of the purchased samples. Although
CU exercises meticulous care to insure
accuracy in its reports, errors may occur.
Such errors are promptly corrected. But
because quality may vary within brands
and products may change behind their
names, no test results can provide infallible
guidance. A Rating of a given model
should not be considered a Rating of other
models of the same brand unless specifical-
ly noted.

How up-to-date are the Ratings?

Buying Guide Issue Ratings are based on
CU's latest tests of each product. These
tests are reported in full in the regular
monthly issues of CONSUMER REPORTS. The
date of the original report is noted in most
Guide entries-just-below the title.
Because of the time required for testing
and reporting, all of those Ratings may not
be of the latest models available in the
marketplace. But new CU tests are contin-
ually being made, so check the new regular
monthly issues of CONSUMER REPORTS, as
well as this Guide, before you buy in
1983.
Up-tCK!ate information on the availabil-
ity of each model mentioned in this Guide

What CU's Ratings mean

Products are rated, for the most part, in order of estimated overall
quality, without regard to price.
Models are check-rated (S) when the test samples prove to be of
high overall quality and significantly superior to those of other mod-
els tested.
Best Buy Ratings are accorded to models which are not only rated
high but also priced relatively low, and should give more quality per
dollar than other Acceptable models.
A Rating of a given model should not be considered a Rating of
other models sold under the same brand name unless so noted.
 HOW TO USE THE BUYING GUIDE ISSUE 7
would require the kind of checking that
goes well beyond CU's staff resources. But
some checks on availability can be and are
made. Products that had been discontinued
by their manufacturers but were still avail-
able at the time our judgments of them
were originally published in CONSUMER
REPORTS, prior to November 1979, are not
listed in this Buying Guide Issue. Prnducts
that were noted as 'discontinued in our
November 1979 and later issues are in-
cluded in the Ratings in this Buying Guide
but are designated with the symbol @ .
@ is also used in a second check on
availability. Sometimes a product sold by a
mail-order house may be dropped from the
mail-order house catalog, for seasonal or
What the prices mean
No user of the Buying Guide needs to be
reminded of how inflation affects consum-
er goods and services. Because of price
increases, most prices cited in this Guide
are lower than those the consumer will
encounter in the marketplace. Unfortu-
nately, it is impossible for CU to provide
up-to-Oate prices on the thousands of
brands and models included in the Guide-
and if we could, such prices would soon be
obsolete.
Prices given, unless otherwise indicated
at the head of the Ratings, are list prices,
dating from the original report.
CU's objectivity
As a nonprofit organization which abjures
any form of commercialism, CU accepts
no advertising and no product samples
from anyone. All products tested are
bought by CU's shoppers from retail
sources. If you ever hear that any CU Rat-
ing has been influenced by anyone, ask
whoever says it to write it down and sign
his or her name to it; then please send the
document to us. Consumers Union takes
full responsibility for the integrity of its
work. We think it is fair to uk anyone who
other reasons, after CU has rated the prod-
uct in a regular test report. The model may
still be available in the mail-order compa-
ny's retail stores or can still be ordered.
When we are unable to 6nd such a model
in the latest catalog available to us, that
product ls designated in the Buying
Guide's Ratings with a @ .
When CU becomes aware that a large
number of models tested have been super-
seded, the detailed comments on them may
be curtailed or eliminated, and lower-rated
models, or even all models, may be omit-
ted. However, whether brands and models
are given in ful~ in part, or not at all, CU
strives to give general buying advice on
each product in the Buying Guide Issue.
Of course, the meaning of "list price" is
highly variable. Not only are discounts
from list frequently available, but the list
price itself is sometimes a fiction designed
to enable the seller to appear to be offering
a bargain. In recent years, meaningful list
prices have all but disappeared from some
product categories. In such cases, price
surveys conducted by CU's shoppers
across the country have provided bench-
marks. Where list prices have been availa-
ble, however, CU included them in lieu of
better information, for comparison among
models, or, sometimes, for identification.
impugns that integrity to assume responsi-
bility for doing so-and for the conse-
quences.
Further, to protect its reputation from
suspicion, CU takes all steps open to it to
stop any commercial usage of its work,
including the use of its name or allusions to
its findings in the promotion of any prod-
uct or service.
These are some of the rules behind our
pledge: CU Ratings shall be as free from
bias as it is possible to malce them.
 Kitchen and laundry
Washing machines
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1982
We tested 12 top loaders and two front
loaders. In each case, we selected the mod-
el with the largest tub capacity offered by
that particular manufacturer. Most of our
washers are in the moderate price range;
more expensive machines are more com-
plicated and not much more useful, in our
judgment. All our washers give you suffi-
cient control over the way the laundry is
handled.
For instance, you can adjust the amount
of water to the size of your wash. With
most models, the minimum fill takes about
half as much water as the maximum fill.
The difference amounts to 20 or 30 gal-
lons. Adjusting the water level to the load
will help you save water, energy, and
detergent. Still, the most economical way
to use a machine is to nm it with a full
load.
You can control the temperature of the
wash water and the rinse water separately.
These are the standard options for wash
and rinse: hot/warm, hot/cold, warm/
warm, warm/cold, and cold/cold. The
only time you need a hot wash is when you
have a load of very dirty clothes. Other-
wise, a warm or cold wash will do. And
always use a cold rinse. Warm water won't
rinse any better, and it may help wrinkle
permanent-press fabrics.
You can select one of three main cy-
cles-regular or normal, permanent press,
and delicate or knits. Some machines have
an automatic pre-wash and soak cycle. The
regular cycle is the longest; washing, rins-
ing, and spin-drying are accomplished in
about 32 to 49 minutes. The permanent-
press cycle takes about 32 to 41 minutes
and also differs from the regular cycle in
1
that the fabrics are cooled just before the
spin-dry phase to prevent wrinkling. For
washing delicate or knit fabrics, the top-
loading type of washing machine can be
set to wash and spin at low speeds. The
front loaders have only one wash and one
spin speed, but the knit cycle has a short
maximum wash period.
PERFORMANCE. All the machines washed
clothes well, in our judgment. But they dif-
fered in a number of other ways. The front
loaders turned out to be the most efficient
users of both hot water and total water.
They used only about 27 gallons to do a
full load in the regular and in the perma-
nent-press cycles. The top loaders used
from 40 to 59 gallons in the regular cycle
and from 49 to 61 gallons in the perma-
nent-press cycle. It's possible to increase a
machine's water efficiency by washing a
full load of clothes with somewhat less
than the maximum fill. But at some point,

your clothes won't be as well washed as
they should he. For maximum cleanliness,
use a maximum IHI.
The Maytag required the least electrici-
ty. It also required relatively low overall
energy consumption because of its low
consumption of heated water. The Depart-
ment of Energy label on the Maytag indi-
cates that its energy cost would be about
$59 a year if you heat the water by elec-
tricity and $23 by gas. Seven other top
loaders had energy estimates that were
within 10 percent of those.
To keep wrinkles from setting in perma-
nent-press fabrics, it's important to have a
machine that cools effectively before the
spin-dry phase. Generally, machines that
cool by immersing clothes in cold water-
such as the Maytag, the Whirlpool, the
Sears, and the Speed Queen-do a better
job than those that merely sprinkle clothes
with cold water.
We checked the machines for water
extraction, linting, and noise; our judg-
ments about those performance factors are
entered in the appropriate Ratings col-
umns. We investigated the machines' be-
havior with deliberately unbalanced loads
and looked for any tendencies toward over-
sudsing; our findings on those performance
Ratings of washing machines
Listed by types; within types, listed
in order of estimated overall quality
based on judgments of water con-
sumption, energy efficiency, per-
formance, convenience, and safety.
Models in brackets were judged
equal in overall quality and are
listed alphabetically. Except as not-
ed, dimensions ranged from 43 to
44 in. in height (plus up to 1112 in.
more from leveling legs and 10 to
12 in. lid clearanee for top-loading
WASHING MACHINES 9
points, and others, are noted individually
in the Ratings.
Six models have a lock that prevents one
from opening the lid while the tub is
spinning. The other models are equipped
with a brake that stops the tub from
spinning when you raise the lid.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Although Maytag ma-
chines usually cost more than the other
models, they've had a consistently superior
frequency-of-repair record. So the higher
price may be easily offset by lower repair
bills and less aggravation. As far as energy
and hot-water consumption are concerned,
the Maytag A710 performed well, but not
a lot better than several other models in
the Ratings.
Actually, any one of the top loaders
should perform adequately, but we give
the edge to the top eight. You might well
base your selection on price or the dealer's
reputation for service.
The two front loaders we tested use far
less water (both hot and total) than the top
loaders do. Thus, their annual energy cost
is also lower. They're also fairly quiet and
do a good job of keeping clothes free of
lint. On the other hand, they're not as easy
to load and unload as top loaders, and they
have a pretty small tub capacity.
models), from 25 112 to 29 in. in
width, and from about 25 to 28 in. in
depth (although most need up to 3
in. more depth for clearance from
wall and lids of front-loading mod-
els open down and out another 13
in. or so) . Prices are average of
retail prices quoted to CU shoppers
of models in white; price variations
of $150 or more for the same model
were not uncommon.
Ratings continued on next page
 Ratings of washing machines .....
0
continued

~
o e o ~ • ~
~
Better Worse

~
~
~e
~· ';:::j
:<.
,l' ~
Top loaders
MAYTAG A710 $549 e e e e 0 0 e e 0 0 0 A,E,F,l,M,N,O,P d,g,s,t A,C,F,/,M
WHIRLPOOL LA5800 412 e e e e o o e o e o o A.E.P l,q ,t A.K
GEWWA8350B 476 0 0 0 0 e e 0 0 e 0 e A,B,G.J.M.O,P e,f,j,p,r A,C,J,K
GIBSON WA18D3WL 441 0 0 0 0 0 e e 0 0 0 ~ A,D,H,L,S h,l,r 8,J
HOTPOINT WLW47008 420 0 0 0 0 e e 0 0 e 0 e C,E,J,M,O,P e,i,p,r A,K
KELVINATOR AWL230S 442 0 0 0 0 0 e e 0 0 0 ~ A.D.H,L l,r 8,J
SEARS21n1 448 0 0 0 0 0 0 e 0 e 0 e A,E,M,P d,h,i,l,q ,u E.F
SPEED QUEEN HA7001 530 0 e 0 ~ e 0 0 0 e e 0 F,J,M,N,O,P,R,S c, i,r D,G,M

[ .......... W1J 406 ~ ~ ~ ~ Q 8 Q • Q ~ Q H,L,O a,k,w 8,C,D,H

NORGE LWA7120S 312 o ~ ~ o o e e o o e • K.M e,j,l,o,q
WARDS 6431 410 o ~ ~ o o e e o o e • K e,h,j,l,rn,o,q A

~ 0 e 0 • e ~ 0
WHITE-WESTINGHOUSE
LA700E 463 ~ ~ ~ D,H,L,M,O,Q k 8 ,C,D,H
Front loaders
WHITE-WESTINGHOUSE
LT&OOE 523 0 0 0 0
GIBSON WS14M6Wlill 535 0 0 0 ®
[D At maximum fill
0 Stackable model; only 34 1/4 in. high; requires optional painted top (approx. $25) to be free-standing machine with finished cabinet.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: presettable water-level control;
metered fill.
Except as noted, all have: water-tempera-
ture options for wash/rinse of hot/warm,
hot/cold, warm/warm, warm/cold, and
cold/ cold (but see story) ; continuously
variable water-fill control; lid that locks
during spin or lid safety switch that stops
spin action only; bleach dispenser; manu-
ally cleaned lint filter; top, lid, and tub fin-
ish of porcelain enamel, with the rest of
the cabinet finished In baked enamel; anti-
drip lip around top edge; drain hose 3 1/ 2 to
4 1'2 ft. long.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A- Can be set to use less water than
most for small loads.
B - Has mini-basket for very small loads.
C - Has second, smaller agitator for small
loads or delicate fabrics.
D - Comes with drain hose 5 1'2 ft. long.
E- Has timed soak/prewash cycle.
F - Has extended soak cycle with brief
agitation and automatic shutoff.
G - Has "Extra Clean " cycle with 2
rinses.
H -Vibrated little during spin, even with a
very unbalanced load.
I - Lid safety switch stops all action.
J - Lid safety switch stops agitation and
e e ~ ~ 0 e 0 H,L,O,P
e e ~ -- 0 e 0 H,L,O,P
spin .
K-Safety brake stopped tub faster than
most during spin.
L - Lid or door locks during spin.
M - Ha" dispenser for fabric softener.
N- Fabric-softener dispen ser comes
apart for easy cleaning.
0-Timer can't be rotated with machine
on.
P- Has smooth surface for fold ing
clothes.
Q -Open lid forms shelf for built-in scale.
R - Has stainless-steel tub.
$-Also has slow/normal setting.
a-Permanent-press cycle used more
water than that of any tested model.
b - Range of fill control is very narrow.
c - Range of fill control is fairly narrow.
d - With even a moderately unbalanced
load, switch shuts off machine during
spin.
e - Tub spun slowly and extracted little
water with a moderately unbalanced
load; tub tended to bump against
cabinet.
f - Low-sudsing detergent may be re-
quired by GE model; likely to be
required by front-loading White-
Weetlnghouae and Gibeon models.
g - Tab took longer to stop than others
b,f,h,i,n,q,s,v A,8,J,L
b,f,h,1,n,q,s 8,J,L
when lid was opened during spin.
h - Lacks bleach dispenser.
i - Lint filter can't be cleaned by hand;
lint discharges into hose drain, a pos-
sible cause of blockage.
j - Agitator-mounted lint filter impedes
access to tub.
k - Unloading large items from tub occa-
sionally dislodged lint filter.
I - Timer can be advancedirom action to
action while machine is on.
m - Timer knob hides timer-dial pointer in
some positions.
n-Solenoid noise when machine
changes action was judged especially
obtrusive.
o - Loud clunk heard at end of spin cycle
and when actuating tub brake by lift-
~
ing lid. ~
~
p - Changing speed setting during opera-
tion may damage machine.
q - Drain hose must be carefully posi- c;".)
~
tioned; hose supplied with machine
tended to flatten when bent.
r - Instructions on lid judged limited.
s - Lid or door lacks instructions; no ~
~
instructions elsewhere on machine.
t - Top lacks anti-drip lip.
u - Lid does not lie flat, and so hampers
access to machine from the left. ~
v-Top has painted finish.
1--'
w-Lacks normal/slow setting. 1--'
Comments continued next page
12 WASHING MACHINES, CLOTHES DRYERS
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Water-temperature control has no setting
for warm wash/warm rinse.
8-Water-temperature control has no setting
for hot wash/warm rinse.
C-On permanent-press cycle, cold rinse
only.
0-0n delicate-fabric cycle, cold rinse only.
£-Fill is warm when selected soak or pre-
wash cycle is hot.
F- Has 4 or 5 fixed water-fill settings.
G-Switch shuts off machine during spin if
load is severely unbalanced.
H- On slow spin, machine starts and runs at
normal speed for a few minutes.
/-Cold water usage in permanent-press cy-
cle varies with load type and size.
J- Has " soak" setting but you must turn off
machine manually after fill.
K- Manufacturer offers special help for do-
it-yourself repair.
L-Only one combination of agitation/spin
speeds, but has reduced time setting for
delicates.
M-Can be installed flush with the wall.

Clothes dryers
Condensed from Consumer Reports January 1982
But because natural gas is generally
The 26 near-top-of-the-line gas and elec-
tric dryers we tested are nominally pre-
cheaper than electricity, a gas dryer will
cost much less to mn. At a gas rate of 54.8
pared to handle all the fabrics (cottons,
cents per therm (about 100 cubic feet),
permanent-press, and delicates) usually en-
countered in home-laundry work. They operating costs for the tested gas dryers
should range only from $20 to $22 for 400
have two, three, or four drying tempera-
drying loads (about a year's worth). The
tures and a no-heat setting. Moreover, in
comparable range for electric models, at
addition to a timed cycle, most have one or
6.75 cents per kilowatt-hour, should be
more automatic cycles that are supposed
around $60 to $80.
to take the guesswork out of determining
when clothes are suitably dry. ·At their recommended settings for per-
manent-press loads, all models produced
The thermostats that control automatic
drying temperatures close to the desired
cycles on most of the dryers measure mois-
150-to-180° range. But some signalled
ture indirectly-by measuring the temper-
they were finished while the permanent-
ature of air leaving the dryer's dnun. But
press items in them were still warm. The
eight models (from Sears, General Electric,
dryers judged most effective at preventing
Whirlpool, and Maytag) have an electron-
wrinkles during cool-down were those that
ic moisture-sensing device to control their
left fabrics near room temperature.
automatic cycle. Their direct measure-
Most models were overly generous in
ment of moisture in the dmm, it's claimed,
supplying heat to delicate fabrics. With
enables them to "feel" the laundry at every
light loads, the average temperature at the
stage of dryness and thereby to prevent
overdrying. delicate-fabric setting ranged between
PERFORMANCE. The gas dryers were gener-
150° and 160°. (140° or less is usually rec-
ommended for delicates.) The models kin-
ally faster than the electric dryers. Most of
the gas models are rated at 22,000 British
dest to delicates kept temperatures below
120°. You could play safe with some
thermal units per hour. Electric models are
machines by nmning delicates through a
typically rated at an equivalent of about
19,000 Btu/hr. timed no-heat setting.

To accommodate various load condi-
tions and levels of desired dryness, most
models have controls that let you work
within a moisture range at one or more
automatic cycles. But, no matter what the
control setting, many models could pro-
duce little else than very dry clothes.
Those judged to have a good moisture
range could produce loads from slightly
damp to very dry. The top-rated Scars gas
model had the greatest moisture range; at
its lowest dryness setting (for large regular
and permanent-press loads alike), it left
clothes very damp.
In general, the electronic moisture-sens-
ing models provided a greater moishtre
range than the temperahtre-sensing mod-
els. (The Maytags, with their limited con-
trols, were exceptions.) It's fair to say, too,
that most machines seem to have been
designed to perform best with large per-
manent-press loads. But when we tested
with light (four-pound) permanent-press
loads, only four models could be manipu-
lated to leave less than bone-dry clothes.
CONVENIENCE. The Scars and Whirlpool
moisture-sensing models have eliminated
the familiar rotary dial on the control pan-
el. Jn its place is a series of "membrane"
switches activated by the lightest touch,
We judged the Scars moishire-sensing
models excellent in control convenience,
although the touch switches don't allow a
continuous range of timed cycles, as rotary
dials do. The Whirlpool moisture-sensing
models offer a wider selection of timed
cycles, but they don't reveal what phase of
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
CLOTHES DRYERS 13
a cycle the dryer is in, as does the position
of the rotary dial on most other models (or
indicator lights on the Scars).
Most models manage to be fairly clear
about which part of the dial controls what
cycle. Potential sources of misunderstand-
ing-unclear markings and ambiguous dial
positions-were taken into account in our
scoring of control convenience. Also taken
into account were sundry deviations from
normal patterns of cycles and settings.
Some models, for example, won't allow
added tumble or automatic cycles at cer-
tain temperature settings.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If natural gas is availa-
ble to your home, it's generally in your
interest to buy a gas dryer. Gas dryers tend
to cost from $30 to $50 more than their
electric counterparts, but that difference in
purchase price can easily be made up in
energy savings in the first year of use-
assuming that gas and electricity rates hold
to their present pattern.
We hold a slight preference for mois-
htre-sensing models, either electric or gas.
The best of them were capable of more
sensitive and accurate drying than most
temperature-sensing models. They carried
higher price tags, too-costing, on average,
anywhere from $20 to $90 more than
otherwise similar models.
Although we list average prices for all
the dryers in the Ratings, you may be able
to save quite a bit by looking for below-
average prices. CU shoppers found spreads
of up to $160 for the same model.
Tum page for Ratings
 ......
Ratings of clothes dryers """
Listed by types; within types, betically. Except as noted, all age of those quoted to CU shop- g
listed in order of estimated over- are temperature-sensing models pers in a 12-city survey for mod- o
all quality. Differences in quality (see story) . Dimensions are els in white. ~
given to nearest 1/4 in.; height will
between closely ranked models
were slight; models judged equal vary somewhat with position of
Very ~

•e •
Excellent good Good Fair Poor
are bracketed and listed alpha- leveling legs. Prices are the aver-
0 ~ ~
~
~

Brend and modal

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Gas models
SEARS Lady Kenmore 71941 $478 42 1/2x29x27 1/2 e 0 0 0 A,H,l,K,L,P,Q,R,T I C,J,K
GENERAL ELECTRIC 00092808 396 433/,x31 x27 1/2 e e 0 0 A ,C,F,J,N p
GENERAL ELECTRIC 00082808 375 43 1'2x31x27 3/• e e e e G,N p
-SEARS Kenmore 71741 387 42 1'2x29x28 e e e e l,K b,g,k,n,o A.J,K
(SPEED QUEEN HG7009 400 43 1/4X27x29 0 ~ ~ e B,C,l,R f A
WHIRLPOOL LGll01 422 42 3t.x29x27 3/, e e 0 e A,H,P.O,R b,c,rn C,J,K
WHIRLPOOL LG7801 357 42 3t.x29x27 3/• e 0 ~ 0 R 0 8 ,C.E.J,K

••• •
MAYTAG DGe10 422 43 1'2x28 1/zx28 e 0 ~ 1,0 b A,l,L,P
MAYTAG DG710 453 43 1/2x28 1'2x28 e ~ ~ A,O,P b,i,j,n A,/,L,P
NORGE LDG9120S 367 42%x31x27 1/• ~ ~ E a,b,d,f,g.o A,F.M
 Electric models
GENERAL ELECTRIC DDE9200B 361 44x31x27 1'2 - e e 0 0 A,C,F,J,N p
WHIRLPOOL LE9800 382 43x29x273/ 4 0 e e 0 A,0,F,H,P,Q,R m C,J,K
SEARS Lady Kenmore 81941 440 423t.x29x27 1'2 0 0 e 0 A,H,l,K,L,P,Q,R,T b,I C,J,K

[GENERAL ELECTfflC 00"""8

HOTPOINT DLB2880B
342
314
· 433/4x31x27 1'2
43x31x27 1/2
e e
e 0
e
0 •• N
C,l,N
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p
WHITE-WESTINGHOUSE DE870A
GIBSON DE18A8WL
362
336
3 3
44 /4x26 /4x26
44 1'2x28x27 3/4
0 e
~ 0
e
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SPEED QUEEN HE7003
SEARS Kenmore 81741
355
346
43x27x29
42 1'2x29x28
0 ~
0 e ~
0
•• B,E,l,R
l,K
f
c,g,k,n,o
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WHIRLPOOL LE7800
FRIGIDAIRE DECIJ
316
333
43 3/4x29x273/4
433/4x28x26 1'2
0
~
0
0 •• e 0
~
R
E
0

g
B,C,E,J,K
A,D,F
KELVINATOR DEA250S 363 43x28x273/ 4 ~ ~ ~ I b,o F,O
NORGE LDE9120S
MAYTAG DE810
331
390
43x31x27 1/2
43 1/2x28 1'2x28
0
0
~
0 •• • ~
0
1,0
a,d,f,g,o
b
A,F,M
A,l,L,P

•• •
MAYTAG DE710 418 1 1
43 /2x28 '2x28 /4 1
0 ~ ~ A,O,P b,c,i,j,n A,/,L,P
WARDS7841 339 44x31x27 /2 1
0 ~ E,M,R,S a,b,e,f,h F.M g
SPECIFICATIONS 0
All have: Automatic dryness control cycle;
satisfactory permanent-press tempera-
pertures (not Including " air-fluff" set-
ting) ; continuously adjustable timed cycle
KEY T O ADVANTAGES
A - Moisture-sensing model (see story) . ~
lure; safety start switch (which may be
incorporated Into other console controls) ;
of at least 50 min.; no-heat or " air-fluff"
cycle of at least 50 min.; end-of-cycle sig-
B - Judged very good in quietness· of
operation.
~
4 leveling legs.
Except as noted, all were judged: Good in
nal (buzzer, beep, or bell) not adjustable
for loudness; drum light; round drum
C - Judged very good in cool-down effec-
liveness for permanent-press loads. ~
quietness of operation, cool-down effec-
liveness for permanent-press loads, and
opening; removable lint filter; baked-
enamel finish on cabinet exterior and
0 - Judged excellent in maintaining low
temperature for delicate-fabric loads. ~
temperature for delicate-fabrics; poor in
automatic-drying moisture range with
drum; door that opens to right; venting
from rear, from back of both sides, and
E- Judged very good in maintaining low
temperature for delicate-fabric loads.
SJ
small permanent-press loads. bottom; 1-yr. warranty on parts and la-
bor.
F - Judged much better than most in
automatic-drying moisture range with
....
<:Jl
Except as noted, all have: 3 drying tern-
Advantages continued
16 CLOTHES DRYERS, LAUNDRY BOOSTERS
small permanent-press loads.
G-Judged better than most in automatic-
drying moisture range with small perma-
nent-press loads.
H- Touch (membrane) switches.
I - End-of-cycle signal is adjustable.
J - End-of-cycle signal may be turned on or
off.
K -Signal indicates when lint filter is full.
L-Console light.
M - Lighted dial.
N- Porcelain-coated drum.
0- Porcelain-coated cabinet top.
P - Has wrinkle-removal cycle.
Q-On/off power switch to stop drum before
opening door.
R- Rack provided for drying without tum-
bling.
S- Has a no-tumble control.
T - Has hanger rack .
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a -Judged fair in quietness of operation.
b- Judged fair in cool-down effectiveness for
permanent-press loads.
c-Judged fair in maintaining low tempera-
ture for delicate-fabric loads.
d -Automatic cycle on high-temperature set-
ting only.
e -Automatic cycle on medium-temperature
setting only.
I- If run on automatic cycle at no-heat set-
ting , dryer will not shut itself off.
g-Added tumble after high-temperature
drying only.
h -Added tumble after medium-temperature
drying only.
Laundry boosters
Condensed from Consumer Reports. February 1980
Some stains don't come out in an ordinary
detergent wash. To handle those, you
might need one of the products we've
called laundry boosters. Some of them
worked very well on most stains, but most
weren't much more effective than deter-
gent alone, and some were worse. We also
tested some liquid "boosting" detergents,
advertised for use both as detergents and as
pretreatments for heavily soiled items. As
detergents, they're good enough, but as
i- No added tumble.
j- No timed cycle.
k- No low-temperature timed cycle.
I- Timed cycle can be set only for 20, 50, or
80 min.
m - Timed cycle can be set only for 20, 30, 40,
60, or 80 min.
n - Maximum time for no-heat setting only
about 20 min.
o-No drum light.
p-Door may be blocked by basket.
q-Door does not open a full 180 degrees.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-2 drying temperatures.
8-4 drying temperatures.
C- During added tumble, drum turns for
about 10 sec. every 5 min.
0- End-of-cycle signal very loud.
E- End-of-cycle signal louder than most.
F- D-shaped drum opening.
G-Llnt filter not removable.
H- Roll chart ("Fabrigulde") on console
gives some information for setting con-
trols; judged no more useful than control
markings on many models.
/-Door opens to left.
J- Door opens down.
K-Vents from rear only.
L-Vents from rear, left, and bottom.
M-Vents from rear, right, and bottom.
N- Drum volume smaller than that of other
models.
0- 2-yr. warranty on parts.
P-2-yr. warranty on parts; 3-yr. warranty
against rusted cabinet and drum.
boosters, they're at best only average. The
Ratings list the products based on how well
they performed in overall stain-removal.
PERFORMANCE. we used each laundry
booster according to label directions on
loads of soiled and stained rags, then
washed the loads with Cheer, a popular
powdered detergent, in its nonphosphate
version. After using each boosting deter-
gent, we washed the load in the same
detergent. To see whether a booster was
Text continued page 18
 LAUNDR Y BOOSTERS 17

Ratings of laundry boosters

Listed in order of estimated overall overnight.
qu ality, based on stain-removal.

•
Phosphate products noted "phos."
Except as noted, products left
marks on brass, semigloss paint,
0
Better.,.._ _ _ _ __ __ Worae
and aluminum when left on surface
Effectiveness on

BIZ (phos. )
AMWAY (phos.)
Powder
Powder
6¢
10
0
0
0
0
0
0 •• A,D,K
A,D
BIZ
AXION
Powder
Powder
6
5
0
0
0
0
0
0 •• B,D,J,K
B,D,E,J.K
AXION (phos.)
MAGIC
Powder
Aerosol 8
5 0
0
0
0
0
0 0 • B,J,K
E,F,J,K
SPRAY 'N WASH Aerosol 9 0 0 0 0 D,E,J,K
SHOUT Aerosol 8 0 0 0 0 C,E,G,J,K,L
AMWAY Aerosol 32 0 0 0 0 B,E,G.H.J,L
SPRAY 'N WASH
GREASE RELIEF
Pump spray
Pump spray
7
6
0
0 •• 0
0
0
0
E,l,J,K
E,I

• •
MIRACLE WHITE Pump spray 7 0 0 0 J,K
MAGIC Pump spray 8 0 0 0 B,F,J,K,L
MIRACLE WHITE Liquid 4 0 0 0 0 A,J,K
PUREX Stick 35 0
• The following products are boosting detergents.
DYNAMO Liquid 4 Q
• 0
0 0
0
0
B,E,J

B,J
ERA Liquid 5 Q 0 0 0 B,D.E,J
WISK Liquid 5 Q 0 0 0 B,J
WISK (phos.)
KEY TO COMMENTS
Liquid

A- May cause eye irritation.

4
• • 0
H - Has child-resistant cap.
0 B,J

I -Spray nozzle has "off" position; more

B - May cause serious eye irritation. child-resistant than most.
C- Did not mar brass. J - Labeled with appropriate warning in case
D-Did not mar semigloss paint. of accidental eye contact.
E-Did not mar aluminum. K-According to label, may not remove cer-
F - Slight fire hazard. tain types of stain.
G- Moderate fire hazard. L - Labeled with fire-hazard warning.
18 LAUNDRY BOOSTERS, HAND-LAUNDRY DETERGENTS
necessary at all, we used Cheer alone,
washing some loads with no presoaking,
some with presoaking.
All the boosters effectively cleaned
heavily soiled rags, but so did the Cheer
used as a presoak, and simply in the wash
cycle. On our test protein stains, made
from blood, egg, nonfat milk, and soy
sauce, only the Amway, Biz, and Axion
powder boosters proved more effective
than the Cheer used alone in the wash
cycle. (The Biz and Axion nonphosphate
versions were as effective as the phosphate
ones.) On our beverage stain-coffee, tea,
chocolate syrup, whole milk, cream, and
sugar-again, only Amway, Biz, and Axion
stood out. With greasy car stains-engine
grime, dirty oil, grease, soot, and road
dust-only Spray 'N Wash and Magic aero-
sols proved better than Cheer used alone in
the wash cycle. None of the boosters were
effective on our other test stains-one a
combination of mustard, mayonnaise, gra-
Hand·laundry detergents
Condensed from Consumer Reports. February 1982
Woolite has been advertised as the product
you can trust with your fine washables. To
see whether there was anything really spe-
cial about Woolite, we put it to the test in
two of its versions, a liquid and a powder,
along with a number of other products.
We bought five specialty laundry prod-
ucts, none as highly advertised as Woolite,
hut with similar claims. We also bought
three dishwashing liquids that claim to be
appropriate for hand-washables; one ordi-
nary laundry detergent labeled for cold-
water hand-laundering use, Cold Power
XE, in its phosphate and nonphosphate
forms (Cold Power XE has been discontin-
ued according to the maker); and one soap,
vy, catsup, chili sauce, and French dress-
ing; and the other of red wine, dark beer,
cola, purple grape juice, and pink lemon-
ade. All of the tested products got rid of
"ring around the collar," but so did deter-
gent without a laundry booster.
CONVENIENCE. The powdered Amway, Ax-
ion, and Biz are meant for presoaking,
which means either tying up the washing
machine or soaking the laundry in a bucket
and then transferring it, sopping wet, into
the machine. We found the Amway,
Shout, and Spray 'N Wash aerosols and
the Crease Relief pump spray easiest to
use: You just spray them onto the stain and
wash the item with the rest of the laundry.
Of those products, though, only the Spray
'N Wash cleaned very effectively. The
other sprays, the Miracle White liquid, and
the Purex stick must be rubbed into the
stain. That's easy enough to do with one
item, but it can add up to a big chore with
a lot of stained laundry.
Ivory Snow. The Ivory Snow isn't labeled
for cold-water use, but its ads trade on gen-
tleness.
WASH RULES. Rather than place delicate
garments at risk, we tested with large fab-
ric swatches of natural fibers (cotton, wool,
and silk) and synthetics (acrylic, two types
of nylon, rayon, polyester, and triacetate).
We chose white and off-white colors that
would readily show soil and stains.
We soiled each swatch with red wine,
black coffee, tea, and chocolate syrup
before laundering it. We also smudged the
swatches with a combination of dust and
an artificial substitute for body oils. To
increase the cleaning challenge, we artifi-
Text continued page 20
 HAND-LAUNDRY DETERGENTS 19
Ratings of hand·laundry detergents
Listed by groups in order of esti-
mated overall quality based on
cleaning effectiveness on delicate
fabrics washed in cool, hard water.
Within groups, listed in order of cal-
culated cost for 10 washes. Unless
otherwise noted, dosages and soak
has given all dosages in teaspoons
for easy comparison.) Prices are
average paid by CU shoppers for
size indicated. @ indicates model
has been discontinued.
Very

•
Excellent good Good Fair Poor
times are those recom mended on
labels for use in 2 qt. water. (CU e 0 ~
•
Brand

@ COLD POWER XE [i]

A IM•tBuy
p 49 $1 .79 3¢ 1.25 5 0 A.D

DERMA SSA GE
DISHWASHING
L 22 1.31 10 5 0 A,F

IVORY LIQUID L 22 1.25 12 111. 4 0 A,F

A&P WOOL WASH L 16 .79 17 2 4 0 B,D
DOVE DISHWASHING L 22 1.22 21 2 11. 4 0 A,B,F
WOOLITE
COLD WATER WASH [1]
p 133/. 2.24 35 1rn 3 0 C,D

WHITE MAGIC
COLD WATER WASH
L 32 1.75 18 2 3 e D

REEFER-GALLER'S
COOL WATER
WOOL WASH
p 16 2.32 27 2rn 3 e E

WOO LITE
COLD WATER WASH
L 16 1.76 27 11/2 3 e D

AMWAY
KOOL WASH
L 32 6.45 33 5 e C,D

HANDLE WITH CARE

SPECIAL CARE WASH
L 16 1.42 31 2 3 0 D

[i] Contained phosphates (8 % phosphor- KEY TO COMMENT S

ous) . Nonphosphate version was also pro-
duced; judged good in cleaning effective-
ness at cost of 4¢ for 10 washes.
~ Can labeled "For Hand or Machine Wash-
ing"; not to be confused with powder in
box labeled "Machine Wash Woollte Cold
Water Wash. "
@) Heaping teaspoon.
A- Lacks label Instructions; dosage and I or
soak time supplied by manufacturer.
B - No soak time given; 4 min. used.
C- Label calls for double the dose given here
and for 4 qt. water.
D-Slgnificant optical brightening.
E- Little optical brightening.
F - No optical brightening.
20 HAND-LAUNDRY DETERGENTS
cially hardened our naturally soft water.
We used it cool: 70°F.
Label instructions usually told us how
much detergent to use, how much water
(usually two quarts), and how long to
wash-or soak, really, since these products
call for almost no agitation. Most of the
labels suggest three to five minutes of
soaking. (The less time a garment has to
spend in the hath, the better.)
In the absence of explicitly labeled
hand-laundering instructions, we asked the
manufacturer for recommendations. If no
answers were forthcoming, we made a rea-
sonable estimate (a median soak time of
four minutes, for instance). For the sake of
consistency, in tests and in the Ratings, we
conducted all our soaks in two-quart baths
and converted the appropriate product
measurements to teaspoon "dosages."
PERFORMANCE. Once our swatches were
washed (separately and very gently),
rinsed, and dried, we carefully checked
them to see how clean they were. All were
quite acceptable. Cleaning effectiveness
ranged from excellent to good, with only
one product ranking as low as good.
Some products were better than others
at removing certain stains from certain
fibers. But the differences were minor, so
we were able to arrive at a single judgment
for each detergent's overall cleaning abili-
ty. As a general point of reference, it's fair
to say that ordinary dirt-represented by
our homemade smudges-should be an
easy challenge for any detergent (or Ivory
Snow soap, for that matter.)
Although it's difficult to evaluate "gen-
tleness" in a laboratory, we did test for pH,
a measure of the acidity I alkalinity of the
wash solution. Highly alkaline products
tend to be harsher to fabrics. Cold Power
.\E, in its nonphosphate version, was the
most alkaline of the detergents, hut only
moderately so-comparable to hand soap
(as, indeed, was Ivory Snow). The specialty
detergents and dishwashing liquids were
close to neutral. However, since the typi-
cal hand-laundering time is short, it's un-
likely that the difference in pH among
products will have much effect on fragile
fabrics.
All the products except the dishwashing
liquids contain optical brighteners-color-
less dyes that make white and pastel fab-
rics appear whiter or brighter as they age.
They have no affect on dark colors. The
hrighteners in Cold Power XE, were partic-
ularly effective on cotton and rayon
swatches. Those in Amway brightened
rayon, silk, wool, acrylic, and nylon quite
well. Those in Handle With Care did well
on silk, wool, and rayon.
RECOMMENDATIONS. There's really nothing
special about Woolite, our tests showed. A
number of other products, including Cold
Power .\E laundry detergent and all three
dishwashing liquids, cleaned just as well or
better-and for much less money. Washing
10 sweaters in Cold Power XE (with phos-
phates) would cost 3 cents; doing them in
Wnolite powder would cost many times
more-35 cents.
Cold Power XE with phosphates is at the
top of the Ratings because it was one of the
best cleaners and by far the cheapest, qual-
ifying it as a Best Buy. (Unfortunately, it's
been discontinued.) But you may find the
dishwashing liquids, though costlier, more
convenient to use.
Then, too-lest we forget-there's soap.
In this age of detergents, Ivory Snow is one
of the few remaining laundry products
that's pure soap. Yielding to nostalgia, we
tested it anyway (after contacting the man-
ufacturer, who told us to use up to 4 1/,
teaspoons in two quarts of water for a four-
minute soak). The results were very good.
In fact, had we entered Ivory Snow in the
Ratings chart, it would have ranked at the
top of the second group. (You might try
dissolving the powder in a hit of warm
water.) A 32-ounce box of Ivory Snow
averaged $2.23. That's 11 cents for 10
washes-cheaper than Woolite or any of
the other rated specialty products.
 MICROWAVE/CONVECTION OVENS 21
Microwave/ convection ovens
Condensed from Consumer Reports, November 1981
The new wave in microwave ovens is the
microwave/convection oven. It lets you
cook with microwaves, cook with con-
vected hot air, or combine the two
methods. The idea is that you can get some
of the speed of microwave cooking with-
out losing the exterior browning and crisp-
ing produced in traditional ovens.
To get a feel for this latest entry in the
counter-top cooking sweepstakes, we
tested four combination ovens: the Amana
Radaran(!,e Plus RMC30, the Panasonic
Dimension 3 NE99()(), the Quasar Heat-
wave MQ8800SW, and the Sharp Carousel
R8310. These models range from $640 to
$900. Versatile microwave-only ovens are
$400 to $600; countertop convection-only
ovens, $150 to $250.
FEATURES. Combination ovens look like
ordinary microwave ovens, but larger.
Each oven has a windowed door, an inside
light, and an end-of-cooking signal.
Microwave ovens have power level set-
tings rather than temperature settings. The
Amana has 10 microwave power settings.
The Panasonic and the Quasar have six.
The Sharp has five distinct settings, but it
can be fine-tuned to power levels between
each of the five. Five settings, in our judg-
ment, are sufficient for any cooking task,
defrosting, or just warming.
Three of the ovens offer a range of con-
vection-oven cooking temperatures. The
Panasonic and the Quasar provide from
200° to over 400°F. The Sharp ranges
from "warm" (about 110°) to 450°. For
convection cooking in the Amana, you
select only the time; the operating temper-
ature is about 300°.
The Amana, the Panasonic, and the
Quasar have a temperature probe so you
can set them to cook food to a specific
internal temperah1re. When the food
reaches that temperature, the Panasonic
and the Quasar ovens automatically shut
off, unless you program them to keep food
warm. The Amana shifts into hold when
the desired internal temperature is
reached.
To promote even microwave cooking,
the Amann and the Qua.var have special
components that randomize microwave
distribution. The Sharp and the Panasonic
have a h1mtahle that rotates to help make
cooking uniform.
PERFORMANCE. The Sharp oven worked
best using microwaves only. The Anana
and the Quasar didn't cook evenly at all.
We judged the results poor.
A- second important test was for baking
performance. We made cakes following
manufachirers' instmctions for combina-
tion or convection cooking.
The cakes baked in the Sharp oven (20
minutes) were good. The Panasonic's
cakes rose fairly evenly and were judged
fair. The Quasar's didn't rise evenly, so
their surfaces were lumpy and cracked.
We judged them poor.
The Amana's instructions say to bake
cakes one layer at a time. That was incon-
.venient, hut it took only 26 minutes in all-
faster than the other ovens, since they need
preheating. The cakes were golden on top,
hut white on the sides and bottom. We
judged them fair.
For comparison, we baked cakes in a
conventional self-cleaning electric oven. It
took about the same amount of time as the
Panasonic and Quasar ovens; six minutes
preheating, 26 minutes baking. And it
made the best cakes.
In tests with roast beef, we gave top
scores to ovens that produced rare insides,
crisp and brown outsides. That's what the
Sharp and the Panasonic gave us. The
Tert continued pa(!,e 24
 .
Ratings of microwave/ convection ovens
Listed in order of estimated branch circuit. Dimensions are to ally available.
overall quality. All are counter- nearest 1/4 in. Prices are sug-
top models that draw a maxi- gested retail, rounded to nearest (j 9 0 ~
mum line wattage of 1500-1600 dollar;* indicates price is ap-
Better w or..
watts and require a separate proximate. Discounts are gener-

':>.o(I>•
... · 0(1>•

it~•~· .~
it~~ ••
Brand
and model
4'...,c.• ~·~
~
<t;
i.,J-....f>' i.'o~.f>'
,~·~+ ~...
"
· ii",/$

SHARP R8310 $640 153t.x243/4x19 in. 93t.x143/;x 143/4 in. 35 2 2m o o e e o A.s a,c.h,i A.8,0 , /,J
PANASONIC
NE9900
830 1
15 /4x25x24 /4 1
9x15x15 100 10.7 21.3 3 (§) Q ~ • ~ ~ B,C,D,F.G,H c,g,i D,G,/

QUASAR
MQ8800SW
900 15 1/;x25x223/4 8 1/•x14x15 1/ ; 100 10.7 3.3 3(§) 8 ~ ••• B,C,F,G,H d,g,i l,L

AMANA
RMC30
850 17x25x21 9 1'2x 15 1/;x13 1/4 100 1.7 - 2rfil e 0 e• ~ E,G,H bet g j C,E,F,
· ·· · H,K

[jJ Using a standard laboratory test for microwave efficiency ill Can be programmed only with convection first, microwave
and actual cooking tests, following manufacturers' instruc- second.
tions, for combination efficiency. [§) Each program can include only 1 convection or 1 combina-
mFor Sharp and Pana-ic, width and depth are diameter tion setting.
of turntable; for PallllllOtlic, use of temperature probe [fil 3-step sequence available with defrost as first step, hold
reduces height by 1112 in. as second step, and cooking as third step.
rn Following manufacturer's instructions.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All: Met Federal standards for microwave
radiation leakage; have an adequate se-
lection of microwave power settings; have
a start control; have an operating manual;
have 1 or more cookbooks.
Except as noted, all have: Convection-
temperature control; temperature probe
for cooking to internal temperature; bot-
tom tray or turntable; 2 oven shelves or
racks; window and interior light that pro-
vide an adequate view inside; 5-yr. war-
ranty on magnetron parts, 1-yr. warranty
on all other parts and all labor.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A- Manufacturer allows use of metal
cookware in combination mode.
8-Removable turntable or tray eases
cleaning; may be used as cooking sur-
face, subject to manufacturers' In-
structions.
C- Has spatter guard, which fits over
oven tray.
D-Cooking instructions printed on oven
door.
E-Cookbook contains more recipes for
combination cooking than others.
F - Can be programmed to shut off or
hold at end of cooking cycle when
temperature probe is used.
G - Has clock.
H - Timer can be used independently as
kitchen timer.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES KEY TO COMMENTS
a-Lacks temperature probe. Special A-Combination cooking is sequential in-
thermometers for use in microwave stead of alternating.
and conventional cooking are availa- 8- Expanded scale on microwave timer
ble. for more precise short-interval set-
b - Convection-oven temperature is pre- tings.
set. C- Programmed to hold at end of cook-
c - Turntable racks make food hard to ing cycle when temperature probe is
get at; not as convenient as pullout used; user must shut off oven manual-
shelves of other models. ly.
d-Widely spaced shelf wires aren't well 0- Turntable contributes to microwave
suited for direct cooking of small cooking uniformity, but wastes corner
items. space.
e - Shelf can't be used as cooking sur- E- Floor and grease well come out for
face for meats. cleaning; less convenient than turn-
!-Shelf glides make oven somewhat tables or tray.
more difficult to clean than others. F-.Comes with only 1 shelf.
g-Ceiling obstruction reduces apparent
usable height; in Queaar, stirrer may
G-Comes with cookie sheet.
H-Herb-, fruit-drying shelf, $10 extra. rs
~
be vulnerable to damage. /-Also comes with microwave-only
h - Relatively poor view through window. cookbook.
i - Light-bulb replacement requires cabi- J- 7-yr. warranty on magnetron; 2-yr. c
net disassembly.
j - Confusing to operate without relying
warranty on all other parts and labor.
K-5-yr. warranty on stainless-steel oven ~
~
heavily on manufacturer's instruction cavity.
manual. L-5-yr. warranty on parts. -...;:
CJ
~
~
CJ
~
~
c
~
~
~
24 MICRO WA VE OVEN COOKWARE
Amana roast wasn't as brown or crisp on
the outside, but it was still a big improve-
ment over pale, microwave-only roasts.
However, the Amana and the Quasar
roasts were too rare in the very center and
too well done everywhere else.
All the combination ovens produced
rich, brown juices for gravy-something
you could never achieve with an ordinary
microwave oven.
Microwave ovens make mediocre, gray-
ish-brown meatloaf. These combination
ovens made very good, dark-brown meat-
loaf.
Chickens cooked in regular microwave
ovens aren't much to look at, though they
can taste very good. Combination cooking
in the microwave/convection ovens pro-
duced nicely browned skin, as long as we
turned the chickens during cooking. (Some
instmction manuals don't include this tip,
and it's a useful one.)
We checked a number of other foods as
well, and found the combination ovens
generally satisfactory.
HEAT. Microwave ovens don't get hot, but
convection ovens do. Some exterior sur-
faces of all the ovens were quite hot to the
touch when they were operating in the
convection mode.
CHOICE. If you're in the market for a micro-
wave oven and plan to buy a top-of-the-
line, gadget-laden,microwave-only model,
you might instead consider the Sharp Ca-
rousel R8310 combination microwave/
convection oven. The Sharp goes a long
way toward correcting the major short-
coming of a microwave-the lack of
browning and crisping-and it performed
many other cooking chores very well.

Microwave-oven cookware
Condensed from Consumer Reports , March 1981
cookware wasn't necessarily cheaper than
Metal pots and pans don't work in a micro-
wave oven. If you use a metal utensil in a
ceramic or glass.
PERFORMANCE. The shape of a pan, we
microwave oven, you'll have at best a cold
meal, at worst a damaged oven. You can
found, affected its performance when used
in a microwave oven. Round pans (particu-
use utensils made of glass, ceramic, plastic,
even paper. larly those with a ring-mold shape) were
better than rectangular ones for baking and
Most casseroles and baking dishes of
for cooking casseroles and meatloaf. In the
ceramic or glass can he used in a micro-
wave oven. (Not, however, Centura andrectangular pans, food tended to get over-
some Core/le.) And note that hardware and
cooked in the corners. Food cooked more
evenly in shallow pans than in deeper
variety stores sell ceramic and glass cook-
ones.
ware that costs quite a bit less than "micro-
wave" utensils. According to their instmctions, some of
the plastic utensils can be used in a con-
We tested plastic, glass, and ceramic
ventional oven. In our range ovens, they
cookware marketed specifically for micro-
wave use-covered and open roasting racks
withstood 350° without apparent physical
(some double as baking trays), casseroles,
damage, hut they gave off an obnoxious
saucepans, and browning dishes. Prices
plastic odor and transferred an off-taste to
ranged from about $3 to $34. Plastic foods. We think plastic utensils should be

used in a microwave oven only.
CHOICE. Among the tested covered casse-
roles, we preferred the Anchor Hocking
Microcemm C560819, followed by the
Marsh 177. Both are ceramic with two-
quart capacities. If you want a plastic
model, look for the two-quart Nordic Ware
62004 or 62034, or the one-quart Anchor
Hocking Versatility Pan PM481-TI.
If you don't mind microwaved meat,
you'll probably need a roasting rack (al-
Countertop broilers
Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1982
The names toaster-oven/broiler and broil- judged, the toaster-oven/broilers were
er oven indicate a certain confusion and
overlapping of function. But the distinc-
tion is generally understood to be some-
thing like this:
Countertop toaster-oven/broilers are
usually the smaller and flatter type, with
heating elements close enough together to
toast bread and yet far enough apart to
accept some other foods for broiling and
baking. We tested models carrying sug-
gested prices of about $45 to $ll0.
Countertop broiler ovens can look like
toaster /broilers but are usually larger
cookers. We tested and rated models
priced from nearly $60 on up to $170.
PERFORMANCE. A few toaster/broilers
turned out broiled hamburgers almost as
succulent (crisp on the outside, medium-
rare on the inside) as those from the broiler hearth" model that we tested but didn't
of our electric range. Others did a very
uneven job on hamburgers.
All the ovens produced nicely baked
potatoes, but cake layers were less of a
success story. Layers of white-cake mix (in
ovens that could take an eight-inch cake
pan) often came out too light or too dark,
or were cracked or striated. At best, we
COUNTERTOP BROILERS 25
though you can improvise one with a dish
and an inverted saucer or casserole lid).
Buy the biggest one that fits in your oven,
and try to get a rack that also functions as a
baking tray. Among the open racks we
tested, we liked the plastic Nordic Ware
Gem Stone Ware 61604 or 61634 and the
ceramic El Camino EC263. The plastic
Micro Chef MC201 -I covered roasting rack
can hold a small roast, and its lid becomes
a five-quart casserole.
only fair to good at baking cake; the major-
ity of broiler ovens, good.
By and large, the toasting models gave
us four slices of toast of the same color
again and again. Even so, a regular two- or
four-slot toaster is apt to make better toast.
The ovens, though, were handier for muf-
fins and rolls.
Two broiler ovens, the Wards 4.59'27 and
the Broil King .560, offer a motor-driven
skewer for rotisserie cooking. Both cooked
2 1/2- to 3-pound broiling chickens that we
judged very good. But those small chick-
ens, six to eight inches in diameter, were
about the biggest items the ovens could
accommodate. (If you're really keen on
counter-top rotisserie cooking, consider
the Farberware 4.5.SN, at $80 an " open
rate because it lacked the versatility of
typical broiler ovens. Its rotisserie, which
can handle meat up to 12 inches in diame-
ter, yielded an excellent barbecued chick-
en. It broiled hamburgers better than broil-
er ovens did, too.)
SAFETY. All three Broil King models have
an oddity in the design of their heating
26 COUNTERTOP BROILERS
elements that caused us to judge them
Conditionally Acceptable. The elements
must be shifted by hand to different sock-
ets for baking or broiling. Unfortunately,
they don't snap snugly into their sockets,
and often a short section of their core
remains exposed. Since the core can be
electrically live even when the appliance is
switched off, you risk a serious shock if
you touch the live portion with your hand
(or a metal utensil) while you're also
touching a grounded surface. The instmc-
tions warn of a hazard, but we don't think
an instmctional warning sufficiently atten-
tion-grabbing or forceful. We judged the
Broil Kings Acceptable only if you fix a
label right on the appliance to remind
yourself-and other users-to unplug it be-
fore handling the heating elements and to
keep it unplugged whenever it's not in
use.
The Broil King 135 has an additional
shock hazard: a slot on its side panel
Ratings of countertop broilers
Listed by types; within types, listed
in order of estimated overall quality.
Bracketed models were judged
about equal in overall quality and
are listed alphabetically. Prices are
list, rounded to nearest dollar; + in-
dicates shipping is extra; * indi-
cates price is approximate. [QI indi-
Brand and model
Toaster-oven/ broilers
9 GENERAL ELECTRIC
CT0 2000
$110 9 1'2x163/4x13
SUNBEAM 20560
r
GENERAL ELECTRIC T26
64
69
8 1/.x16x9 1/ 2
7 1'2x15 1'2x10
GENERAL ELECTRIC T131 80 71'2x15 1'2x10
through which a thin metallic object could
reach to contact electrically live parts.
That might happen, for instance, if you
were using a knife to clear the slot of
grease, or even if a curious child poked a
coin through.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Don't expect these ov-
ens to hake as well as a range, or to handle
large orders of food with as much finesse.
But, as auxiliary ovens, they can come in
very handy. Unless you need the maximum
in broiling capacity or want a special fea-
ture such as a rotisserie, we think almost
any of the toaster-oven/broilers would be
a better choice than a broiler oven.
The check-rated GE CT02000 is far and
away the best of the lot. It broiled, baked
(other than cake), and toasted well. It held
more than any other of its type. And it was
easy to clean, had a fai rly cool exterior,
and was thrifty with energy. Tme, its sug-
gested $ll0 price is high, but it has been
heavily discounted.
cates model was discontinued at
time of original publication or is not
listed in current catalog.
e 0
•
~.jj
••
,,,...
. (Ii
A,C,D,E,H,
0 l,M,O,Q
a A.F
•• A.D,G,l,J,K
G,I
b,h
h,i,m F
• G,I h,i,m F
 COUNTERTOP BROILERS 27

'!...'••'
~i,-fi•
ti'
Brand and model ~·
@J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 2n1 46 + 1
7 '2x15%x1 0 /4 1
~ F,J
"
PROCTOR- SILEX 0220AL 45• 7 1/2x 15%x10 1/• ~ F,J G
PROCTOR- SILEX 0221AL 50 7 1'2x 15%x10 1/4 ~ F,J
PROCTOR-SILEX 0235W 70 7 1'2x15%x10 1/• ~ F,J,O,P I B,C
~ SEARS Cat. No. 8344 55+ 7 1'2x 1531.x 10 1/• ~ F,J,O,P b,I
NORELCO T04500 74 0 11.x15%x11 1/2 ~ l,L a,l,q F
TOASTMASTER 340 66 6 1'2x17 1/4x111/i ~ A,H .O a,b,l,j,k,q F
TOASTMASTER 320 67 6 1'2x15 1/•x111/i ~ H,O a,1,J,k,q F
Conditionally Acceptable rn
BROIL KING 135 90 6x16 1/2x12 1/4 ~ B,E,F,L,N,O,R p

Broiler ovens
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 1782 56+ 93/4x20 1/4x13 e b,l,n
MUNSEY BB3 72 6 3t.x19 1'2x11 1/4 ~ b,g E.F
MUNSEY 7650 62 11x21 1/•x12 1/• 0 b E,F
SEARS Cat. No. 8921 56 + 93f.x20 1/4X13 e b,d,i,n
TOASTMASTER 5242 62 9 1/4x20%x13 1/4 e d,i, n F
TOASTMASTER 7009 125 12%x21 1'2x 1331. 0 O,P c,d,q B
WARDS Cat. No. 45927 60+ 11 3/4x21 1/4x 13 1/4 e 0 n D,F
WARDS Cat. No. 45929 53+ 93f.x20 1/ 4X 13 e b,i,n

Conditionally Acceptable rn
BROIL KING 580 170 123/4X 163/4X 12 1'2 e N,O,R c,e,g,n,o,q 0 ,£
@BROIL KING 320
ITl
60
The Broil King• have removable elements
with ends that may be left exposed and
electrically live even if the ovens are
7 1/2x15x10 1/•
• N b,c,h,n
condition that the buyer affix a prominently
displayed reminder label to the following
effect: "Unplug when not In use and before
E

switched off. Judged Acceptable only on cleaning or changing element position. "

Turn page for comments,

specifications, features
28 COUNTERTOP BROILERS
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: Door with glass window that can
become hot enough to burn; removable drip
pan for broiling; 1-yr. warranty.
Except as noted, all: Broiled satisfactorily;
have a signal light; have handles at the sides
(all handles stayed relatively cool) ; have a
thermostat marked In degrees F; have a partly
open door position for broiling; have 1 shelf;
have a power cord at least 3 ft. long.
All toaster-oven/broilers: Have a toast switch
and a toast-color control; toasted satisfactori-
ly, but did not bake cake layers as well as
most broiler ovens; chime or click audibly to
signal that toast is done.
Except as noted, all toaster-oven / broilers:
Have a nonremovable door, hinged at bottom;
have 1 shelf position; can toast 4 slices of
bread.
All broiler ovens: Have a removable door.
Except as noted, all broiler ovens: Baked cake
layers better than the toaster-oven/broilers,
but not as well as a conventional oven; have 2
shelf positions.
KEY TO ADV ANT AGES
A- Broiled hamburgers better than most.
B- Elements can be set to broil 2 sides of
food at once; in that position, broiled
more quickly than others.
C - Fastest and most energy-efficient model
at baking potatoes.
D- Toasted more consistently and uniformly
than most.
E-Can toast 6 slices at once.
F -Crumb tray slides out from front.
G -Crumb tray opens from underneath.
H - Exterior stayed relatively cool.
I - Elements turn off as door opens.
J - Shelf advances when door opens.
K - Door opens partially after toasting.
L - Door is easily removable.
M- Back and interior side panels are remov-
able, making interior very accessible for
cleaning.
N - Removable elements allow easy access
for cleaning.
0 - Has more shelf positions than others of Its
type.
P - Has 2 shelves (but when both shelves are
used with Proctor- Silex 0235W and
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in th is issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
Sears 8344, clearance between them is
only 11/4 in.).
Q- Has timer with alarm and, if desired, auto-
matic shutoff after baking or broiling; can
be used alone as kitchen timer.
R - Has timer, but automatic shutoff must be
used with at least some cooking opera-
tions.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a - Lacks removable crumb tray.
b- Lacks signal light.
c - Broiled hamburgers very unevenly.
d - Less energy-efficient than most when
baking potatoes.
e - Least energy-efficient model; loose door
and large opening for rotisserie skewer
allowed heat to escape; would not heat
above 370°F.
I-Slower than most at baking potatoes.
g-Worse than most broiler ovens at baking
cake layers.
h -Would not hold an 8-in. cake pan.
i- Thermostat tended to be inaccurate at
some bake-temperature sett ings.
j-Slightly slower toasting than most.
k - Left underside of toast darkly striated.
I- Toast lightened with successive loads.
m - Door does not stay in partly open position
for broiling.
n - Door is ill-fitting; may come off hinges
when opened .
o - Oven control not marked in degrees.
p- Slot on side panel allows access with
utensil or coi n to interior parts that may
be electrically live.
q - Lacks carrying handle.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Has "electronic control" system; temper-
ature sensor in slide-out shelf.
8-Has slow-cook featu re.
C- Has covered dish for slow-cooking.
0- Has rotisserie; worked satisfactorily.
E- Labeling on carton or door implies oven is
also a toaster; however, unit will toast
only one side at a time and does not shut
off automatically after toasting.
F- Fairly short (26- to 34-in.) cord.
G-Also available as Warde 45260, $47.
 CERAMIC COOKTOPS, OVEN CLEANERS 29

Ceramic cooktops
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1977
A cooktop's smooth ceramic slab masks a ventional electric elements cool to safety
set of electric elements hidden under a dec- in less than 15 minutes.
orative pattern. Typically, a cooktop has a CLEANING AND CARE. A ceramic cooktop
small, low-wattage pair of elements under requires special care in cleaning and in use.
patterns roughly 6 1/, inches in diameter, You must clean the cooktop regularly-
and a larger medium- or high-wattage pair even daily. It's best to use a special ceram-
under patterns about 7 1/ , or 8 1/ , inches ic-cooktop cleaner/conditioner. Follow
across. We estimate that cooktops would manufacturer's instructions. Keep the bot-
require about 15 percent more energy, toms of pots and pans carefully scrubbed
overall, than a regular electric range. You and free of grit, or they can cause
have to observe the same precautions for a scratches. Dripping water on it or wiping
ceramic cooktop as you do for an open it with anything other than a clean cloth or
flame. You can tell when a cooktop is very paper towel can result in discoloration
hot because the ceramic over an element when the cooktop heats up. When a spill
turns yellow. The yellow disappears after occurs, you risk a bum if you try to clean it
elements are turned off, but cooktops take up before the ceramic cools-a lag that lets
between 45 minutes and an hour to cool to the spill bake itself on. And cleaning a
150°F-still hot enough to bum. Most con- baked-on spill can be very tough.

Oven cleaners
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1980
Oven-cleaning is dirty, hard work, and it's
usually irritating to the skin and lungs. But
we think one product is way ahead of the
competition. We check-rated the Ami &
Hammer, a non-toxic aerosol that is safe to
use and that did a good job of oven-clean-
ing in our tests.
HAZARDS. Except for the non-toxic Ami &
Hammer, all the tested oven cleaners con-
tain lye-one of the most dangerous sub-
stances you can use around the house. The
labels on the toxic cleaners appropriately
state that the products can bum skin and
eyes. Most of the labels warn about the
hazards of inhaling fumes. They warn
about ingestion, and they outline first-aid
treatment in case of accidents. But some of
the toxic products lacked child-resistant
containers, and some had a lemon scent
that we considered inappropriate for a haz-
ardous product. We suggest wearing an
apron, rubber gloves, safety goggles, and a
face mask when using any of the products
other than the Ami & Hammer.
EFFECTIVENE$. The instructions for use on
most of the oven cleaners varied. You
apply some to a heated oven, others to a
cold oven. With some, you wait just 10 to
30 minutes, then wipe off; others must
remain on the oven surface overnight. Usu-
ally, we needed at least two applications
for best results.
30 OVEN CLEANERS, POTS AND PANS
RECOMMENDATIONS. We recommend that
you buy Arm & Hammer. If you have to
choose another product, make it an aero-
sol. The pump-sprays aren't as easy to use.
The bmsh-on pastes are miserable to use-
their throwaway bmshes are only one inch
wide-and they're not very effective at
cleaning ovens.

Pots and pans

Condensed from Consumer Reports. March 1980
Although mundane pots and pans have Stainless steel, an alloy made with iron,
nickel, and chromium, is very easy to
become fashionable and pricey, high price
clean. By itself, it has low heat conductivi-
didn't necessarily translate into high quali-
ty, so stainless steel is nearly always used in
ty in our tests. You can buy a convenient,
durable pan for a moderate price. combination with iron, copper, or alumi-
num. An iron core doesn't help much.
The munber of matching pieces in some
Stainless-steel pans with a copper or alu-
brand lines is vast; in others, limited. From
each line we tested only a l '11- to 21/2-quart
mimun bottom were better. Our highest-
rated lines, among the ones with the best
covered saucepan and a frying pan about
heat distribution, are stainless steel and
10 inches in diameter, usually with sloping
aluminum.
rather than straight sides. We think test
The lowest-rated pots and pans were
results for those items are generally valid
throughout a line. those whose only metal is steel. Steel Poin-
terware' s aluminum-like bottom coating
METALS. The type of metal and its gauge
didn't improve its poor heat distribution.
(thickness) affect heat distribution, dura-
Cast iron has low heat conductivity, but
bility, and ease of cleaning and !tandling.
utensils made from it are thick, which
Copper distributes heat very well, but
helps spread the heat. Cast-iron skillets and
it's expensive, and the tested lines that had
copper exteriors proved disappointing.griddles provide a slow, steady heat that's
fine for panbroiling. Since it's so heavy,
(Copper cookware must have a protective
though, cast iron isn't a good choice for
lining because the metal reacts with acidic
foods and can form harmfol compotmds.)everyday use (particularly for saucepans).
COATINGS. Nonstick surfaces aid cooking
A fairly thick aluminum pan provides
and make cleaning easy, but Teflon and
much better heat conductivity than one of
other such coatings stain, scratch, and lose
thin copper. Even the lightest ahunimun
pans we tested distributed heat well their nonstick property with use. Inexpen-
enough for routine cooking, but they were
sive nonstick utensils could be replaced
apt to warp or dent. A few heavy-gaugewhen the coating wears out. Silverstone-
aluminum lines have electrochemically lined pans are generally of a better quali-
treated surfaces; the dull gray finish is
ty-and cost more-than Teflon-lined ones
(both coatings are made by DuPont). Sil-
harder than bare aluminum and can be sea-
soned to form a "low-stick" surface. Those
verstone is dark gray, so it would appear to
resist discoloration. Its nonstick properties
pots and the cast altunimun and cast alumi-
mun-magnesinm alloy lines were among are at least as good as Teflon's. We found
the best in heat distribution. that Silverstone is harder than Teflon and

more resistant to scratching and overheat-
ing. Still, we think Silverstone will have a
shorter life than the pan it's on.
Porcelain-enamel coatings appear on
iron, steel, and aluminum pans. Porcelain
does not react with food and is easy to
clean unless the food is scorched on. But
metal spoons, spatulas, or scouring pads
can mar the coating, especially if it's a
light color. Porcelain on thin steel cook-
ware is particularly vulnerable to chip-
ping. Even on a heavier base, it may even-
tually craze and begin to chip away.
HANDLES AND LIDS. Most of the handles on
the pots and pans we tested are of heat-
resistant plastic. A few are of wood. Both
generally remained cool. Most plastic han-
dles and a few wood ones are screwed to
the pan, so you can replace the handle if it
gets damaged. Bare metal handles riveted
to the pot are sturdy, but they get hot, and
the rivet heads protmding into the pot
impede cleaning.
Wood handles may not stand up to con-
tinued dishwasher use, but we think an
occasional bout wouldn't hurt them. Han-
dles of plastic or metal are usually safe in
the dishwasher. Some pots and pans
shouldn't be machine-washed for other
reasons.
Saucepans usually come with lids. Fry-
ing pans usually don't, but you can some-
times buy a lid to fit.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Before you buy any
pan, pick it up to make sure it feels com-
fortable. If you buy a set of cookware, it
should be good for all sorts of cooking jobs.
For all-around durability, ease of cleaning,
and high conductivity of heat, choose
stainless steel with an aluminum bottom or
core. The top-rated Farberware and Cui-
sinnrt lines differ mainly in looks and
price. The Cuisinart utensils cost about
twice what the Farberware ones do. Far-
berware has a great variety of matching
utensils, and the line is widely sold, often
at large discounts. (It's hard to see how
Farberware's new Advantage line, which
POTS AND PANS 31
we didn't test, could beat the company's
standard pots and pans. The new line was
the most expensive we found.)
If you prefer cast aluminum, the CHG
Magnnlite and the Club lines are good,
durable pots and pans. We thought the
Magnalite line had excellent lids and han-
dles. The Club Classic line's polished finish
was easier to clean than most other cast-
aluminum cookware. The aluminum-and-
stainless-steel All-Clad and the gray-fin-
ished Commercial Aluminum Calphalon,
Leyse Leyson, and Mirra Classic Chefware
are also good and durable, but their metal
handles get hot, and the gray-finished pans
should not be washed in the dishwasher.
Neither should the Magnalite and the Club
Classic.
If you want porcelain-coated cast iron,
try the Copco or wood-handled pieces of
the Le Creuset and Cousances lines. We
suggest buying one or two pieces at first to
see if you're happy with such heavy uten-
sils. Those lines are rather expensive, and
their heat distribution was only fair.
A matched set of cookware looks nice,
but some kinds of pans are better suited for
one purpose than another and should be
purchased singly. If your budget's tight,
save up for a good all-around saucepan. If
you want a big kettle for boiling water to
cook pasta or com, look at an inexpensive
line; poor heat distribution won't matter
much. And a cheap, plain cast-iron frying
pan, if properly seasoned and cared for, is
fine for frying bacon, eggs, and other
foods. Nonstick cookware should also be
bought by the piece because the coating
will likely wear out before the pan. A Sil-
verstone-coated skillet or omelet pan
would be useful, though, for its easy clean-
ing and its ability to cook without shorten-
ing. The best line of this type, the Regal
Cast Aluminum, is fairly expensive. Near-
ly as good are the Mirra Great Cooks,
Northland Nordic Ware, Regal Vogue (not
for dishwashers), and West Bend Crafts-
man lines.
32 RICE COOKERS

Rice cookers
Condensed from Consumer Reports, July 1981
Rice cookers are not as specialized as their pliances in this way took some experimen-
name implies. Some are more rightly tation, but the trouble was worth it, we
labeled "electric steam cookers." They can found. The rice cookers did a splendid job
steam vegetables and shellfish, warm rolls with vegetables. Hot dogs steamed nicely.
and leftovers (including leftover rice), and Potatoes came out best if they were of uni-
boil water and eggs. Judging from our form size.
experience, we'd say rice cookers are In guessing how much water to add, it
about as versatile as electric frying pans was better to underestimate than to over-
and toaster ovens. The models we tested estimate; you can always add a little more
range in capacity from 7 to 18 cups. They water and restart the cooker. To avoid
cost about $30 to $60. overcooking shellfish, remember to figure
RICE. All the tested models did a good job in the juices they release.
of cooking rice. They were simple to use. For heating foods like soups or stews,
You put measured amounts of rice and whose liquid isn't meant to disappear, or
water in a pot with perhaps some salt or for boiling water, you have to him the
butter, cover the pot, and press a switch. cooker off manually.
When the water boils away, the rice is Since all the models cooked rice well,
done, and the cooker turns itself off auto- we've rated them in two groups according
matically. Note that, in our tests, small to their feahires. The rice cookers in the
quantities of rice cooked a bit better in the top group (listed alphabetically) come
small models. with a steaming rack and the keep-warm
Many rice cookers have a "keep-warm" feah1re. Models in the bottom group lack
feahire. Those models kept rice warm Jong one or both of those feahlres, which are
after it had cooked. But after an hour or so, especially handy if you are using the cook-
the rice tended to dry out. er for all-around entertaining.
OTHER FOODS. For steaming, most models SHOPPING. Availability is a problem. In the
come with a perforated plate to keep food U.S., rice cookers are apt to be found only
above the water level. Since the cookers' in regions that have a sizable Asian or Lat-
instmctions more or less ignored steaming ino population. If shopping around is feasi-
vegetables and other foods, using the ap- ble in your area, look for a good price.

CU's objectivity
CU accepts no advertising; it accepts no samples of products; it
does its utmost to stop use of its name or findings to promote any
product or service. Ask anyone who claims that a CU Rating has
been improperly influenced to write down the assertion and sign it.
Then send the document to us. Consumers Union takes full respon-
sibility for the integrity of its work.
 RICE COOKERS 33

Ratings of rice cookers

Listed in two groups in ord er of esti- were judged good at cooking ri ce.
mated o verall quality; within Capacities are for inner pot. Dis-
groups, listed alphabetically. All counts may be available.

•• ~·<:$
••
ll"-!>~ ~... ';:.. ~·<:$ .,,<:> e<i'~·
·,Cle
·~ .(/ !II .,,<:> ~ ~~
~.,,....(l.,,q>!!-!>q
q\ -o.""'
" <:i' c,O

• The following models have a keep-warm feature and come with a steaming rack.
HITACHI RD4052 $40 9''2 A,B A
RD6102 50 17
PANASONIC SR110EGH 45 9
SR115EGH 52 15 1/2 c a
SR118EGH 59 17
SANYO ECS 40 10
EC23 50 17 A 8

TATUNG TAC&HLA 36 10 1'2 D,E b c

TAC10HLA 40 18
• The following models lack features that may be important to some users.
NATIONAL SR10E 40 9
SR18E 53 16
c a,c

SANYO EC105 35 10 c c,d,e D

TATUNG TAC4A 32 7 A,D b E.G
TOSHIBA RC180D 40 D c C.F.G
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
All: are 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 in. high (including lid) and a -Cord is short and plugs into front of cook-
8 1/2 to 11 in. in diameter; weigh from 3 1/2 to 7 er; may be difficult to reach outlet without
lb., and use 450 to 800 watts; have signal light turning cooker to rear of counter.
indicating cooking is in progress. b - Inner pot judged less sturdy and harder to
Except as noted, all have: steaming rack; clean than most.
automatic keep-warm feature; unsealed outer c - Has no keep-warm feature.
pot; side-mounted detachable cord about 6 ft. d-Cord not detachable.
long. e - Has no steaming rack .

KEY TO ADVANTAGES KEY TO COMMENTS

A- Keep-warm feature has on-off switch and
signal light.
8-Alarm chimes when cooker shuts off.
C-Comes with cord about 3 ft. long; short
cord minimizes dangling.
D - Interior of outer pot is sealed; requires
less care to avoid spills than most.
E-Comes with shallow pan that fits in top of
inner pot to heat additional food.
G- Has no steaming rack, but with water in
A-15 1'2-cup model, RD5082, $45, available.
B-25 1'2-cup model, EC73, $70, available.
C-Small amount of water must be added to
outer pot before cooking.
0-18-cup model, EC210, $45, available.
£-Instructions confusing about need to put
water in outer pot; without that water,
cooker tended to shut off prematurely.
F- 7-cup model, RC700, $34, and 9 1'2-cup
model, RCIOOD. $36, available.
outer pot only, can steam foods.
34 PRESSURE COOKERS

Pressure cookers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. June 1982
Pressure cookers are particularly useful for three-quarters of that. Still, they were the
cooking foods that normally take a long size you'd need to handle most cooking
time-soups, stews, pot roasts. They can tasks (larger models are made primarily for
also cook different foods separately, at the canning).
same time and in the same pot-a fish SAFETY. All the models we tested have a
course and a vegetable course, say-with- safety pressure release that will prevent
out the flavors intmding on each other. pressure from going too high if the regular
These capabilities come from the way pressure regulator should become clogged
pressure cookers cook, at high-tempera- and not work. The emergency releases all
ture (steam under pressure). worked in tests where we deliberately
The sturdy pots with sealed lids and blocked the regulator's vent tube. In addi-
pressure regulators allow steam pressure to tion, lids are designed to lock on when
build up to about 15 pounds per square there is pressure inside the cooker so that
inch. That permits the contents to rise to you can't inadvertently open the lid while
about 250°F, well above the normal boil- there is steam pressure.
ing point of water. Dishes that normally PERFORMANCE. Differences between makes
require hours of simmering can be cooked and models were only in convenience, and
in as little as one-fourth the time. those differences were slight.
We tested 12 range-top models priced at Pot roasts could be prepared in about an
about $32 to $72 and one electric model at hour, including time to brown the meat in
$70. Two companies, Presto and Mirro, the pot before cooking. Stews took even
made all the models. Sears cookers were less time because the meat is in smaller
made by Presto. Most models were rated pieces. Chicken stock and soups need only
to have a four-quart or six-quart capacity, about 45 minutes of cooking versus three
though they actually hold two-thirds to hours in a conventional pot.

Keys to pressure-cooker Ratings

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: Deadweight pressure regulator that
keeps cooking pressure at or about 15 psi;
removable food rack; lid secured by interlock-
ing flanges and cover lock that activates
under pressure; comprehensive instruction
booklet including recipes.
Except as noted, all are made of aluminum.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Pressure regulator has plastic grip; can
be lifted by hand when hot.
B-All-metal pressure regulator; can be lifted
with fork tine when hot.
C-Pressure regulator has settings for 5, 10,
and 15 psi.
D-Stainless steel with iron core.
E- Nonstick surface.
F - Essentially similar to the PrHto 01250,
above.
G- Essentially similar to the PrHlo 01350,
above.
H- Essentially similar to the PrHlo 01210,
above.
I-Also available from Sears as Cat. No.
4859, $53+ .

Ratings of pressure cookers
Listed by types; within types, listed,
except as noted, in order of esti-
mated overall quality. Bracketed
models were judged approximately
equal and are listed alphabetically.
Useful capacity is based on manu-
PRESSURE COOKERS 35
facturers ' filling instructions .
Weights are to nearest 114 lb. Prices
are suggested retail, rounded to
nearest dollar; discounts are gener-
ally available; + indicates that ship-
ping is extra.

Brand and model

Range-top models
• Presto family. Regulators on these models were relatively easy to operate and quiet in use. A ir
vent acts as visual indicator of pressure
PRESTO 01250 $48 6 qt. 4qt. 7 112 in. 4 112 lb. 1L, 1S A
PRESTO 01350 72 6 4 73/4 6 1L, 1S A,D
SEARS Cat. No. 4847 38+ 6 4 7 112 4 112 1L, 1S A,F
SEAFlS Cat. No. 4857 58+ 6 4 7% 6 1L, 1S A,D,G
[ MESTO 012'0 40 4 2 2/ 3 5 112 3 1/ 2 1L A
PRESTO 01310 64 4 2% 5 112 5 1L A,D
SEARS Cat. No. 4848 32+ 4 2% 6 1/i 3 1/2 1L A,H

• Mirro family. Regulators on these models were relatively difficult to operate an<;J noisy in
use.
MIRAO M0598 54 6 4.5 7 1/ 2 5 112 1L, 1S B.C
MIRAO M0594 45 4 3 7 1/4 3 3/4 1L B,C
MIRAO M0538 48 6 4.5 7 • 4 3/4 1L, 1S B
MIRAO M0534 36 4 3 6 1/ 2 3% 1L B
MIRAO M0592 42 2112 17/e 6 3 112 1L B,C
Electric models
• Regulator on this model was relatively easy to operate and quiet Jn use. Air vent acts as
visual indicator of pressure.
PRESTO GRAN COOKERIE 02151 70 6 4 9 1/• 6 2S A,E,I
ill With lid inverted as manufacturers recommend.
0 L, Jong; S, short.
36 CANOPENERS
Can openers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1979
We tested the capabilities of electric and
manual openers on cans of various sizes
and shapes. To receive credit for opening a
can, an opener had to sever the lid com-
pletely without: hesitating (slipping in fits
and snatches), bogging down (slipping and
finally getting stuck), jamming (stopping
because the can is stymied by some part of
the opener's mechanism), walking off (los-
ing its grip on the can and separating from
it), or skirping (leaving parts of the lid
unsevered . We met such problems on at
least one sample of many models, both
electric and manual. If the unit you buy
Electrlc can openers
Most of the tested units feature "automat-
ic" operation-that is, once you pierce the
can's lid, the opener will proceed to open
the can and shut itself off. With nonauto-
matic units, . you have to hold the cutter
lever down during the whole opening
operation and raise it to stop the cutter.
PERFORMANCE. Generally, the electric
models were quite successful at o~ning
cylindrical cans, fairly successful with oval
caiis, rarely successful with rectangular
cans. Some openers jammed to a standstill
on the sharply rounded comers of rectan-
gular cans, and most gouged splinters
Manual can openers
When not in 11Se, hand-held models can be
tossed in a drawer; wall-mounted units
swing away to rest against the wall.
PERFORMANCE. Manual openers were gen-
erally good with cylindrical cans. Most
manuals managed to open oval cans, but
they seldom did the job easily or neatly.
Several shredded and tore paper from the
can' labels. Not one manual opener was
doesn't perform the way you think it
should, try to exchange it. After using an
opener, look for (and remove) any metal
slivers that may have fallen in the can.
HANDICAPPED USERS. With the help of a
consultant occupational therapist, we eval-
uated our can openers to see what kinds of
problems they might present for people
with impaired use of hands or eyes. Our
findings are available without charge to
those interested. Write to Dept. MW,
Consumers Union, 256 Washington St.,
Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10550. Ask for "Can
Openers and the Handicapped."
around the cans.
Not many units would accept cans more
than six inches tall (two-pound coffee cans,
for example) unless moved to the edge of
the counter. The Sunbeam units were by
far the most successful at opening dented
cans; the Hamilton Beach units, the most
inept.
KNIFE SHARPENERS on combination units
did not impress \IS as any more than slap-
dash, add-on contrivances, hardly suitable
for honing fine cutlery. We wouldn't ad-
vise choosing a can opener on the basis of
its knife-sharpening performance.
totally successful with rectangular cans.
Quite a few walked off or hesitated agoniz-
ingly.
CONVENIENCE. Most manual models tilt the
lid upward just before severing it. By stop-
ping there, you can avoid probing for a lid
that's dropped inside the can. Several
hand-held models failed to tilt lids high
enough to be lifted back readily by hand.
 CAN OPENERS, ELECTRIC PANS AND WOKS 37
Ratings of can openers
Electrlc can openers. Listed in order of estimated overall quality.
All have magnet to grip lids and provision for cord storage.

Rival 790. Rival 791. Oster 535. Rival 711. Sunbeam 705111. Sunbeam 5/12. Sunbeam 5/93.
Oster 548. Oster 558. General Electric EC32 Series. General Electric EC33 Series. Waring
C021. Waring C011 . Waring C031. Rival 781 . Rival 782. Western Auto No. 3054. Western Auto
No. 3053. Rival 739. J.C. Penney Cat. No. 2149. Rival 740. Rival 787. Rival 788. Hamilton Beach
834. Hamilton Beach 835. Hamilton Beach 829. Hamilton Beach 831 . Sear• Cat. No. 83872.
Dazey 871. Dazey Cocan. Dazey 872. Farberware 247. Farberware 248.

Manual can openers. Within types, listed in order of estimated

overall quality.

Wall.mounted models
Swing-A-Way 809. Swing-A-Way 507. Swing-A-Way 309. Swing-A-Way 307. Swing-A-Way
1709.

Hand held models

0

Swing-A-Way 409. Swing-A-Way 451. Swing-A-Way 407. Ekco 880. Swing-A-Way 107 Jr.
Ekco 885. Ekco 884.
The following were judged substantially lower In overall qua/lty than the preceding.

Ekco Miracle Roll 881. Ekco C878. Foley 864. Ekco 892.

Not Acceptable. The fol/owing was judged Not Acceptable because a plastic Insert
wore out after a brief period of use, so that the opener no longer worked.

Ekco C865K.

Electric frying pans and woks

Condensed from Consumer Reports. January 1982
A case of sorts can be made for the electric
frying pan. It can serve as an extra cooking
implement, be used as a buffet server or
hot tray, or perform as a primary cooker
where no range is available. Less of a case
can be made for the electric wok, which is
better suited to specialized techniques of
Chinese cuisine than to W estem frying.
Still, woks fry food too.
For our tests of conventional electric
frying pans, we selected nine large ones
(mostly squarish models with a cooking
area about 9 1/ , to 11 inches square) priced
at about $30 to $70. We also tested three
smaller rectangular !?ans (about one-half to
three-quarters as bigJ priced at $42 to $52.
Text continued on page 40
 ~
Ratings of electric frying pans and woks 00

Listed by types; within types, + indicates shipping is extra; Very ~

listed in order of estimated over- discounts are generally availa-
~
•
Excellent good Good Fair Poor
all quality. Prices are suggested
retail, rounded to nearest dollar;
ble. !ID indicates model is not
listed in current catalog.
® e o ~ ~
(:)
~
~
·~':I ~
~ '"t1
'.:!! •• / ;:i:;..
~·
~~· ~
•• §
~ <
:ll c,O §-Ii/
- ~~ ~- 0~ ii'. ~
Brand and model
(~~'"L cl'~ -i•'l~ u~
Large frying pans
~
GENERAL ELECTRIC SK47 $49 112 4.5/0.9 e 0 e 0 A,C,E,F,H A
~
GENERAL ELECTRIC SK48
FARBERWARE 3128
46
70
112
93
4.8 / 0.8
3.8 /1 .5
e
e --0-- 0
0
e
0
0 8,C,G
8 ,D,G,I
a
a,b
A
B,C,D,E
!ID WARDS 45629
WEST BEND 1440
32
40
96
117
2.3/0.8
3.0/ 1.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
e
e ----
0
G
G c
MIRAO M027243 68 92 3.2/ 0.9 0 0 e
SEARS Cat. No. 654118
SUNBEAM 7298
30+
53
92
104
2.7 /0.9
2.7 /0.9
0 0
0
--00 0
0
---- G
E,G
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 2750 34+ 106 2.7 / 0.8
---- 0 0 0 ----
Small and medium frying pans
PRESTO 06511 42 56 2.1/2.4 e 0 e e ~ D,H - A,C
PRESTO 06521 52 86 2.9/3.4 0 0 e e 0 D - A,C
SUNBEAM 7378 42 54 2.1/2.6 0 0 e 0 ~ D,G - C,F

Woks
FARBERWARE 303 70 - 2.7I1.4 - e ~ e ~ B,D b,d B,C,D,G
WEAR-EVER A71500
WEST BEND 5109
58
45
-
-
2.4/1.0
2.7/0.7
-
-
e
e
~
~
• •• ~
B
B,G
d
d
c
C,H,J
NORDIC WARE 85950
NORDIC WARE 85560
55
70
-
-
4.5/0.7
4.4/0.7
-
-
0
0 •• •• ~
~
-
-
e
e
c
C,I
~
~
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All: have plug-in temperature control with
KEY TO ADV ANT AGES
A- Handle/leg assemblies snap off, mak- b - Control plugs in snugly; more difficult
~
signal light. Except as noted, all have. 2 ing exterior particularly easy to to remove from hot pan than most. C=s
buffet-style handles; nonstick cooking clean. c - Used more electricity than others.
surface; 30- to 35-in. cord, and ability to
be immersed if control is removed.
B - Exterior fairly easy to clean; handles
fit snugly to pan , eliminating hard-to-
d - Lightness and height made unit some-
what less stable than other woks.
~
reach areas. e- Exterior more difficult to clean than ~
Al/ large frying pans: stand about 7 1'2 to 9
in. tall when covered .
C - Eject button makes control easy to
remove from hot pan .
most; pan not immersible.
~
~
All large frying pans, except as noted: are D- Used less electricity than most. KEY TO COMMENTS
square with rounded corners; have lid with E- Lid can be tilted open at several A - 44-ln. cord.
vent hole.
All small and medium frying pans: have
rectangular cooking surface with rounded
angles to reduce spattering.
F - Has fifth leg that can be extended to
tilt pan; handy for draining grease
8-55-in. cord.
C- lid has no vent hole.
D- Stainless-steel interior; more difficult
ti:i:..
corners; stand about 5 1/2 in. tall when cov-
~
when cooking fat-rendering foods. to clean than nonstick, but much less
ered; have glass lid that can double as a G- Has cooking-temperature guide on likely to be scratched.
serving dish. · handle or control. E- Has round cooking surface.
All woks: have domed lid and large knob;
posed less of a burn hazard to a user
H -Has temperature guide on lid.
I - lid has relatively large knob.
F- Comes with steaming tray.
G- Comes with rack and chopsticks. ~
removing the lid than most frying pans
did; were easier to pour oil from than any KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
H-Comes with useful 271-page Chinese
cookbook.
F;j
of the frying pans; stand 7 1'2 to 10 1/ 2 a - Has 1 buffet-style and 1 long handle; /-Comes with rack, steaming tray, and ~
inches tall when covered. requires more storage space than wooden spatula. <.C
others. J- Also available as Sears Cat. No. 6415,
$40+ .
 40 ELECTRIC PANS, FOOD PROCESSORS
The woks range from $45 to $70. Almost
all the appliances featured a nonstick coat-
ing on the interior, generally of the Silver-
stone brand.
FRYING PANS. Most models showed mild hot
spots (leaving pancakes blotchy), and took
2 to 3 1/2 minutes to heat up to 335°F. They
. cooked all right, but took some getting
used to. They did fine with steaks and ham-
burgers (searing fast enough to seal in the
juices) and proved capable of turning out
bacon to any desired degree of <loneness
(although only the large square pans could
comfortably hold five uncut strips.)
Each pan's control module plugs into
the side and must be removed before the
pan is immersed in water for cleaning. The
nonstick interior coatings on most pans
were easy to clean. But burned-on residue
from grease migrating to the pan's under-
side may be hard to clean.
The leg/handle assemblies of the top-
rated GE SK47 snap off to give unhindered
access to the sides of the pan. We judged
that model the easiest to clean. The other
GE and the Farberwarc frying pan have
handles that butt up tightly against the
pan. They were fairly easy to clean. The
rest have hard-to-clean spaces between the
handles and bodies.
WOKS. Wok cookery mandates a small but
Food processors
Condensed from Consumer Reports. September 1981
A novelty a decade ago, food processors
are now standard kitchen equipment. The
tested machines typically come with an
assortment of blades and disks for
chopping, slicing, grinding, shredding, and
blending. Some offer optional disks for
special jobs. In our tests, we processed
more than 24 different foods.
intensely hot cooking area. The three top
woks came up to heat fast enough (less
than a minute to reach 335°), but all
proved sluggish in recovering the heat
needed to bring oil up to cooI,ing tempera-
ture, a,nd only the Farberwarc wok would
stay as close as 30 degress to the set tem-
perature. The woks perfonned well in stir-
frying sliced chicken breasts, onio~. and
string beans and in deep-frying small egg
rolls. (But, interestingly, so did two electric
frying pans that we tried for the same pur-
poses.) The two Nordic Wares have a small
ledge built into the sloping sides supposed-
ly as a wanning platform for already cook-
ed food. The ledge interfered with stirring,
however, and uncooked food kept landing
on it.
Rough cast-aluminum bottoms made the
undersides of the Farbcrware, We.9t Bend,
and Wear-Ever woks about as hard to
clean as those of the frying pans. (The Far-
bcrwarc's stainless-steel interior, however,
was hard to free of burned-on grease.)
The two Nordic Ware woks were a nui-
sance to clean. Unlike the others, those two
aren't immersible, even with the controls
removed. And their large base isn't tightly
fitted to the pan, allowing grease to make
its way into the base; you canlt get at it
without unscrewing the base.
PERFORMANCE. The Ratings detail how
well each food processor perfonned its
various chores. The food quality judgments
are based on how uniform and "clean-cut"
the foods turned out.
The key to the perfonnance ratings was
how the machines handled the hard jobs:
grating Parmesan cheese, grinding meat,

kneading dough, turning peanuts into
peanut butter, and slicing pepperoni. Mod-
els judged below average in suitability for
heavy tasks had trouble with three or more
of the hard-to-process foods. The two Cui-
sinart model~ and the Robot-Coupe were
the most able performers overall and were
top-rated. Some models handled heavy-
duty tasks inconsistently; they're noted in
the Ratings.
Chopping and grinding are done using
the multipurpose, S-shaped metal blade,
the basic cutting tool of each processor.
With all the machines, raw beef turned out
looking more mashed than chopped,
though it was usable for hamburgers. A
few models had to work hard at grating
Parmesan cheese. Most of the machines
come with a plastic S-shaped blade in-
tended for blending and mixing. In our
judgment, the multipurpose blade worked
just as well.
Slicing calls for a special disk, which
comes with all the models. The Penneys
3337's disk can be adjusted for thick slices
or thin; it worked quite well. With the
Robot-Coupe, the Waring, and the Sears,
mushrooms emerged looking chopped
rather than sliced.
Shredding also requires a special disk,
which comes with all hut the Toshiba
TFP800. We didn't test that model for
shredding. All the other processors turned
out chipped, not shredded, cabbage. Cuisi-
nart recommends using the slicing disk for
shredding cabbage. We think that's good
advice for any food processor. Most of the
processors shredded cheddar cheese and
zucchini fairly uniformly.
CONVENIENCE. Typically, a processor's
bowl holds between 3 to 5 cups liquid and
from 7 to 71/ , cups dry. The Toshiba mod-
els have the greatest capacity: 7 cups liq-
uid, 9'/, cups dry. The Toshibas were also
the only models with a tight enough seal
between howl and lid to keep liquid from
sloshing through when the machines were
processing soup.
FOOD PROCESSORS 41
The GE FP6 can slice or shred contin-
uously. In addition to its regular bowl for
other tasks, it has a special chute that dis-
penses sliced and shredded food into a 'sep-
arate bowl. That sometimes proved messy,
though. The La Machine Ill comes with
two bowls, handy when you're processing
more than one food at a time.
Most machines have an oval feed tube
that measures about 3 inches by 1y, to 2
inches. Round objects, or even a fat cucum-
ber, would have to be cut in pieces before
they're fed into any machine. The Cuisin-
arts have a larger feed tube that can
accommodate small, whole tomatoes and
the like. A smaller feed tube can nestle
inside the pusher; it's handy for pouring in
liquids or feeding skinny foods.
All the processors have switches for on-
off and for pulsing. The Toshiba TFP2200
has an especially convenient touch-panel
control. Several models, noted in the Rat-
ings, have a choice of speed settings; we
think that's unnecessary.
SAFETY. The blades of a food processor are
extremely sharp. Some models have stems
or fingerholes on the blades that make
them easier and safer to handle.
Each model has a fail-safe mechanism
that prevents the machine from operating
unless the lid is locked in place. The mech-
anism worked.
DURABILITY. We put the machines through
what we estimate would amount to 10
years' use. Only a few models failed to sur-
vive the nm.
RECOMMENDATIONS. The top-ranked food
processors were superior at heavy-duty
tasks. If that's the sort of work you do-
grinding meat, kneading dough-choose
from among the top four models. They're
all expensive machines: $ll5 to $175 list.
For processing vegetables and salad fix-
ings, making mayonnaise, and doing other
light- to medium-duty chores, the Penncys
3246 ($50 plus shipping) is an excellent
value. The Moulinex La Machine II, which
is similar, lists for $76.
 Ratings of food processors
Listed in order of estimated quality of processed food are indicates shipping is extra. Ex- """
~

overall quality; models judged composites, based on tests with cept for mail-order models, dis-
approximately equal in overall various types of food. Unless counts are generally available. ;:s

• §
quality are bracketed and listed otherwise noted, all did well in
alphabetically. Height was mea-
sured with cover in normal oper-
CU's durability tests. Prices are
rounded to nearest dollar; * indi-
0
Better
e 0 ~
Worae
;g
ating position. Judgments on cates price is approximate; + 0
~
Quality of
processed food
~
~
~~" !\."'
e<I'
.._,Cte ~,_Q 1$-~
<I ~+ c,O
CUISINART DLCSE $150. 14x7 1/4X 10 1/4 D e e 0 e 0 a,b,k,w E,G,N
CUISINART DLC10E 115• 13x7 1/4x10 D e 0 ~ 0 0 b,w,x E,G,N
ROBOT-COUPE RC2100 175 143/4x7 1/4x9% D e 0 e ~ e - g ,u,w K
SUNBEAM 1411 139 16 1/4x8x10 1'2 D 0 e 0 0 0 E,J,O - G,J,M
PANASONIC MK5050 130 13%x7 1/4X13 B 0 0 0 e 0 E,G p A,L
GENERAL ELECTRIC FP6 136 16 1'2x10 3/4X10"2 0 0 0 0 e e B,E,1,K c,f,h,i,w G
MOULINEX LA MACHINE II 76 17 1/4x8 1'2x83/4 D rn e 0 e 0 E,F,J,K,L,S n,o M
MOULINEX LA MACHINE Ill 95 17 1/4x8 1/2x83/4 D rn e 0 e 0 C,E,F,J,K,L,S n,o M,O
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 3246 50+ 17 1/4x8 1'2x8 3/4 D rn e 0 e 0 E,F,J,K,L,S n,o M
FARBERWARE 386 140 12%x 12 1/ 4X8 1'2 B ~ 0 0 e 0 E,P,Q I H
TOSHIBA TFP2200 170 13 1'2x 13x9 1'2 B ~ 0 0 e e D.l.M ,N h,s,t C,F,H,/,N
SUNBEAM 1451 79 13 1'2x12 1/4x10 1/4 B ~ e e 0 e e E,J s D,G,J,M,O
WARING FP530 150 15 1/•x8%x10 1'2 D 0 0 0 ~0 0 E,J a,e,j,v B,M
J.C. PENNEY Cal. No, 3337 80+ 14%x7x93/4 D 111 0 0 0 0 e E,H,P h,w L,N
GENERAL ELECTRIC FP1 72 13 1'2x7x12 B ~ 0 0 e 0 e l,K,L,R,S d,m,n,v M
TOSHIBA TFP800 80 12 1'2x 12x9 1'2 B ~ 0 ~ 0 e 0 D,I h,s,t H,M
HAMILTON BEACH 702 80 12 1/4x12 1/4x8 1/4 B ~ 0 0 0 0 e - f,h,1,n,q,r,v H,J,M
SEARS Cat. No. 82288 45+ 12 1/4x12 1/4x8 1/4 B ~ 0 0 ~ 0 e - f,h,l,n,q,r,v B
[j] D-direct drive; 8-belt drive. 111 Widely variable. rn Does not come with shredding disk.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES E- Food pusher doubles as measuring P- Light shows when switch is on.
All have: On-off switch and pulse provi- cup. Q- Best overload protection of belt-
sion ; transparent plastic bowl and lid, F - Blade quickly stopped coasting drive models.
and plastic food pusher. after shut-off. R -Safest interlock mechanism; diffi-
Except as noted, all have: Mu_ l tipurpose G- Metal-fingered feed-tube insert cult to purposely defeat.
S-shaped steel blade, plastic S-shaped helps guide foods such as carrots to S-Special button must be pushed to
mixing or kneading blade, 2 metal disks make round slices rather than ellip- release locked lid; slightly inconve-
for slicing and shredding; no measuring tical ones. nient, but safe.
graduations on pusher; safety interlock H -Adjustable slicing disk can provide
that was easy to purposely defeat in a selection of thicknesses.
CU's tests; single operating speed ; 3 1'2- I - Stems on slicing and shredding KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
to 4 1'2-ft. power cord; bowl handle that disks aid In safe handling. a - Feed tube located at rear, slightly
locks to the right or in front in normal J - Finger holes in slicing and shred- less convenient than front or side.
operating position . ding disks aid in safe handling. b- Complex feed-tube assembly
judged more difficult to clean than ~
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
K - Single, reversible disk for shredding
and slicing; more convenient to others; It also separates from lid
when attempting to remove lid.
g
A- Large feed tube accommodates
nearly twice as much food as that of
other models. as well as round
store than separate disks.
L -All blades can be stored inside pro-
cessing bowl.
c- Chute sometimes scattered dis-
charged food and dropped food
;g
~
items up to 23/4 in. wide. M - Whipping attachment provided best Into processor bowl so it had to be
B - Chute-discharge feature conve- whipped cream, but not as good as cleaned . Chute was difficult to
nient for slicing and shredding large that provided by an electric mixer. clean .
amounts of food (but see Disadvan- N - Touch-panel controls can be set for d - Bowl lacks handle. ~
tages).
C - Has extra bowl .
automatic pulsing and timed opera-
tions. Controls were convenient to
e- Handle sits to the left in normal
operating position; situating it to §6
use and easy to clean. the right may cause difficulty in tl.l
D- Tight seal on bowl lid prevents liq-
uids from splashing out during pro- 0-Light glows when unit is plugged removing bowl from processor.
~
cessing. in. f- Some samples had balky lid lock. ~

Keys continued next page

44 FOOD PROCESSORS, CORN POPPERS
Keys to food processor Ratings
g- Thermal overload device shut off quick-
ly to protect motor, but was a nuisance
when doing heavy tasks such as making
brioche dough.
h- Bowl more likely than most to break if
dropped.
I -Small, easily misplaced tool needed for
reversing slicing, shredding disk.
j-Smail adapter for attaching slicing,
shredding disks may be easily mis-
placed.
k-Switch labeled "pulse/off" judged con-
fusing.
I - Quick release from pulse setting can
cause switch to spririg into "on" posi-
tion .
m- Spattered considerably inside bowl
when making mayonnaise and whipped
cream.
n - Vibrated more than most.
o- Blade sometimes rode up on spindle
when chopping ham and making
dough.
p- Better suited for heavy loads than most
other belt-drive models, but was no less
likely to be damaged when blade was
Immobilized.
q- Did poorly In durability tests.
r-Some samples broke when slicing pep-
peroni and grinding Parmesan cheese .
s-Plastlc blade hub of Toshiba TFPBOO
cracked in durability test but is easily
replaceable. Toshiba TFP2200 uses
same blade, but it did not fail .
t - Blade coasted much longer than other
models after shut-off.
u - Blade coasted somewhat longer than
other models after shut-off.
v - Very short power cord (less than 3
ft .) .
Corn poppers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. November 1979
Traditional electric com poppers cook the
kernels in a shallow puddle of hot oil; the
popping com typically fills up a domed lid
that inverts to become the serving bowl. Jn
a newer type of cooker, hot air blows up
through kernels in a hopper, and whooshes
them out a chute as they pop. The hot-air
models cost quite a bit more than the hot-
continued
w-Very long power cord (5 1'2 to 6 ft.);
awkward to store.
x - Shredding and slicing disks difficult to
remove because of lack of finger
space.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Chopped food, overall, was average;
chopped onions were excellent.
8-Sliced food, overall, was below aver-
age; sliced cucumbers were very good.
C-Sliced food, overall, was above aver-
age; sliced mozzarella was fair.
0-Ground food, overall, was above aver-
age; ground meat was fair.
£-Shredded food, overall, was above av-
erage; shredded cabbage, made with
shredding disk, was fair. Manufacturer
recommends using slicing disk for cab-
bage.
F- Shredded food, overall, was average;
shredded zucchini was excellent.
G-Blended food, overall, was al'.,va aver-
age; model left chunks ir lended
soup.
H- Multiple-speed model.
/-Weighted food pusher aids slightly in
feeding foods.
J- Metal shredding and slicing inserts for
plastic blade stem were less convenient
to use and clean than others, but were
convenient to store.
K-3-pronged, grounded line plug; may re-
quire adapter for some kitchen outlets.
L- Has trench-fry disk.
M- Lacks plastic, S-shaped mixing blade.
N-Comes with spatula.
0- Has beater attachment; whipped cream
and beat egg whites only slightly better
than multipurpose blade.
oil ones, and they make distinctively dry,
fluffy popcorn. Try to sample popcorn
made in a hot-air model before you decide
which type to buy. Some of our testers
liked it, but others thought it too dry, and
some missed the flavor that oil provides. A
further complaint was that salt failed to
stick to the popcorn. Unbuttered popcorn

cooked in hot air has only about one-half
to two-thirds the calories of unbuttered
popcorn cooked in oil.
Since the hot-air units cook without oil,
they're easy to clean. Also, you can feed
kernels into them continuously, so you can
make fresh popcorn for as long as you need
it. Of the three hot-air units we tested, we
preferred the W ear- Ever Popcorn Pumper
or the Hamilton Bench Popaire over the
Presto Popcorn Now, which left too many
kernels unpopped and expelled popped
and unpopped kernels with such force that
they sometimes bounced out of the howl.
Among the hot-oil units, the W est Bend
Stir Craz y made the best popcorn, but it's
as expensive as the hot-air models. If
you're looking for a bargain rather than
perfect popcorn, there are cheaper hot-oil
units worth considering. For convenient
cleaning, select a model with a nonstick
cooking surface. And to avoid burned pop-
corn or melted lids, be sure the popper has
a thermostat. The $12 (plus shipping) J.C.
Penney Cat. No. 1341 and the $20 Regal
Poly Pop have both a thermostat and a non-
stick cooking surface.
PERFORMANCE. we tested the poppers us-
ing three popular brands of popping com:
CORN POPPERS 45
Jolly Time, Jiffy, and a "gourmet" brand,
Orville Redenbncher. Although the hot-air
machines produced the fluffiest popcorn,
they turned out many unpopped kernels
along with the popped com. The hot-air
machines popped many more kernels with
Jiffy and Jolly Time than with Redenbnch-
er. The hot-oil models in general popped
more completely than the hot-air models,
and worked best with Redenbncher, worst
with Jiffy. The West Bend Stir Crazy pop-
ped almost every kernel. Unlike the other
hot-oil poppers, that model has a stirring
device that keeps the kernels moving as
they cook.
Nearly all the com poppers have a but-
ter melter. Most of those also have an auto-
matic butter dispenser that left more than
one-third of the popcorn unbuttered; the
Ratings note models that did much better
or much worse.
The 'W ear-Ever Popcorn Pumper was
the fastest machine we tested, popping a
hatch in three minutes. Several units took
four to six minutes, but the average time
was six to eight minutes. Those judged well
below average took 12 to 16 minutes.
SAFETY. The handles on most of the models
were reasonably well insulated. The Mun-

What CU's Ratings mean

Products are rated, for the most part, In order of estimated overall
quality, without regard to price.
Models are check-rated (&)when the test samples prove to be of
high overall quality and significantly superior to those of other mod-
els tested.
Best Buy Ratings are accorded to models which are not only rated
high but also priced relatively low, and should give more quality per
dollar than other Acceptable models.
A Rating of a given model should not be considered a Rating of
other models sold under the same brand name unless so noted.
46 CORN POPPERS
sey Buttermatic's handles became hot, but
not dangerously so. The Sunbeam's han-
dles became very hot (the instructions
advise using potholders). None of the ma-
r.::hines caught fire when they were left nm-
ning after they had finished popping, but
those without thermostats burned the pop-
corn, and, the lids/bowls on the Merit,
Munse y CP4, and K Mart machines
melted.

Ratings of corn poppers

Listed by types; within types, ex- nearest dollar; * indicates price is
cept as noted, listed in order of esti- approximate; + indicates shipping
mated overall quality, based pri- charge. Except for mail-order mod-
marily on quality of popcorn. Simi- els, discounts are available.
lar models are bracketed and listed
in order of increasing price. Hot-air 0 ~ •
models were judged superior with
Better+--------WorM
all popcorn brands tested. Full Rat-
ings are given only for higher-rated
models. Prices are rounded to the

Hot-air units

WEAR-EVER POPCORN
PUMPER 7200
$45 0 0 0
• 0 e 0 A,B,F

HAMILTON BEACH
POPAIRE 510
48 0 0 0
• ~ 0 e B,F

PRESTO POPCORN NOW

0481001

Hot-oil units
47 0 e e • 0 ~ ~ B,C,G

WEST BEND STIR

CRAZV 5348
46 0 e 0 0 0 e 0 D,H,I

MIRRO-MATIC
POP-N-SERVE M034271
21 e 0 ~ 0 e e e
[J.C.-NH
Cat. No.1341
12+ e 0 ~ 0 e ~ 0
WEST BEND
BUTTER-MATIC 25487
23 e 0 ~ 0 e ~ 0
 CORN POPPERS, DISHWASHING LIQUIDS 47

Quality of
popped corn

HAMILTON BEACH 500 24 0 0 0 0

REGAL POLY POP 8727
SUNBEAM GREAT
20 0 -- •--
0 0 e •e-- 0 J

AMERICAN POPCORN 29 0 0 0 0 0 E
MACHINE 11-90

•
--
The following hot-oil models lack a thermostat and/or a nonstick cooking surface.

K Mart 11111817. Dominion 1721. Hamilton Beach Butter Up 507. Hamilton Beach 499. Mlrro
M9235-45. Mlrro ~- MunHy Buttermatlc CP4. MunHy CP1.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES 9 qt. without continuous feed ing.

Except as noted, all have: 4-qt. popped corn
capacity; automatic butter melter/dispenser.
Unless otherwise noted, all hot-oil models
have: built-in thermostat; nonstick cooking
surface.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Also available as Sears Cat. No. 6890,
$30+ .
B-Can be fed continuously.
C..: Hopper holds enough kernels to produce
0-6-qt. capacity.
E- Handles get very hot.
F- Has butter melter, but no dispenser.
G - Has butter melter I dispenser; uniform dis-
pensing requires rotating bowl under
chute, judged inconvenient.
H- Has built-in stirring rod.
I- Butter-dispenser performance judged
much better than average.
J- Butter-dispenser performance judged
much worse than average.

Dishwashing liquids
Condensed from Consumer Reports. February 1981
Used in sufficient quantity, any dishwash- the product's cleaning performance. Be
ing liquid will wash dishes as well as any sure to compare bottles of the same size or
other. But, in equal amounts, some will corret:t for any size difference.
clean more dishes than others, and finding The most efficient cleaners have an effi-
a bargain depends on the amount of clean- ciency factor of l ; their real cost equals the
ing power.your money buys. package price. If you don't want to bother
The Ratings list each product's "effi- with figuring the real cost for every deter-
ciency factor." Multiply the efficiency fac- gent you see in the supermarket, limit your
tor for a given detergent by the package choice to the most efficient detergents we
price to get the "real 9ost," corrected for found and buy the cheapest one.
Tum page for Ratings.
48 DISHWASHING LIQUIDS

Ratings of dlshwashing liquids

Listed by groups in order of esti- "Real costs" (see story) are as cal-
mated cleaning efficiency in hard culated by CU, based on average
water; within groups, listed alpha- prices we paid .
betically. Efficiency in soft water is
Very
noted for reader reference. Unless

•e •
Excellent good Good Feir Poor
otherwise indicated, prices are av-
erage paid by CU for 32-fl.-oz. size. 0 ~

Herd water Soft water

(/ ... ;-
'., .(!' ~ ~Cl
·olJ· ~f;l',o
q" ~ !\: qi •"
• The following had very good cleaning efficiency in hard water.
DAWN $1 .68 1 $1.68 e 1.3 $2.18
IVORY LIQUID 1.70 1.70 0 1.70
JOY 1.65 1.65 e 1.3 2.15
PALMOLIVE 1.60 1.60 e 1.3 2.08
SAFEWAY BROCADE BLUE 1.59 1.59 e 1.59
• The following had good cleaning efficiency in hard water.
AJAX 1.56 1.5 2.34 e 1.3 2.03
DERMA.SSAGE 1.45 1.5 2.18 e 1.3 1.89
DOVE 1.62 1.5 2.43 e 1.3 2.11
FELS 1.12 1.5 1.68 0 2.2 2.46
KROGER 1.31 1.5 1.97 e 1.3 1.70
KROGER CRYSTAL BLUE 1.34 1.5 2.01 0 2.2 2.95
LUX 1.55 1.5 2.33 e 1.3 2.02
PATHMARK PREMIUM 1.09 1.5 1.64 e 1.3 1.42
SAFEWAY BRoci DE PINK 1.55 1.5 2.33 e 1.3 2.02
SAFEWAY SU-PURB GREEN 1.55 1.5 2.33 0 1.55
VEL 1.12 1.5 1.68 0 2.2 2.46
• The following had fair cleaning efficiency in hard water.
A&P Ahoy. A&P Generic. Cryetal White. Mieey. Octagon. Pathmark. Purex. Safeway Scotch
Buy. Sweetheart. Trend.

• The following had poor cleaning efficiency In hard water.

Pathmark No-Frllle.
 PAPER TOWELS, COFFEE GRINDERS 49

Paper towels
Condensed from Consumer Reports, August 1980
Among the paper towels we tested, the
ones that were strong and absorbent were
generally the most expensive. The cheaper
towels were ratecl lower. The difference in
price is great: For· the price of one roll of a
top towel, you could almost buy twice as
much of some of the low-ratecl paper
towels.
You don't need a very strong, highly
absorbent towel just to wipe up small spills
or to dry your hands; the cheapest one you
can find may be good enough. But you
may want quality paper towels for tougher
chores, like washing windows. (If that's the
job you have in mind, avoid Bounty and
Marvel; they lintecl heavily in our tests.) If
you want a paper towel that's strong and
absorbent, try Viva (one ply), Bounty,
Tuf 'n Ready, Brawny, Teri, Gala II, or
Spill-mate.
Beware of towels packed two rolls to a
package. Buying towels that way, we
found, was usually more expensive than
buying single-roll packages.

Coffee gr.inders
Condensed from Consumer Reports, January 1981
The finer a coffee bean is ground, the more best to keep only a small amount of beans
flavor it can yield. Grinding coffee beans in a coffee grinder. For maximum fresh-
yourself should give you a better cup of ness, keep the rest of the beans in an air-
brew-and can stretch a pound of coffee by tight container in the freezer, and grind
one-third. Home coffee grinders come in only enough for immecliate use each time
two basic styles. The ones we call you make coffee.
"choppers" are typically cylindrical, with With a typical mill, you pour in the
a pair of blades in a small coverecl cup. The beans, set a control to adjust the fineness of
"mills" grind beans between a pair of the grind, and tum on the machine. The
disks. Most coffee-drinkers these days seem grounds are delivered into a removable
to use drip brewers, which require a fine receptacle. The choppers have no fineness
grind, so our tests emphasizecl how fine a control, and, for safety's sake, they will nm
grind each model could produce. But if only as long as you press down on their
you brew with a percolator, which can use cover or on-off button. Up to a point, the
a coarser grind, almost any coffee grinder longer a chopper nms, the finer it grinds
will do. the coffee.
CONVENIENCE. A good mill is more conve- For a good brew, you'll have to keep
nient than a chopper. The mills. can grind your grinder clear of oily ground-coffee
more beans at a time than the grinders, and residues. Coffee oils go stale after only a
the mills can store beans, the choppers few days' exposure to air. None of the
can't. A couple of the mills (see Ratings) grinders we tested were especially easy to
can store a lot of beans, but we think it's clean. Ratings on next page
50 COFFEE GRINDERS
Ratings of coffee grinders
Listed in order of estimated overall are rounded to nearest dollar; +
quality; models judged approxi- indicates shipping is extra; dis-
mately equal in overall quality are counts may be available.
bracketed and listed alphabetically.
Except as noted, all choppers can
grind enough for about 8 to 15 cups
of coffee at a time; all mills can
grind enough for 20 cups. Prices
0
Better.,__ _ _ _ _ _ __.wone •
BRAUNKMM10 $55 Mill e e 0 A,B,D
BRAUNKSM2 24 Chopper e 0 0
KAUPS 202 26 Chopper 0 0 0
WARING 11CM10 24 Chopper 0 0 0
ZABAA'S Z75* 18+ Chopper 0 0 0
KRUPS223
WARING 11CG10
55
40
Mill
Mill
e e
0 •
0
A,B
D
a
b
KAUPS203 29 Chopper 0 0
KITCHENAID KCM
SALTON GC4
60
22
Mill
Chopper
0
0
• The following models were downrated for reasons of safety.
0
•
0
c c,d
g

CHEMEX ECG 40 Miii ~ Q 0 D e

VARCO MX228 25 Chopper
• Aval/able at store or by mail from Zabar's, 2245 Broadway, NYC 10024.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A - Has timer-controlled dispenser with 12-
cup maximum setting; dispenses about
4 112 g. (Braun) or 5 112 g. (Krups) of
ground coffee per cup. (Note: 6 g. equals
1 tbsp.)
B - Hopper can store slightly more than 112 lb.
of beans (but see story) .
C- Hopper can store about 11/• lb. of beans
(but see story) .
D - One grinding disk is removable to improve
access for cleaning.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a -Ground relatively fine at coarsest setting .
b - Some samples have unshielded ground-
coffee outlet, posing hazard similar to
that of Chemex ECG. Before buying sam-
8 Q 0
pie of this model, check for presence of
shield on outlet.
c - Lacks shield over grinding mechanism.
but depth of hopper makes accidental
contact with grinding disks unlikely.
d-Outlet chute for grounds, hidden behind
hinged plate, tended to clog.
e - Downrated because outlet for ground cof-
fee is large enough to allow a finger to
contact moving parts; would otherwise
have ranked with Krups 223 and Waring
11CG10.
I - Downrated because cover could be
opened about 11/4 in. at one side, expos-
ing spinning blades.
g - Can grind beans for only about 4 cups of
coffee at a time.
 REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER THERMOMETERS, FREEZERS 51

Refrigerator-freezer thermometers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. January 1978
If your refrigerator or freezer is running than with a one-control model. And to
too warm, your food won't keep as long as monitor the adjustments, you'd have to
it should; too cold, you're wasting energy. move the thermometer between compart-
Jn a single-control refrigerator, put the ments, or buy two thermometers. ·After
thermometer near the center of the main adjusting a control, wait about 24 hours
space, take a reading, and adjust the con- before taking a temperature reading.
trol until you get 37°F. (If the freezer (With twa-<:ontrol units, adjust only one
space then isn't reasonably close to 0°, you control at a time. ) If you have a no-frost
may have to readjust until you get the freezer and a reading seems unduly high,
closest possible approach to a 37° 10° bal- the defrost cycle may be in progress: Wait
ance.) Similarly, with an upright or chest an hour or two and take a second reading.
freezer, reset until the thermometer reads Check the owner's manual for suggested
0°. With a twa-<:ontrol unit, the controls summer and winter control settings, to
for refrigerator and freezer, though sepa- minimize your trials and errors. When
rate, don't work totally independently-a you've found the right settings, mark them
change of setting for one compartment on the control for reference. Jn taking
may affect the temperature of the other. freezer temperatures, place the food
You may have to make more successive around your thermometer- you want the
adjustments to achieve the 37° 10° balance temperature of the food, not the air.

Freezers
Condensed from Consumer Reports, August 1981
A freezer is undeniably convenient. It
gives you more storage space than a refrig-
erator's freezer compartment, so you can
capitalize on food sales, buy in quantity,
and have seasonal produce all year long.
Whether a freezer's convenience, how-
ever, results in enough savings of cash to
offset its operating cost and the amortized
cost of the freezer itself is debatable.
We tested chest models and uprights;
two of the uprights are frost-free. The
freezers' stated capacity ranges from about
15 to 16 cubic feet, though none could
hold as much as was claimed. The Ratings
note each model's actual usable volume.
Chest freezers generally cost less than
uprights to buy and operate, and chests can
run for longer periods between defrostings.
But chests can be inconvenient storage
spaces, and defrosting and draining a chest
freezer is a chore. Also, chests take up a lot
of Boor space. Upright models typically
aren't as energy-efficient as chest freezers,
but uprights are more convenient to use
because shelves help keep food orderly. An
upright is also easier to defrost. The frost-
free uprights we tested are very conve-
nient, but they're more expensive to buy
and operate.
PERFORMANCE. Freezers should be able to
maintain an inside temperature within a
couple of degrees of 0°F, even on swelter-
Text continued page 54
 Ratings of freezers Ol
N)

Listed by types; within types, and listed alphabetically. Up- frosting less often. Prices are the ~
listed in order of estimated over- rights were judged more conve- average of retail prices quoted ~
all quality. Models judged equal nient to defrost than chests, but to CU shoppers in April-May \.:tj
in overall quality are bracketed chests are likely to require de- 1981 in 14 big-city areas. ~
Very Sl
,.,.,,...~J> ~J> ~"' ~..~,--....;.;;,::..:.:"''·
?
Excellent good Good Fair Poor
-n
e•
• e o ~ • ,.$-- •• .. §Ii,, ' /

••
ii-.($
.,._e<f>
ii-.
ii'.~~... ~ ll'··(li
,;:,·• .,c,•
c; q" v,;:,' •q
" ~
~f'it-
0(1'

.(!'
.,~· Q'.. vo~
ii'"

Chests
WHIRLPOOL EHH150F $437 14.1 54 0 0 0 N A,D
SEARS 11155 410 14.0 53 e 0 ~ A,N A,E
RHEEM C15 385 14.2 62 0 0 0 B,C,D a
ADMIRAL CF15A7 413 14.8 62 e e 0 M b A
WHITE-WESTINGHOUSE FC161D 383 15.3 63 e 0 0 a,j,I
GENERAL ELECTRIC CB15DA 409 15. 1 59 0 0 0 a
( HOTPOINT FH15CA 400 15. 1 59 0 0 0 a
GIBSON FH15M5 405 15.0 67 e 0 0 F
WARD88529 364 15.0 59 ~ 0 a G

----
AMANA C15B 471 13.7 66 0 ~ E,F,N c F,G

Uprights
SEARS 21166 461 12.9 55 0 e e 0 C,G,H,l,K,N d L,O
AMANA ESU15C 521 13.9 67 0 0 0 D,J,L e H,L,N

--
 WHIRLPOOL EEV183F 447 12.7 72 e ~ 0 0 E,H,l,K,N f B,M,P

[
RHEEM DF15

.......... "'"'
GENERAL ELECTRIC CA16DA
392
438
442
13. 1
14.5
14.5
63
73
73
~
~
~
•
~
~
e
0
0
~
~
~
L
E
E
g,h,I
g,h
g,h
p

WARDS4640 427 13.7 73 ~ ~ 0 ~ N g 1,L

WHITE-WESTINGHOUSE FU166C 425 14.5 73 ~ ~ 0 ~ E g,h I
MAGIC CHEF FA16A-1M 425 12.6 89 e ~ 0 ~ D,J,L k K,L.M.P

Frost-free uprights
WHIRLPOOL EEV151HK 554 11 .8 86 0 0 0 0 G,l,J,K,N f C,J,M,P
AMANA ESUF16C 631 14.9 98 e 0 0 0 D,J,L e,i,k C,H,L,N,O
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES I - Interior lighting better than most. h - Has gate across bottom of storage
Except as noted, all have: Interior light but J - Solid shelves ( Amanas) , slotted compartment.
no power-on light; lock with key; painted shelves (Magic Chef), and removable i - More condensation on exterior under
steel interior. Except as noted, all chests wire-grid shelves (Whirlpool) judged humid conditions than with most.
have: Temperature control on lower left easier to clean than most. j - Lacks lock.
side of cabinet exterior; at least 1 sus- K - Interior all porcelain-on-steel (Sears k - Noisier than most.
pended storage basket. All uprights have: and Whirlpool uprights) or mostly I - Lacks storage basket.
Temperature controls inside freezer; non- porcelain-on-steel (Whirlpool frost-
reversible door without stops to prevent free). KEY TO COMMENTS
door from opening 180° or more. Except L - Plastic interior. A-Temperature control located on lower
as noted, all uprights have: 3 fixed, refrig- M - Painted aluminum interior. right side of cabinet exterior.
erated shelves in storage compartment N-Has power-on light. B- Has "power-saver" switch. Energy
plus 5 shelves in door (shelves in frost- use with switch on was 88 kwh/mo.
free models are unrefrigerated) . KEY TO DISADVANTAGES C- Has provision for optional ice maker.
a - Lacks interior light. 0- 2 storage baskets.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES b- Temperature control not as legible as E-3 storage baskets.
A- Flash-defrost feature. others. F- 1 movable divider.
8 - Temperature control inside chest. c - Defrost drain will not accept standard G- 1 single-position, removable divider. ~
C- Quieter than most. hose adapter; judged less convenient H- 4 fixed shelves. ::ti
D-Temperature control much more legi- than most. I- 3-position removable shelf. t>::I
ble than most. d - Has inconvenient recessed grip on J- 3 removable shelves. ~
E-Temperature control more legible side of door, instead of handle. K- Removable, unrefrigerated shelf. ~
than most. e - Interior light not as well protected L-Removable basket or bin at bottom of ~
F - Temperature control located at front; from accidental damage as most. storage compartment. Cl)
may be more readily accessible than f- Has trivet instead of sliding basket in M-2 juice-can shelves on door.
those on other chests. bottom of storage compartment. N-Swing-away retainers on door c.n
G - Food warmed up less than in most g- Shelves, with refrigeration tubes shelves. c.:>
during power-failure test. sandwiched in wire grids, judged rela- 0- 6 shelves in door.
H - Drain hose especially convenient. tively difficult to clean. P-4 shelves in door.
54 FREEZERS
ing days and under other adverse condi-
tions. Overall, the chest freezers were bet-
ter than the upright models at maintaining
a uniform temperature throughout the
storage space. The chests, in general, were
also better than the uprights at }iolding a
fairly constant inside temperature through
summer and winter.
We cut ofF power to each model for
about 12 hours to see how long it could
survive a power !>lackout or a breakdown.
All had areas that reached at least 20°. If
you expect your freezer to be ofF for more
than a half a day, then, you'll have to take
action to keep the food frozen. (You
shouldn't refreeze food once It's thawed.)
Use dry ice if you can find it. Cover the
food with cardboard, then put on gloves
and place chunks of dry ice on top of the
cardboard.
ENEllGY EFFICIENCY. As a class, the chest
freezers were slightly more energy-effi-
clent than the uprights. The two frost-free
models were far more expensive to operate
than most.
At a representative electricity rate of
6.75 cents per kwh. the thriftiest chest
model we tested, the Scars 111!5.'5, would
cost $3.60 a month to run under CU's test
conditions; the least efficient chest, the
Gibson, would cost $4.50 a month. Differ-
ences in energy cost become more impor-
tant as electricity rates rise. At a rate of 10
cents per kwh, the Gibson chest would cost
$1.40 more per month to operate than the
Sears chest.
The Ratings note each model's esti-
mated monthly energy use in kwh. To cal-
culate how much (in dollars) each model
would cost you to nm for a month. multi-
ply its energy-use figure by the cost of
electricity in your area (in cents per kwh),
and divide by 100.
llECOMMENDATIONS. The Whirlpool
EHH 1.50F and the Sears 111!5.'5 were best of
the chest models. The Rheem C1!5 also per-
formed well, but it's not quite as energy-
eflicient as the Whirlpool or the Sears. The
Sears 21166 was the best of the manual-
defrost uprights. The frost-free uprights
performed well, but you pay for their con-
venience.
 Foods
Breads
Condensed from Consumer
For this report, we've looked at a selection
of breads commonly found in supermar-
kets, tasting and testing white breads,
wheat breads, rye breads, and other varie-
ties. We bought our bread in the New
York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas areas,
sticking for the most part to brands sold
nationally and to important regional
brands. We tested all our breads for taste,
and we compared their nutritional quali-
ty.
TASTE. We asked our expert tasters to com-
pare each of the breads to an ideal or
"standard of excellence," which was noth-
ing more than a bread we baked ourselves
from a relatively simple home recipe fea-
turing fresh eggs, butter, and whole milk.
Our recipe happened to be for a white
bread, but any variety could theoretically
be an excellent-tasting loaf. Seven of the
commercial breads approached the superb
taste of our own bread. Three of them were
white breads; two were wheat breads; one
was a rye; and one was a bran-containing
white variety.
Most of the mass-market breads, how-
ever, were undistinguished or worse. They
fell short because industrial bakeries tend
to replace the traditional ingredients of
home-baked bread with ingredients that
are cheaper or easier to handle in large
Reports. September 1982
quantities. Most industrial bakers use com-
mercial emulsifiers such as lecithin or
monoglycerides instead of eggs. For whole
milk, they may substih1te nonfat dry milk
or, increasingly, whey solids, soy flour, or a
whey-soy mixture. Instead of butter, lard,
or some other shortening, they may add
stearoyl lactylates to make the bread more
spongy than tender.
NUTRITION. Although bread is "nutrient-
dense" -in that it provides a lot of desira-
ble nutrients for the calories it contains-
it's far from a perfect food, and it should be
part of a varied diet. But if you or your
children eat bread regularly in preference
to other foods, you may also want to culti-
vate a preference for a relatively nutritious
bread.
There were wide differences in the
breads' ability to support life and maintain
growth in our standard, controlled nutri-
tion tests. Two white breads outscored all
others of any type and were rated excel-
lent. Four of the wheat breads were rated
very good, as were a whole-grain variety
bread. On the whole, though, the white
breads outscored the wheats and ryes in
relative nutritional quality.
Why should one bread, or one type of
bread, do so well while others do so poor-
Terl continued on page 60.
 Ratings of breads ~
Listed by types; within types, most slightly sweet, salty, and was calculated from average tt:i
listed in order of est imated over- sour (moderately sour for sour- price paid by CU shoppers for ~
all quality based on sensory dough and rye); have aroma arid package size given. :i>:
judgments and on laboratory
tests of nutritional quality. Differ-
flavor of appropriate baked
grain, with perhaps aroma and
~
Very
ences between closely ranked flavor of yeast and butter or milk; Excellent good Good Fair Poor
products were judged slight. An
excellent bread should: taste at
have a tender, even texture with
slightly firmer crust. Cost per lb. o e o ~ •

.$-o'
. &~~
~v
do
Product .$-'"
White
MRS. WRIGHT'S BUTTER & EGG Safeway e o 16/ 15 $0.79 176 A,C,D b
ARNOLD BRICK OVEN Oroweat Foods e e 16/21 0.86 118 C,D a
PEPPERIDGE FARM SANDWICH Pepperidge Farm e e 16/20 0.86 137 A,C,D a
WEBER'S SUPER WHITE LOAF Interstate Brands 0 0 24/22 0.70 166 E,G d,e,g

HOME PRIDE BUTTER TOP

ITT Continental
Baking o e 20/ 22 0.77 148 H a,d,e

RAINBO EXTRA THIN

SANDWICH
Campbell Taggart o e 24/24 0.49 144 G d,e,I

ITT Continental
WONDER
Baking 0 0 16/18 0.79 133 D a,c
 e
MRS. WRIGHT'S SANDWICH Safeway
"0 e
24/32 0.41 113 G d,e,f

""
TAYSTEE REGULAR American Bakeries 16/19 0.80 130 G a,d.e,h,i,j
ANN PAGE EXTRA LARGE A&P 22/26 0.40 135 G a,c
Wheat
ARNOLD BRICK OVEN
100% WHOLE
Oroweat Foods e e 16/20 0.89 123 l,J,K,L m

. WONDER 100% WHOLE ITI Continental

Baking 0 e 16/17 0.96 158 D,1,0 0

JANE PARKER 100% WHOLE A&P 0 e 16/18 0.81 139 D,O,P a,d.m
HOME PRIDE BUTTER TOP ITI Continental Baking 0 e 20/22 0.78 135 G,1,0 a,h,m,o
MRS. WRIGHT'S 100% WHOLE Safeway 0 0 24/20 0.59 174 D,1,0,P n
WEBER'S SLICED Interstate Brands 0 0 16/17 0.76 145 E d,m,p
0
TAYSTEE 100% WHOLE American Bakeries
"e0 16/18 0.95 137 G,1,0 d,e,m

••"
EARTHGRAINS 100% WHOLE Campbell Taggart 16/18 1.05 138 l,L m
PEPPERIDOE FARM Pepperidge Farm 24/20 0.81 199 L,P,Q k,I
OROWEAT 100% WHOLE Oroweat Foods 0 16/21 1.04 119 l,K,O k,m

KEY TO CHARACTERISTICS KEY TO SENSORY DEFECTS

A- Well-blended. M-Grainy flavor. a- Too salty. o - Flavor not well blended.
B-Well-textured. N - Large-grained. b-A bit too eggy. p- More like white bread than wheat
C-Eggy. 0 - Fine-grained. c-Slight flour flavor. bread.
D-Tender. P-Nutty. d - Too elastic when chewed. q-A bit too much dill character.
E- Slightly ~r. Q - Firm. a - Slightly gummy. r - Much too sour.
F-Sour. R- Rye. I-Slight flavor of raw dough. s-Too dry.
G - Airy. S - Dark-rye/ pumpernickel. g-Bland. t - Caraway seeds burned mouth slight-
H-Buttery. T-Caraway/rye.
U-Strongly rye/dill.
h-Sllght aftertaste of flour paste. ly.
u-Caraway flavor too strong.
~
~
1-Wheaty. I -A bit too sour.
J-Moist. V-Tangy. j - Lett chalky coating In mouth. v - Not much baked-wheat flavor.
K - Molasses-sweet. W-Dense. k - A bit too sweet. w - Crust somewhat bitter.
L - Grainy texture. X-Crusty. I - Too firm. x-Too chewy. tl.l
m-Sllghtly bitter. y- Slight flavor of sour grain.
n -Slightly astringent. z - Flat flavor from lack o_f salt. <:ll
~
Ratings continued on next page.
OROWEAT LOW SODIUM WHITE Oroweat Foods ~ 0 16/18 1.24 141 D m,s, z
OROWEAT BRAN'NOLA
OLD STYLE WHITE
Oroweat Foods e ~ 24/18 0.80 212 A,D,H,O a

ARNOLD BRAN'NOLA
OLD STYLE WHITE
Oroweat Foods 0 ~ 24/18 0.81 226 A,1,0 s

ARNOLD NATUREL
(Health loaf) Oroweat Foods 0 ~ 16/18 0.99 141 K,W k.l.s

FRESH HORIZONS WHITE ITT Continental

(Reduced calorie) Baking 0 ~ 16/17 0.94 120 B,G,H w

PEPPERIDGE FARM
CRACKED WHEAT
Pepperidge Farm 0
• 16/19 0.95 144 D,N a,l,s,v

FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL
EXTRA SOURDOUGH

KEY TO CHARACTERISTICS
Oroweat Foods 0
•
KEY TO SENSORY DEFECTS
24/15 0.75 243 D,F,X a,o

A-Well-blended. M - Grainy flavor. a-Too salty. o - Flavor not well blended.

B ~Well-textured . N - Large-grained. b -A bit too eggy. p-More like white bread than wheat
C- Eggy. 0- Fine-grained. c - Slight flour flavor. - bread.
D-Tender. P-Nutty. d - Too elastic when chewed. q -A bit too much dill character.
E-Slightly sour. Q-Firm. e-Slightly gummy. r - Much too sour.
F-Sou r. R -Rye. f - Slight flavor of raw dough. s-Too dry.
G - Airy. S- Dark-rye/pumpernickel. g-Bland. !-Caraway seeds burned mouth slight-
H-Buttery. T-Caraway/rye. h -Slight aftertaste of flour paste. ly.
1-Wheaty. U-Strongly rye/dill. i - A bit too sour. u - Caraway flavor too strong.
J-Moist. V- Tangy. j- Left cha lky coating in mouth. v- Not much baked-wheat flavor.
K - Molasses-sweet. W - Dense. k -A bit too sweet. w-Crust somewhat bitter.
L - Grainy texture. X - Crusty. I - Too firm. x - Too chewy.
m - Slig htly bitter. y- Slight flavor of sour grain.
n -Slightly astringent. z - Flat flavor from lack of salt.

~
~
~
<:n
~
60 BREADS, ORANGE JUICE
ly? A closer look at our results suggests
some reasons.
One is protein quality-how well the
amino-acid proportions in the bread match
the body's amino-acid requirements. Many
breads contain eggs, milk, or such substi-
tutes as whey and soy Hour, which are usu-
ally added to improve flavor or texture but
which also serve to complement the cereal
protein in bread. We found a significant
correspondence between a bread's per-
formance in our tests and the list of pro-
tein-containing ingredients on its label.
Another reason some breads did more
poorly than others, in our judgment, is that
the nutrients in some of the breads are less
available for the body to assimilate and
use. Whole grains contain more protein,
more vitamins, and more minerals, gener-
ally, than does refined white Hour, even
with its added enrichments. But whole
grains also contain fiber and phytates,
which may make some nutrients less avail-
able to the body. Much the same can be
said of soy Hour; despite its enhanced pro-
tein potential, it tends to tie up essential
trace minerals.
The combined effects of protein quality
and factors that reduce availability of
nutrients probably account for most of the
nutritional differences between individual
breads and types of bread. White breads as
a group are the best supplemented with
quality protein sources, and the nutrients
they contain are readily available. 'Wheat
breads are somewhat less supplemented
with quality protein ingredients and con-
tain many ingredients that may hinder the
body's use of some essential nutrients in
the bread. Rye breads appear to have the
lowest protein quality of the three types,
but most rye breads are made with refined,
enriched Hour, which makes their nutrients
more available than those of wheat
breads.
RECOMMENDATIONS. A few of the tested
breads rated highly in both taste and nutri-
tion. Those include: Mrs. Wright's Butter
& Egg bread, a Safeway store brand; both
the white and wheat versions . of Arnold
Brick Oven; and Pcpperidge Farm Sand-
wich White. If wheat bread is more to your
taste, the Arnold Brick Oven type is worth
a try.
If you like a bread we haven't tested but
are concerned about its nutritional quality,
check the ingredients list. The following
ingredients are likely to improve the pro-
tein quality of grain: milk, eggs, whey, and
whey/soy combinations. The more of
them on the label, and the higher they
stand on the list of ingredients, the better.

Orange juice:
frozen, refrigerated, canned
Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1982
Orange juice basically contributes vitamin sugar in orange juice-a combination of
C and sugar to the diet. On average, a six- sucrose, fmctose, and glucose-contributes
ounce glass of any juice we tested would most of the 70 or so cal'lries per glass.
provide almost 100 percent-or more-of Different kinds of orange juice-freshly
an adult's Recommended Daily Allowance squeezed, frozen, refrigerated, and
of vitamin C, which is 60 milligrams. The canned-don't vary excessively in vitamin

C or in calories. The big difference is in
what processing docs to the flavor.
Jn judging more than 40 brands of
orange juice, our sensory consultants com-
pared their flavor, nroma, and texture to
that of freshly squeezed orange juice.
FROZEN. Frozen orange is the least pro-
cessed of the supermarket juices. It's basi-
cally fresh juice with most of the water
removed. If nil goes well in the processing,
and if the juice isn't defrosted and refrozen
in the distribution chain, there's a good
chance that it will taste pretty close to
freshly squeezed juice after it's reconsti-
tuted.
W c tested 24 brands of frozen orange
juice. The seven best, rated very good,
were Minute Maid, Tropicana, Safeway's
Bel-air, Alpha Beta, Whole Sun, RalpM,
and A&P. A six-ounce glass of those juices
should cost from 12 to 17 cents, based on
November 1981 prices at a New York
supermarket. That's considerably less than
what freshly squeezed juice would cost
(perhaps 25 to 50 cents).
The top-rated juices tasted mostly of
fresh oranges. In all but one, the only
defect was a slight processed, or cooked,
quality. All bad the zest that comes from
orange peel, which has to be deliberately
added to processed juice.
Frozen orange juices that were rated
good or fair usually lacked zest. They
tended to taste more cooked and were
often marred with such off-flavors as a
slight bitterness or the taste of fermented,
spoiling, or green fmit.
CHILLED. People may think they are choos-
ing a fresher juice when they choose chill-
ed juice, the kind sold refrigerated in
bottles and cartons, but most chilled or-
ange juice is made from concentrated
orange juice; the manufacturer has merely
saved you the trouble of reconstituting the
juice. Because more processing steps oc-
cur, there's more that can go wrong with
bottled and cartoned juice than with frozen
juice.
ORANGE JUICE 61
The best of the 11 chilled juices we
tested was an A&P juice. It tasted distinctly
of cooked oranges, but it still retained
some fresh orange flavor and aroma. The
rest of the chilled juices that were reconsti-
tuted lacked any hint of their fresh origins.
Instead, they tasted entirely of processed,
or even overprocessed, oranges. Many suf-
fered a flavor defect known as "oxidized
citrus" -the deteriorated citrus flavor
common in canned citrus juices. None of
the chilled juices had any natural-orange
pulp. The cost per six-ounce glassful
ranged from 11 to 19 cents at the super-
market we checked.
CANNED. Canning is a rotten way to treat
an orange. Of all the processing methods,
canning exposes orange juice to the most
heat over the longest time. ·
Some canned orange juice is made from
concentrate, some isn't. Either way, the
juice tasted only fair. The eight canned
juices we tested were the lowest-rated
juices. They had no fresh orange character.
Indeed, some of them tasted very much
like canned grapefruit juice. The over-
whelming flavor was that of oxidized cit-
rus. Two also smelled or tasted tinny. All
tended to be watery, and none had any
pulp. The cost of a six-ounce serving of the
stuff, we found, ranged from 13 to 20
cents.
Canned orange juice has another prob-
lem-lead. We tested two samples of all
the orange juices for their lead content;
canned juices were the only type to have
significant amounts of lead. Half the
brands had lead levels in both samples
exceeding Federal standards for drinking
water.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Freshly squeezed or-
ange juice tastes best, of course, but it's
very expensive. One of the top-rated fro-
zen orange juices should taste nearly as
good a~ juice straight from the orange, and
it costs much less. And any of the products
supplies adequate vitamin C.
Tum page for R11tirlgs
62 ORANGE JUICE
Ratings of orange Juice
Listed by types. Within types, listed
In order of overall sensory quality
as judged by CU's consultants. Dif-
ferences between closely ranked
products were slight. According to
CU's analyses, a 6-fl.-oz. serving of
any of the juices would provide at
least 54 mg. of vitamin C, or 90 per-
cent of an adult's Recommended
Daily Allowance.

Frozen concentrate. The following were judged very good In sensory quality. All
showed the mild defect of slight processed-orange character.
MINUTE MAID. Zesty end flavorful with high fresh-orange character and no pulp.
TAOPICANA. Zesty end balanced with high fresh-orange character and no pulp.
BEL-AIR (Safeway). Zesty with medium fresh-orange character and some pulp.
ALPHA BET A. Zesty with high fresh-orange character and high pulp content.
WHOLE SUN. Zesty and thick with medium fresh-orange character and some pulp.
RALPHS. Zesty and thick with medium fresh-orange character and variable pulp content.
Defect•: Slight bitterness.
A6P. Zesty with high fresh-orange character and some pulp.
The following were judged good In sensory quality. Except as noted, all showed the mild defect
of slight processed-orange character.
KROGER. Medium fresh-orange character with some pulp.
7 ELEVEN. Zesty with medium fresh-orange character and some pulp; low tartness ar.d low
astringency. Defect•: Uncrlsp orange flavor.
TOP FROST. Zesty with medium fresh-orange character and some pulp.
JANET LEE (Albertson). Thick with medium fresh-orange character and some pulp. Defect•:
Distinct processed-orange character.
DONALD DUCK. Medium fresh-orange character with variable pulp.
LADY LEE (Lucky). Low fresh-orange character with some pulp. Defects: No zest from orange
peel.
SNOW CROP. High fresh-orange character with high pulp content. Defect•: Some samples had
very slight aroma and flavor of fermented oranges.
ASTOR. Zesty and thick with medium fresh-orange character and high pulp content. Defects:
Slight bitterness; flavor not wen balanced.
TEXSUN. Low fresh-orange character with some pulp.
NATURAL SUN. Low astringency with medium fresh-orange character and no pulp. Defects:
No zest from orange peel; very slight aroma of fermented oranges.
SCOTCH BUY (Safeway). Zesty with low fresh-orange character and no pulp. Defects: Flavor
not well balanced .
SEALD-SWEET SUNBRIGHT. Zesty with low fresh-orange character and some pulp.
SUNKIST. Zesty with low fresh-orange character and variable pulp content. Defect s: Distinct
processed-orange character; very slight flavor of fermented oranges.
SHUR FINE. Low fresh orange character with some pulp. Defects: Distinct processed-orange
character; some samples with off-flavors.
The following were judged fair In sensory quality.
PATHMARK. Zesty with low fresh-orange character and some pulp. Defects: Slight processed-
 ORANGE JUICE 63
orange character; poorly blended; some samples had slight fl~vor of fermented oranges.
A&P GENERIC. More tart than sweet with low fresh-orange character and no pulp. Defect•:
Slight processed-orange character; slight bitterness; no zest from orange peel; slight flavor of
unripe fruit.
TREESWEET. Sweet with low tartness, low astringency, and no pulp. Defect•: No fresh-orange
character; slight processed-orange character; no zest from orange peel; slight aroma and flavor
of fermented oranges.

Chilled. The following were judged good In sensory quality. Except as noted, all showed
the defect of distinct processed-orange character.
A&P. From concentrate. Low fresh -orange character and no pulp.
PATHMARK NO FRILLS. From concentrate. No pulp. Defects: No fresh-orange character.
PATHMARK. From concentrate. No pulp. Defects: No fresh-orange character; no zest from
orange peel; very slight aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus juice.
BEL-AIR (Safeway). From concentrate. Thick with no pulp. Defects: No fresh-orange character;
no zest from orange peel; very slight aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus juice.
KROGER. From concentrate. No pulp. Defect•: No fresh-orange character; no zest from orange
peel; very slight aroma end flavor of oxidized citrus juice.
TROPICANA. Pasteurized. Consistent flavor with low fresh-orange character (but not distinct
processed-orange character) and no pulp. Defects: _ Slight aroma and flavor of overprocessed
oranges.
TROPICANA. From concentrate. Slightly astringent with no pulp. Defects: No fresh-orange
character; no zest from orange peel; slight aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus juice.
MINUTE MAID. From concentrate. Tart flavor with no pulp. Defects: No fresh-orange character;
no zest from orange peel; slight aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus juice.
KRAFT. From concentrate. Tart with pineapple aromatics and no pulp. Defect•: No fresh-
orange character; no zest from orange peel; very slight aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus
juice.
The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
BORDEN. From concentrate. Low sweetness and no pulp. Defect•: No fresh-orange character;
distinct processed-orange character; no zest from orange peel; slight aroma and flavor of
oxidized citrus juice; distinct bitterness.
SEALTEST VALENCIA BLEND. From concentrate. Tart with low sweetness and no pulp.
Defect•: No fresh-orange character; no zest from orange peel; distinct processed-orange
character; distinct bitterness.

Canned. The fol/owing were judged fair In sensory quality. All showed the defects of no
fresh-orange character, no zest from orange peel, and sl/ght aroma and flavor of oxidized citrus
juice.
BLUEBIRD. Astringent with no pulp.
TREESWEET. From concentrate. Tangerine-like flavor; thick with no pulp.
BIG TEX. From concentrate. Astringent and thin with no pulp .
ANN PAGE (A&P). Astringent with no pulp. Defects: Slight aroma of tin can .
TEXSUN. From concentrate. No pulp.
LIBBY'S. From concentrate. No pulp.
TOWNHOUSE (Safeway). No pulp.
DEL MONTE. Astringent and thin with no pulp. Defect•: Slight aftertaste of tin can.
64 "FRUIT" DRINKS
"Fruit" drinks
Condensed from Consumer
Fruitoid beverages are big business (almost
$1-billion a year). Typically, the fruit fla-
vor they attempt to mimic is played up on
the label in large letters. It may take a
close reading of the label to disclose that
such products are largely or almost totally
artificial.
CU shoppers bought samples of the
three most popular brands. (Hi-C, Hawai-
ian Punch, Kool-Aid) in their orange and
grape flavors, as well as one (Gatorade, in
its orange version) that was originally pro-
moted as a drink for athletes. In most
cases, we checked the products in both liq-
uid and dry-mix versions.
There's juice in the canned Hawaiian
Punch and Hi-C drinks, but not much-10
percent. In the H i-C, that 10 percent is
orange or grape juice alone. There's only 5
percent orange or grape juice in the
canned Hawaiian Punch products; the
other 5 percent combines such juices as
pineapple and passion fruit with papaya
and guava purees. There's even a dollop of
orange juice in the Ha wai ian Punch grape.
There's no juice in the dry-mix products or
Gatorade.
TASTE. We asked our sensory consultants to
evaluate unidentified samples of all the
fruit drinks. Just about all of the products
tasted artificial, with an overly sweet, can-
dylike character, insufllcient ·sourness, or
tasted tinny.
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are Included and others not.
Reports. September 1982
The liquid H i-C Grape came within hail-
ing distance of a bottled grape juice, since
it contained some real grape flavor. But it
was poorly blended and cooked-tasting.
The other liquid drink, Hawaiian Punch,
had very little fresh-grape character and
also tasted cooked.
NUTllmON. Many of the artificial drinks
have been forti6ed so that an eight-ounce
glassful will meet at least 100 percent of a
child's need for vitamin C (45 milligrams
for youngsters up to 10 years old). Gator-
ade is not fortified, and our analysis
showed it contained little vitamin C.
Though Kool-Aid ads stress the drink's
vitamin C content, the four Kool-Aid
mixes were rather low in.C.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Why does anybody
buy these surgared chemicals diluted with
water? The flavor is far from the flavor of
juice. The nutrition, for what it's worth, is
not greater than that of juice. Convenience
is hardly a factor. Clearly, most of these
products sell because they're cheaper than
juice.
Yet to change juice into a less expensive
drink, all you need do is dilute it a bit with
tap water. H you start with real orange or
grape juice and dilute it with water by
about 50 percent, you'll have a drink that
tastes better than a canned fake and costs
the same. If the resulting drink tastes too
tart, you can add a little sugar.
 "FRUIT" DRINKS 65
Ratings ·o f 'fruit' drinks
Listed by flavors; within flavors, erage price paid by CU shoppers.
listed in order of overall sensory
quality as judged by CU's consul- Very

• •
tants. Differences between closely Excellent good Good Fair Poor
ranked products were slight. Cost e 0
per serving was calculated from av-
--
Per 8-fl.-oz. aervlng

~·
~"
~
Product

Orange
KOOL-AID SUGAR-SWEETENED
"""'
SOFT DRINK MIX-ORANGE
p ~ 7¢ 12 93 b,c,d,k,I

HAWAIIAN PUNCH FLAVOR

CRYSTALS-ORANGE
p ~ 8 37 90 c,d,k1I

GATORADE L ~ 18 ~ 58 c,i,k
Hl-C DRINK MIX-ORANGE p ~ 7 77 78 c,d,e,f,k,I
Hl-C ORANGE DRINK L ~ 12 BB 117 c,d.Q.].k,I
KOOL-AID UNSWEETENED SOFT
DRINK MIX-ORANGE
p ~ 5[1] 10 100 c,d,h,k,I

HAWAIIAN PUNCH-ORANGE L ~ 14 96 113 c,d,h,k,I

Grape
Hl-C GRAPE DRINK L 0 12 B7 112 a,d,g,j,k,I
HAWAIIAN PUNCH-GRAPE L ~ 14 86 116 a,d,I
HAWAIIAN PUNCH FLAVOR
CRYSTALS-GRAPE
p ~ 6 30 83 c,d,k,I

Hl-C DRINK MIX-GRAPE p ~ 7 84 84 c,d,e,k,I

KOOL-AID UNSWEETENED SOFT
DRINK MIX-GRAPE
p ~ 5rn 10 101 c,d,k,I

KOOL-AID SUGAR-SWEETENED
SOFT DRINK MIX-GRAPE
p ~ 7 10 90 c,d,e,k,I

OJ P, powder; L, liquid. ~Less than 2.5 mg. Ill Includes cost of added sugar.
KEY TO SENSORY DEFECTS
a - Some processed-fruit character. g-Very slightly tinny.
b - Bland. h - Bright orange color.
c - Some artificial-fruit character. i - Out-of-place lemon flavor.
d - Too sweet or candylike. j - Flavors not well blended.
e -Very slightly perfumelike. k -Somewhat too thin.
f - Overripe-orange character. I - Insufficiently sour.
66 MILK FLAVORING

Milk flavorings
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1980
Milk flavorings are intended to persuade either flavor of fortified Ovaltine would
children to drink more milk. The entice- fill about half of a child's RDA for iron,
ment is mainly added sweetness. Most of vitamins C and B-6, thiamin, and niacin.
these products are chocolate-flavored, but Fortification seems to come at the ex-
some have the flavors of strawberry, malt, pense of flavor. The best of the fortified
carob, or eggnog. flavorings was rated fair-to-good in sensory
TASTE. Many of the milk fl avorings, partic- quality; the other fortified products were
ularly the chocolate-flavored ones, en- judged fair.
hanced the taste of milk, but none of the SUGAR AND SALT. Some form of sugar is the
products we tested was judged excellent. main ingredient in all the milk flavorings.
Many were too sweet. They averaged 87 calories per serving.
Ghirardelli chocolate was rated very (Whole milk has 150 calories per glass, and
good. Few of the other chocolate flavor- skim milk has 86 calories.) The syrups
ings tasted very much of chocolate; their tended to have slightly more calories per
mild chocolate flavor was often overpow- serving than the powders.
ered by vanilla or malt. The chocolate fla- Most of the products contained salt; the
vorings rated good were the three forms of few that didn't still contained sodium. The
Hershey's (powder; can and bottle of amount of sodium was fairly low, generally
symp), Nestle Quik, Carnation Malted, much less than 100 milligrams per serving,
Kraft Molted, and Horlicks Malted. One of but that's in addition to the 120 milligrams
the plain malted flavorings we tested, Car- or so in a glass of milk. The products made
nation, was judged good, though it was with malt usually had the most sodium.
rather bland. The strawberry flavorings we The strawberry flavorings had only 8 to 13
tested were shocking pink in color and had milligrams of sodium per serving, but they
a too-sweet, artificial-strawberry flavor. consisted instead of about 99 percent
PDQ eggnog flavoring was rated good; it sugars.
was slightly too ~weet. RECOMMENDATIONS. Of the chocolate fla-
NUTRITION. Milk is a good source of many vorings, try Ghirardelli if it's available in
nutrients, but a poor source of others, par- your area. (It's sold mainly in the West.)
ticularly iron and vitamin C. A milk flavor- Though it costs more than most of the oth-
ing could be a means of adding nutrients to er milk flavorings, it was the only one we
milk. We analyzed the flavorings for pro- tested that had a true chocolate flavor and
tein, iron, vitamins C and B-6, thiamin, and aroma, with no trace of vanilla. Some of
niacin. the other flavorings made the flavor of
We found about 10 percent of a 7- to milk more interesting, but the ones that
10-year-old's Recommended Daily Allow- added to the nutritional value of milk gen-
ance for iron in a serving of some unforti- erally detracted from its taste.
fied chocolate flavorings: Kroger, Ed- Because milk flavorings have so much
wards, No-Frills, Far's U-Bet, and the sugar, they should not become a staple. If
three forms of Hershey's. Bosco, which is you must have chocolate milk, try making
fortified, had nearly 10 percent of the RDA your own with unsweetened cocoa powder
for iron and about 90 percent of the RDA and sugar. You can then control how much
for niacin in one serving. One serving of sugar is added.
 HOT DOGS 67

Hot dogs
Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1980
A hot dog is mostly meat, but it's not most- other two meats) together make up at least
ly protein (no meat is). A hot dog contains 70 percent of the frank's meat content, and
only about 12 percent protein by weight. neither meat is less than 30 percent of the
That's about half the protein content of total meat used, manufacturers can juggle
cooked steak or hamburger. So the price of the relative amounts of the two meats in
protein in a typical hot dog-about $15 per the product without changing the order of
pound-is nearly as high as the price of their names on the label-but the ingredi-
protein in sirloin steak. ents list on the label must have the word
A typical cooked hot dog is about 55 "and" instead of a comma between the two
percent water, 28 percent fat. That much meats.
water isn't overly high when compared NITRITES AND NITROSAMINES. All cured meat
with the water found naturally in meats. contains small amounts of nitrite or its
But we consider a hot dog's maximum chemical precursor, nitrate. Nitrite gives
allowable fat content, 30 percent, exces- cured meat its characteristic flavor and
sive in a manufactured meat product. Most color and inhibits the growth of bacteri3.,
of the poultry franks contained less fat including the source of botulism toxin.
than the ones made from beef and pork. However, nitrite may combine with am-
LABELS. If a hot dog is made from one spe- ines (natural compounds found in most
cies of meat or from poultry meat, that foods) to form nitrosamines, which cause
must be part of the title: "beef franks," cancer in animals. The amounts of nitrites
"turkey wieners." The labels of hot dogs and nitrosamines in cured meats have been
made of beef and pork (or any nonpoultry reduced in recent years, but nitrite is still
hot dogs that use more than one meat) can- added to foods because there is as yet no
not mention the species in the title. You suitable substitute for it as an inhibitor of
must look to the ingredients list to see botulism.
what is the major meat. Ingredients must Consumers who want to avoid any possi-
be listed in descending order by weight. If ble risks from nitrite in cured meats can
the list begins "beef and pork," you'd like- avoid those foods entirely or purchase
ly think the hot dogs contain more beef nitrite-free products. Note that nitrite-free
than pork, but that may not be so. A USDA hot dogs have no preservative, so they
rnle provides that if the beef and pork (or must be kept frozen until cooked.

CU's objectivity
CU accepts no advertising; it accepts no samples of products; it
does its utmost to stop use of its name or findings to promote any
product or service. Ask anyone who claims that a CU Rating has
been improperly influenced to write down the assertion and sign it.
Then send the document to us. Consumers Union takes full respon-
sibility for the integrity of its work.
68 HOT DOGS
RECOMMENDATIONS. Hot dogs aren't overly
nutritious (see pages 74 to 75). They're
cheap, but they're high in fat. Our Ratings
refer to taste only. Criteria for excellent
hot dogs are stated at the beginning of the
Ratings. Keeping in mind that different
brands of hot dogs have their own distinc-
t ive seasonings and flavors you'll probably
like one of the franks rated very good or
good.

Ratings of hot dogs

Listed by types. Within types, listed in quality groups based on sensory
judgments by CU's consultants. Within quality groups, listed alphabetical-
ly, except that slash (/) indicates slight quality difference between closely
ranked brands. Standard of excellence for a hot dog: Flavor of fresh meat
well blended with seasonings; resilient " skin"; moist, firm insides; appro-
priate appearance and feel.

Beef
The fol/owing were rated very good.
ECKRICH. HEBREW NATIONAL. OSCAR MAYER./DUBUQUE PLUMPERS. OSCAR MAYER
THE BIG ONE. RATH BLACK HAWK.
The following were rated good.
ARMOUR. BEST'S KOSHER LOWER FAT. HORMEL WRANGLERS. SAFEWAY PREMIUM./
KAHN'S JUMBO. NODINE'S SMOKEHOUSE UNCURED. SWIFT PREMIUM.
The following were rated fair.
A&P. CUDAHY BAR S EXTRA LEAN./FARMER JOHN. SAFEWAY. SHILOH FARMS
UNCURED.
The fol/owing were rated poor.
HYGRADE'S./HYGRADE'S BALL PARK. JOHN MORRELL. KROGER.
The following were rated variable (poor to good).
BEST'S KOSHER./DUBUQUE ROYAL BUFFET.

Beef and pork

The following were rated very good.

OSCAR MAYER. OSCAR MAYER WITH CHEESE./JOHN MORRELL. KAHN'S JUMBO.
The following were rated good.
A&P. ECKRICH. RATH BLACK HAWK./DUBUQUE PLUMPERS. HOFFY. HYGRADE'S BALL
PARK. SAFEWAY PREMIUM. WILSON'S CORN KING.
The following were rated fair.
CUDAHY BARS EXTRA LEAN./ ARMOUR. FARMER JOHN. HORMEL RANGE BRAND
WRANGLERS.
 HOT DOGS, PEANUT BUTTER 69
The following were rated poor.
SAFEWAY. SWIFT PREMIUM./HYGRADE'S. KROGER.

Chicken

The following were rated good.

SAFEWAY MANOR HOUSE. WEAVER./GWALTNEY'S GREAT DOGS.
The following were rated fair.
LONGACRE FAMILY. FOSTER FARMS./HOLLY FARMS. TYSON.

Turkey

The following were rated fair.

MR. TURKEY. RICH'S LEANER WIENER.

Peanut butter
Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1982
First there was just plain peanut butter- gories.
grainy, containing ground-up peanut skins, NUTRITION. A peanut-butter sandwich with
and gooey with oil that rose to the top of a glass of milk makes a good lunch for a
the jar. Then came creamy and chunky kid. It provides a nice balance of protein,
peanut butter-ground, smoqth, with carbohydrate, and calories.
chunks added, and homogenized to a single The peanut butter in one sandwich
jar-deep consistency. Now just plain pea- would provide about one-third of a 7- to
nut butter is back in a revival of "natural" 10-year-old's recommended daily allow7
and " old-fashioned" peanut values, exalt- ance for protein. That's less than in a typi-
ing the wholesome graces of graininess and cal hamburger, but it's plenty for one
goo. meal. Peanut butter's protein is very
We tested 18 brands of creamy peanut cheap. Based on recent prices, the cost per
butter and 12 brands of chunky. There pound of protein for peanut butter is only
were natural and old-fashioned peanut but- $6.12; hamburger"s is $10.06.
ters in both groups. Peanuts-and therefore peanut butters-
TASTE. Our sensory consultants examined have plenty of fat. But the fat is less satur-
the products for four characteristics- ated than the fat in a burger. The level of
appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture. sodium is generally fairly low-between
The results of their analyses do credit to 100 and 200 milligrams per serving. Four
the tastes of American kids, who eat about brands (two " natural" products, two "low-
two-thirds of all peanut butter. The three sodium'" products) contained a negligible
best-selling peanut butters came out on amount of sodium. They were rated good,
top, in both the creamy and chunky cate- but they tended to be expensive.
70 PEANUT BUTTER
RECOMMENDATIONS. Peanut butter is a nu-
tritious, inexpensive food. And happily, as
the Ratings cost-per-serving column
shows, the best-tasting brands are among
the cheapest. Peanut-butter prices have
gone up since we brought our samples, but
the relative cost differences shown in the
Ratings should remain the same.

Ratings of peanut butter

Listed by types; within types, listed size given.
in order of overall sensory quality as
judged by CU's consultants. Two- Very

• -- •
tablespoon serving size is enough Excellent good Good Fair Poor
for a sandwich. Package price is
average paid by CU shoppers for
e 0
· ~~
~
,,l'" If'~
,:-4' ,,~~
Product CJo '!I

Creamy
JIF e 18 $2.10 14¢ 154
SKIPPY e 18 1.85 13 162
PETER PAN e 18 2.09 14 202
SKIPPY OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.76 14 158
HOLSUM OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.81 14 202
ADAMS OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.98 15 120
LAURA SCUDDER'S OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.86 14 113
KROGER NATURAL OLD FASHIONED 0 18 1.70 12 129
SMUCKER'S NATURAL 0 16 2.07 16 128
KROGER 0 18 1.69 12 163
DEAF SMITH OLD FASHIONED 0 18 3.25 22 2
PETER PAN LOW SODIUM 0 8 1.41 22 2
SCOTCH BUY 0 48 4.17 11 153
ANN PAGE 0 18 1.70 12 201
NUMADE 0 18 1.73 12 171
BAMA 0 18 1.94 13 155
FEATHERWEIGHT LOW SODIUM 0 6 1.81 37 6
HOLLYWOOD NATURAL ~ 16 1.58 12 56
 PEANUT BUTTER, PANCAKE SYRUP 71

Chunky
JIF EXTRA e 18 $2.10 14¢ 123
SKIPPY SUPER e 18 1.80 12 148
PETER PAN e 18 1.92 13 173
KROGER SUPER e 18 1.71 12 175
HOLSUM OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.79 14 172
ADAMS PURE OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.99 15 103
SMUCKER'S NATURAL 0 16 2.14 17 105
LAURA SCUDDER'S OLD FASHIONED 0 16 1.75 14 130
DEAF SMITH 0 1!! 3.29 23 3
NUMADE EXTRA 0 28 2.55 11 147
SCOTCH BUY 0 48 3.99 10 149
ANN PAGE [j] 18 1.69 12 175
[i] Variable.

Pancake syrups
Condensed from Consume r Reports. May 1979
Few of the syrups sold in supermarkets are be as thick as real maple syrup. Its maple
pure maple. They're unmaple syrups- qualities should be pronounced. It
sweet symps with added maple, honey, or, shouldn't be too sweet. The real maple
sometimes, butter flavoring. symps had the desired astringent, woody,
Maple syrup should be clear and light- and smoky characteristics. The maple syr-
to-medium amber in color. It should be ups had a more delicate maple flavor and
slightly thick, with a delicate maple, wood, aroma than the unmaple syrups, and were
bark, or smoky Oavor and aroma. It can not as sweet.
have a bit of sweetness and a bit of sour- Nutritive value of all pancake syrups is
ness, or astringency. practically nil. They consist primarily of
We think a good unmaple symp should water and sugars-empty calories.
72 BACON
Bacon
Condensed from Consumer Reports. September 1981
Most bacon sold in supermarkets is "regu-
lar-sliced," one-sixteenth to one-eighth
inch thick, which works out to about 18 or
20 slices per pound. "Thick-sliced" bacon,
the next most common type, is about one-
eighth inch thick, for about 14 to 16 slices
per pound. One of the regular-sliced
brands we tested is a no-nitrite bacon. We
also bought and tried some bacon substi-
tutes known as "breakfast strips" and "beef
bacon."
SENSORY QUALITY. Criteria for excellence
are stated at the beginning of the Ratings.
One brand of excellent bacon doesn't have
to taste exactly like another; some have
distinguishing flavors such as maple or
smoke character. The highest-rated prod-
ucts-Oscar May er and Dubuque Royal
Buffet regular-sliced bacon and A&P thick-
sliced-were judged very good; they would
have been rated excellent were they not
slightly too chewy. In addition, the A &P
bacon was a little too bard.
Many of the bacons rated good were too
salty. Many bad the flavor and aroma of
fried or roasted pork. Some bad too little
taste of cure or smoke. Among the brands
judged fair, defects multiplied and intensi-
fied. The one canned brand we tested left a
metallic feeling in the mouth. The nitrite-
free brand, Gwaltney Williamsburg Brand
Old Fashioned, tasted more like salt pork
than bacon.
BACON SU BSTITUTES. "Breakfast strips,..
whose names usually include the word
" lean," are made of chopped pork meat
and pork fat. " Beef bacon," perhaps more
properly described as breakfast beef or
beef strips, is made from beef plates, the
same cut from which corned beef is made.
The breakfast strips and the beef bacons,
like real bacon, are cured and smoked.
Within a brand, they tasted the same from
sample to sample, but none was rated high-
er than fair.
The breakfast strips and beef bacons
generally had less fat than real bacon,
though not by much. A single breakfast
strip generally had more protein (and more
calories) than a slice of real bacon simply .
because the breakfast strip was larger. And
both types of bacon substitute had more
sodium per slice than real bacon.
The breakfast strips shranlc considerably
less than the real bacons, and, per cooked
pound, they were the cheapest type of
product we tested. By the slice, though,
both the breakfast strips and the beef
bacons cost about the same as thick-sliced
real bacon.
NITROSAMINES, potent cancer-causing sub-
stances, are formed in cooked bacon by
chemical reactions between amines, natu-
ral components of foods, and nitrite, an
additive used in curing bacon and other
meat products. The particular nitros-
amines found in small amounts in bacon
cause cancer at high doses in animals, and
the assumption must be that they can also
contribute to the risk of cancer in humans.
Although the amounts of nitrosamines
found in bacon are generally lower than
those found several years ago, there is no
"safe" level, and there is a genuine, though
small, risk associated with eating bacon.
To minimize that risk without giving up
bacon entirely, try nitrite-free bacon. Or
look for bacon with the highest lean-to-fat
ratio you can find; nitrosamine levels are
higher in the fat. Avoid cooking with
bacon grease. Fry bacon at a fairly low
temperature, or cook it on paper towels in
a microwave oven. And cook bacon in a
well-ventilated area. For more informa-
tion, see "Nitrites and Nitrosamines" in
the report on hot dogs, page 67.
 BACON 73
Ratings of bacon
Listed by types; within types, listed in order of estimated overall quality
based on sensory judgments by CU's consultants. Standard of excellence
for bacon: Flavor of pork, smoke, and sweet cure with mild sweetness and
distinct saltiness; even distribution of fat and lean; texture that is firm,
slightly greasy, and more crisp than chewy.

Regular-sllced Thlck-sllced
Very good Very good
OSCAR MAYER
A&P
DUBUQUE ROY AL BUFFET

Good Good

ECKRICH SWEET-SMOKED OSCAR MAYER

PLUMROSE PREMIUM HORMEL RANGE BRAND
WILSON
SAFEWAY Fair
JONES HICKORY SMOKED WILSON'S WESTERN STYLE
KAHN'S HICKORY SMOKED SAFEWAY
COLONIAL'S MAPLE SUGAR CURED SERVE 'N' SAVE
RATH BLACK HAWK HYGRADE'$ WEST VIRGINIA BRAND
SWIFT PREMIUM
CUDAHY BARS Breakfast strips
JOHN MORRELL HARDWOOD SMOKED
FARMLAND HICKORY SMOKED
Fair
ARMOUR
COLONIAL' S GREAT SPECIAL CUT SWIFT SIZZLEAN
HORMEL BLACK LABEL FARMLAND FLAVORLEAN
WILSON'S CORN KING SUGAR CURED OSCAR MAYER LEAN 'N TASTY
GWALTNEY OF SMITHFIELD BREAKFAST STRIPS
VIRGINIA CURED
KWICK KRISP Poor

Fair TAYLOR'S TASTYSTRIPS

MELLO CRISP
'Beef bacon'
SWIFT LAZY MAPLE (maple flavored)
RATH BLACK HAWK SMOKY MAPLE Fair
ANN PAGE
HYGRADE'S WEST VIRGINIA BRAND FIREBRAND BEEF STRIPS
CELEBRITY (canned) COOKS BEEF BACON
GWALTNEY WILLIAMSBURG BRAND FISHER'S HOME QUALITY
OLD FASHIONED (no-nitrite) BREAKFAST BEEF
 /
74 COMPARING NUTRIENT VALUES
Comparing the nutrient contents
Nutrient values are from standard analyses. Recommended Da ily Al -
sources or as determined by CU 's lowances (R DA 's) are those set by

RDA's for persons of specified age and sex

7- to 10-year-old child 2400 34 rn rn rn
11- to 14-year-old male 2700 45 rn rn @)
23- to 50-year-old female 2000 44 rn rn rn
23- to 50-year-old male 2700 56 rn rn rn
Foods Serving size

Bologna sandwich 3 oz. beef or beef-and-pork

bologna on 2 slices enriched 1305
white bread with 1 tbsp. mus- 413 14.8 25.9 29.8
lard
Hot dog 1 cooked hot dog (2 oz.) on
enriched bun with 1 tbsp. 301 11.0 18. 1 23. 1 996
mustard
Pizza Two 3 112--oz. slices regular
478 22.6 16.6 60.0 1206
cheese pizza (frozen)
1
Cottage cheese '2 cup 121 15.6 5.1 3.4 382
Spaghetti 2 cups spaghetti with 31. cup
plain spaghetti sauce and 1 613 22.8 8.3 111.4 1507
tbsp. Parmesan cheese
Tuna sandwich 3 oz. drained chunk light tuna
on 2 slices enriched white
402 29. 1 19.6 25.6 894
bread with 1 tbsp. mayon-
naise
Salmon sandwich Approx. 3 oz. drained salmon
on 2 slices enriched white 373 24.9 19.2 736
bread with 1 tbsp. mayon- 25.6
naise
Peanut butter 2 tbsp. peanut butter on 2
sandwich slices enriched white bread 324 12.4 17.8 31.2 448

Hamburger 1 3-oz. hamburger on en-

riched bun with 1 tbsp. 378 24.2 19.5 25.0 408
ketchup
American cheese 3 slices pasteurized process
sandwich American cheese on 2 slices 554 23.4 27.0 1548
enriched white bread with 1 39.2
tbsp. mayonnaise
[] Interna tional Units. 111 Micrograms. rn No RDA has been established for this nutrient.
 COMPARING NUTRIENT VALUES 75
of some foods
the National Academy of Sciences/
National Research Council.

3500 1.2 1.4 16 1.6 3.0 300 45 800 10 250 800 10

5000 1.4 1.6 18 1.8 3.0 400 50 1200 18 350 1200 15
4000 1.0 1.2 13 2. 0 3.0 400 60 800 18 300 800 15
5000 1.4 1.6 18 2.2 3.0 400 60 800 10 350 800 15

0 0.21 0.23 3.5 0.11 1. 10 11 0 61 3.0 22 169 1.9

0 0. 19 0. 18 2.3 0.08 0.72 9 0 46 1.9 15 103 1.4

1022 0.40 0.60 5.0 0.22 40 6 2 658 1.6 53 309 2.2

127 0.03 0.20 0.1 0.08 0.63 12 0 64 0.2 6 160 0.5

2315 0.76 0.49 7.8 0.35 [1J 6 0 126 4.5 40 182 0.5

109 0. 16 0.20 11 .3 0.39 1.87 10 8 51 2.9 36 251 1.0

186 0. 15 0.25 8. 1 0.29 6.2 27 0 249 2.2 40 336 1.5

0 0. 16 0.14 6.0 0.12 0 14 0 60 1.8 68 170 1.4

242 0. 19 0.26 5.7 0.43 0.76 15 2 42 3.6 32 207 4.4

1068 0. 14 0.40 1.3 0.08 0.59 16 0 568 1.6 32 685 3.2

[1J Not tested; lack of reliable data. but believed to be present in measurable amount.
7fi PANCAKE MIXES

Pancake mixes
,,--
Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1979
Many pancake mixes are basically just seH- eggs, and shortening in dried form, the
rising flour. You add almost everything ingredients may be partially defatted for
else-milk, eggs, and oil-needed to make longer shelf life.
pancakes. Another type of mix already HOMEMADE PANCAKES. CU's recipe cost 12
contains the milk, eggs, and shortening in cents or so for a serving of three four-inch
dried form. You add only water. A third pancakes. lt takes about the same amount
type is frozen batter; you simply thaw it of time to make as one of the add-every-
out and pour it on the griddle. thing mixes we rated. Our recipe yields 18
SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS. Our taste ex- four-inch pancakes; it works as well cut in
perts never found the perfect pancake. The half. The ingredients are:
products that came closest were add- 2 eggs
everything mixes. None of those that were 2 tbsp. melted margarine or butter
rated very good {Jiffy Baking Mix, Aunt 2 cups milk
Jemima whole wheat, Bisquick Baking Mix 2 cups flour
buttermilk, A & P buttermilk, H ungry Jack 2 lS]J. baking powder
blueberry) had any serious sensory defects. 4 tbsp. sugar
The best of the add-water mixes were too / , tsp. salt
1

grain-like in fl avor and aroma; many of Grease the griddle very, very lightly
them were also too bitter. Among those, with vegetable oil, margarine, or butter. (If
Aunt Jemima buttermilk and plain, Betty your griddle has a nonstick coating, don't
Crocker buttermilk, Covered Wagon but- grease it.) Preheat the griddle to 400°F.
termilk, and Hungry Jack plain were rated Beat eggs, shortening, and milk in a large
good. All the frozen batters we tested howl until well blended. Add flour, baking
turned out slightly mbbery pancakes that powder, sugar and salt to liquid ingredi-
were quite thick and dense. ents, and mix just enough to make a
NUTRITION , SODIUM CONTENT. Pancakes creamy batter with some lumps. Spoon or
make a fair Iy nutritious breakfast, but ladle batter onto hot griddle. Tum pan-
they're high in fat, sodium, and calories. cakes over when edges look dry and bub-
The average protein content per serving bles cover the top. Our homemade pan-
(three four-inch pancakes) of the tested cakes were moist and light, golden brown
products was about 7 grams. A few butter- in color. Eggs dominated the flavor and
milk products were quite a bit higher in aroma, but the pancakes had a touch of
protein than the other pancakes. Sodium sweetness. We'd rate them very good.
content was high in all the products. Peo- When we made them substituting butter-
ple on strict low-sodium diets should prob- milk for regular milk, we thought they
ably avoid these mixes. were just about perfect.
The add-water mixes, as a group, were If yon substitute vegetable oil for mar-
lower in fat (2.6 to 4.7 grams) than the garine or butter, you'll get less sahuated
add-everything mixes (5. 9 to 13.5 grams). fat- but the pancakes won't brown as
The higher fat content in the add-every- much. If the tops of the pancakes bubble
thing mhes is probably due to the addition and the bottoms don't brown, the heat
of whole milk, eggs, and shortening. Al- source is too low; if they brown before
though the add-water mixes contain milk, they bubble, the heat is too high. For blue-

berry pancakes, lightly fold in 1 cup frozen
or well-<lrained canned blueberries after
the batter is mixed. For whole-wheat pan-
cakes, use half whole-wheat flour and half
CAKE MIXES 77
white flour. For buttermilk pancakes, sub-
stitute buttermilk for the milk and '11 tea-
spoon of baking soda for 1 teaspoon of the
baking powder.

Cake mixes
Condensed from Consumer Reports, March 1982
The 58 cake mixes we tested fall into three
broad categories-chocolate, yellow, and
white. Chocolate is the most popular cake
flavor, with sub-flavors ranging from dev-
il's food to milk chocolate. Yellow and
white mixes strive for variation less in fla-
vor (typically vanilla with hints of egg and
butter) than in form. In addition ~o layer
cakes, among our yellow mixes are several
pound cakes, usually baked as loaves.
Included in the white mixes are some
angel-food cakes.
Whereas the watchword for cakes from
mixes used to be "flufllness," today it's
"moistness." That quality may be emphat-
ically promised, as in Betty Crocker' s "su-
per moist" signature. Or it may be alluded
to through a mention of "pudding" added
to the mix.
The results of the sensory tests showed
that no one company's mixes consistently
outdid another's. The results also showed
that mixes with pudding didn't taste con-
sistently better-or moister-than mixes
without. But our expert tasters did find a
general pattern with respect to flavor: The
chocolate and yellow cakes, overall, had
fewer flaws than the white cakes.
TEXTURE. About half the sensory defects
found in the mixes were defects of texture.
The chocolate cakes tended to be a trifle
gummy. Most of the white cakes left a res-
idue of fine grit in the mouth; our tasters
termed them "chalky." Some of the white
cakes were also dry and crumbly. The yel-
low cakes were often slightly gummy,
chalky, or both. Frosting can disguise dry-
ness and, to some extent, chalkiness. But it
can't hide such texture problems as gum-
miness or crumbling.
FLAVOR. Half the chocolate mixes made
cakes with the tell-tale artificial fruity
overtones of a poor imitation-chocolate
flavoring. In most of the yellow cakes and
half the white, the vanilla tasted weak. The
white cakes also suffered from intrusions of
other bogus flavors. The "butter recipe"
cakes or cakes with "sour cream" in their
names usually tasted even less convincing.
Fortunately, our sensory consultants de-

How to use the Buying Guide

• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
78 CAKE MIXES
cided, all but the most egregious of the
artificial tast es could be successfully
masked by frosting.
RECOMMENDATIONS. By all means, try out
the highest-rated mixes; they're really very
good. (Only in the yellow-cake category
could we substantially improve upon them
with a home recipe made from scratch. )
The majority of the mixes tasted just
ordinary. But since a strongly fl avored
frosting can cover a multitude of flavor
and texhrre sins, you could make a satisfac-
tory cake with nearly any of them. So you
might choose a mix by how much it costs.

Ratings of cake mixes

Listed by types. Within types, listed in order of overall sensory quality as
judged by CU 's consultants. Differences between closely ranked products
were slight. Unless otherwise noted, each mix makes 2 layers, 9x5-in. loaf,
or 10-in. ring. Prices are average paid by CU shoppers.

Chocolate cake

Cakes prepared from the following mixes were judged very good In sensory quality.

BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST CHOCOLATE FUDGE. 91¢. Very dark brown cake with
mostly cocoa and a little vanilla flavor; less sweet than most. Defecla: Very slight fruity after-
taste.
JIFFY DARK FUDGE. 37¢. One layer. Very dark brown cake with mostly cocoa and a little
vanilla flavor. Defect•: A bit too dense.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE II DEEP CHOCOLATE. $1 .00. Very dark brown cake with mostly
cocoa flavor and a little vanilla flavor. Detects: Left very slight coating In mouth.

Cakes prepared from the following mixes were j udged good In sensory quality.

DUNCAN HINES BUTTER RECIPE FUDGE. 90¢. Dark-brown cake with mostly cocoa and some
vanilla flavor. Detecla: Very slight fruity character; very slightly gummy.
ANN PAGE DELUXE DEVILS FOOD. 74¢. Light-textured, red-brown cake with mostly cocoa
and some vanilla flavor. Detecta: Very slightly gummy.
ANN PAGE PUDDING ADDED DEVILS FOOD. 76¢. Light-textured, dark-brown cake with
mostly cocoa and a little vanilla flavor. Detect•: Slightly gummy; dissolved too slowly In
mouth.
PILLSBURY PLUS DEVIL'S FOOD. 87¢. light-textured, dark-brown cake with some cocoa and
a little vanilla flavor. Detect•: Very slight fruity character.
PILLSBURY PLUS GERMAN CHOCOLATE. 78¢. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa and vanilla
flavor. Detect•: A bit too sweet; very slightly gummy.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE 11 SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE. 95¢. Dark-brown cake with flavor of
chocolate mousse made with an orange-flavored liqueur. Detect•: Very slight artificial vanilla
character with some artificial orange flavor; very slightly gummy and chalky.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST MILK CHOCOLATE. 97¢. Dark-brown cake with flavor of
milk chocolate. Detect•: Too sweet.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST DEVILS FOOD. 92¢. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa and
vanilla flavor and very good texture. Detecta: Very slightly fruity.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST GERMAN CHOCOLATE. 94¢. Dark-brown cake with some
 CAKE MIXES 79
cocoa and vanilla flavor. Detects: Very sllght artificial character.
DUNCAN HINES PUDDING RECIPE DEVILS FOOD. 97¢. Light-textured, dark-brown cake with
strong cocoa and some vanilla flavor. Detects: Sllght fruity aftertaste; very sllghtly gummy.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE II DEVILS FOOD. 98¢. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa and vanilla
flavor. Defects: Very slightly artificial.
PILLSBURY TRIPLE FUDGE BUNDT. $2.05. Very dark brown cake with mostly cocoa and some
vanilla flavor and very good, slightly dense texture. Defects: Bland; poorly blended flavor; a bit
too firm.
PILLSBURY PLUS DARK CHOCOLATE. 77¢. Light-textured, very dark brown cake with flavor
like Oreo cookies. Defects: Crumbly; very sllghtly gummy.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE II SWISS CHOCOLATE. $1 .01. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa
and vanilla flavor. Detects: Slight flavor and aroma of artificial dairy products and fruit;
dissolved too slowly Ir. mouth: very slightly chalky.
KROGER DEVILS FOOD. 73¢. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa and vanilla flavor and very
good texture. Defects: Bland, with very little chocolate flavor; very slight cherry character; very
slightly chalky.
DUNCAN HINES PUDDING RECIPE GERMAN CHOCOLATE. 90¢. Dark-brown cake with some
cocoa and vanilla flavor. Defects: Too sweet; slight, lingering taste of artlficlal fruit; very slightly
gummy and chalky.
KROGER PUDDING CAKE DEVILS FOOD. 81¢. Dark-brown cake with some cocoa and a little
vanilla flavor. Defects: Ver; slight fruity character; very slight cardboard aftertaste; very slightly
gummy.
MRS. WRIGHT'S PUDDING DELIGHT DEVILS FOOD. 79¢. Dark- brown cake with some cocoa
and a little vanilla fla•1or. Defects: Slight fruity character; slight cardboard aftertaste; gummy;
dissolved too slowly In moutil.
JIFFY DEVILS FOOD. 36¢. Ono layer. Medium-brown cake with some cocoa and a little vanilla
flavor. Defects: Bland; texture too firm and not light enough.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE. 99¢. Dark-brown cake with
some cocoa flavor. Defects: Butter and sour cream mostly artlficlal.
MRS. WRIGHT'S DEVILS FOOD DELUXE. 78¢. Darlc-brown cake with some cocoa and vanilla
flavor. Detects: Bland; crumbly; gummy; dissolved too slowly and left very slight coating In
mouth.

Yellow cake

Cakes prepared from the following mix were judged very good in sensory quality.

BETTY CROCKER GOLDEN POUND. $1.03. Moist, dense cake with mostly vanilla and some
egg and a little butter flavcr; less sweet than most. Defect11: Vanilla artificial; very sllghtly
chalky.

Cakes prepared from the following mixes were judged good In sensory quality.

JIFFY GOLDEN. 37¢. One layer. Some egg and a little vanilla fl avor. Defects: Ver:/ slight
aftertaste of baking soda; very slightly chalky.
ANN PAGE PUDDING ADDED. 80¢. Moist, even-tex1ured cake with mostly vanilla and some
egg and butter flavor; less sweet than most. Defects: Vanilla and butter artlfl clal ; very slightly
sticky.
PILLSBURY PLUS. 91¢. Mostly vanilla and some egg flavor; less sweet than most. Detects:
Vanilla artlflclal; sllghtly gummy and sticky.
Ratings continued next page
80 CAKE MIXES
ANN PAGE DELUXE. 74¢. Moist, light-textured cake with mostly vanilla and a little egg flavor.
Defects: Vanilla artificial; not firm enough; very slightly chalky.
PILLSBURY BUNDT POUND CAKE SUPREME. $1 .84. Mild pound-cake aroma and flavor and a
little vanilla flavor; less sweet than most. Defects: Vanilla artificial; some sourness; slight after-
taste of plastic or cardboard; a bit too firm and too dry.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST. $1 .01 . Mostly vanilla with a little egg flavor. Defects: Vanilla
artificial; dissolves too slowly In mouth, slightly gummy and very slightly sticky.
KROGER. 73¢. Light-textured cake with mostly vanilla and a little egg flavor. Defects: Vanilla
artificial; a bit too salty; slightly gummy and very slightly chalky.
DUNCAN HINES PUDDING RECIPE. 98¢. Light, moist cake with mostly butter and e little egg
and vanilla flavor. Defects: Butter and vanilla artificial; not quite firm enough; slightly gummy.
KROGER PUDDING CAKE. 81¢. Moist cake with mostly vanilla and a little egg flavor. Defects:
Vanilla artificial; too salty; not quite firm enough; slightly gummy and sticky.
MRS. WRIGHT'S YELLOW DELUXE. 79¢. Light, moist cake with mostly vanilla and a little egg
flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; a bit too salty; slightly gummy and very slightly chalky.
MRS. WRIGHT'S BUTTER RECIPE. 68¢. Mostly vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla and butter
artificial; some samples very slightly gummy.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE II. $1 .02. Light, moist cake with good texture and mostly butter and
some vanilla and coconut flavor. Defects: Combination of artificial vanilla, coconut, and butter
flavors too strong ; very slightly chalky.
MRS. WRIGHT'S PUDDING DELIGHT. 76¢. Moist cake with mostly vanilla and a little egg flavor.
Defects: Vanilla flavor fruity and artificial; too salty; slightly gummy.
DUNCAN HINES BUTTER RECIPE GOLDEN. 97¢. Mostly vanilla flavor with excellent te><ture.
Defects: Vanilla artificial and butter slightly artificial.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST BUTTER RECIPE. 96¢. Mostly vanilla flavor. Defectr: Vanilla
artificial and butter slightly artificial; very slightly chalky.

Cakes prepared from the fol/owing mixes were judged fair In sensory quality.

NABISCO DROMEDARY POUND. $1 .12. Mostly vanilla and some egg flavor. Defects: Vanilla
artificial; very slight medicinal aroma; very slight metaillc feeling left In mouth; very slightly
chalky and sticky.
DUNCAN HINES PUDDING RECIPE GOLDEN VANILLA. 90¢. Moist cake with mostly vanilla
and a little egg flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial and sweet; very slightly sour and astringent; very
slight chemical feeling left In mouth (as from too much baking soda); very slightly sticky.
PILLSBURY PLUS BUTTER RECIPE. 88¢ . Light-textured cake with mostly vanilla and butter
flavor. Defects: Vanilla and butter artificial; not quite firm enough.

White cakes

Cakes prepared from the fol/owing mixes were judged very good In sensory quality.

PILLSBURY WHITE ANGEL FOOD. $1 .56. Light-textured cake with mostly almond and baked
egg-white flavor. Defects: A bit too dry; crumb texture slightly uneven.
BETTY CROCKER WHITE ANGEL FOOD. $1.43. Light-textured cake with mostly almond fla-
vor. Defects: Very slight character of dehydrated egg white.

Cakes prepared from the following mixes were judged good In sensory quality.

PILLSBURY PLUS. 78¢. Firm cake with a little vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; flavor of
 CAKE MIXES, BREAKFAST CEREALS 81
artificial fruit; slightly uneven crumb texture.
DUNCAN HINES DELUXE ANGEL FOOD. $1 .37. Light-textured cake with mostly almond and
some egg-white flavor, less sweet than most. Defects: Almond flavor artificial; some aroma of
dried egg whites and cardboard; too dry; grainy and spongy.
DUNCAN HINES PUDDING RECIPE. 94¢. Moist cake with mostly vanilla flavor. Defect1: Vanilla
artificial; very slightly chalky.
ANN PAGE DELUXE. 88¢. Mostly vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; chalky.
MRS. WRIGHT'S DELUXE. 80¢. A little vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; crumbly and too
dry; slightly gummy and very slightly chalky.
KROGER PUDDING CAKE. 80¢. Mostly vanilla and some baked egg-white flavor. Defects:
Vanilla artificial, like very sweet malted; too sweet and a bit too salty; very slightly chalky.
JIFFY. 31¢. One layer. Firm, dense cake with a little vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; very
slight flavor of uncooked dough;' crumbly and too dry; very slightly chalky.
ANN PAGE PUDDING ADDED. 76¢. Mostly vanilla and some baked egg-white flavor. Defects:
Vanilla artificial; too sweet; gummy and chalky.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST. 90¢. Mostly vanilla and coconut flavor, which lingers, and a
very good texture. Defects: Flavors artificial; too sweet; very slightly chalky.
KROGER. 73¢. Dense cake with a little vanilla flavor. Defects: Vanilla artificial; very slight plastic
aftertaste; a bit too salty; too dry and very crumbly; slightly gummy and very slightly chalky.

Cakes prepared from the following mixes were judged fair In sensory quality.

DUNCAN HINES DELUXE II. $1.00. Light-textured cake with mostly buttery vanilla flavor and
very good texture. Defect•: Buttery vanilla flavor artificial; a bit too salty; very crumbly;
chalky.
MRS. WRIGHT'S PUDDING DELIGHT. 83¢. Moist cake with a little vanilla flavor. Defects:
Vanilla artificial; too sweet and salty; chalky; dissolved too slowly and became gummy mass In
mouth.
BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST SOUR CREAM. 86¢. Mostly buttery, perfumey flavor, which
lingers. .Defects: Flavor artificial; too sweet and a bit too salty; not quite firm enough; gummy
and very slightly chalky.

Breakfast cer•als
Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1981
Our tests of hot and ready-to-eat cereals
showed up significant differences in nutri-
tional quality. But advertising claims and
even the nutritional labeling on the pack-
ages don't tell you which are really the
most nutritious. Our Ratings are based on
~ests that do reveal the relative nutritional
benefit of each cereal, by showing how
well they sustained health and growth of
laboratory animals fed the products. (For
details of the tests and their significance,
see CONSUMER REPORTS, Febmary 1981.)
The hot and ready-to-eat cereals were
tested and rated separately.
Grains provide a lot of nutrients for their
calories, but processing methods and the
addition of nongrain ingredients may af-
fect a cereal's nutritional quality. No sin-
gle factor showed up as especially impor-
tant-not the type of grain, the amotint of
82 BREAKFASTCEREALS
added sugar, the degree of processing, or
whether the cereal was fortified with
vitamins and minerals. The hot cereals
weren't necessarily more nutritious than
the ready-to-eat ones.
BRAN, FIBER. Dietary fiber (formerly known
as roughage) is that part of food not
digested and absorbed by the body. Bran,
which is the outer hull of a grain kernel, is
mostly fiber. No one really knows how
much or what kind of fiber a person should
eat every day. The wise course would be to
eat a moderate amount of fiber from a
variety of sources. Whole grains are one of
the best sources of dietary fiber, as are leg-
umes, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If you want to buy the
most nutritious cereals, ignore the ads and
the lists of nutrients on the boxes and
choose from our top Ratings groups. But
eating any of the cereals, regardless of how
it was rated, would provide better nutri-
tion than no breakfast at all. Even the top-
rated cereals should be eaten along with
milk and juice or fruit. Adding milk is
important because it supplements the pro-
tein from the grain and provides vitamins
and minerals. To offset the smaller amount
of milk generally eaten with hot cereal,
cook it in milk instead of water.

Ratings of breakfast cereals

Listed by types; within types, listed by groups in order of estimated overall
nutritional quality based on the results of animal-feeding experiments.
Within groups, listed in alphabetical order.

Ready.to.eat cereals. The following cereals were judged best of this type in nutri-
tional quality.

All-Bran. Cheerios. Cracklin' Bran. Familia. Frosted Mini-Wheats. Grape-Nuts. Honey Nut
Cheerios. Kretschmer Sun Country Granola. Life. Lucky Charm1. Shredded Wheat.
The following cereals were judged significantly lower in nutritional quality than those preceding.
Apple Jacks. Froot Loops. Hearty Granola. Raisin Bran (Kellogg). Special K. Wheaties.
The following cereals were judged lowest in nutritional quality.
Cap'n Crunch. Corn Chex. Corn Flakes. 40o/• Bran Flakes. Fruity Pebblea. Golden Grahame.
Moil. 100% Natural. Product 19. Raisin Bran (Po1t). Rice KriapiH. Sugar Corn Pope. Sugar
Frosted Flakes. Total. Trix.

Hot cereals. The following cereals were judged best of this type In nutritional quality.

lnatant Cream of Wheat. lnatant Quaker Oatmeal (artificial maple and brown-sugar flavors).
Instant Quaker Oatmeal (regular flavor). lnatant Grit•. Maypo 30-Second Oatmeal (artificial
maple flavor). Mix 'N Eat Cream of Wheat (artificial maple and brown-sugar flavors). Mix 'N Eat
Cream of Wheat (regular flavor). Quick Cream of Wheat.

The following cereals were judged significantly lower In nutritional quality than those preceding.
A&P Quick Oats. Bran'Nola. Cream of Rice. Farina. Quick Grit1. Instant H-0 Oatmeal. (artifi-
cial maple and brown-sugar flavors). ln1tant H-0 Oatmeal (regular flavor). ln1tant Ral1ton.
Maltex. Old Fashioned Quaker Oata. Quick Quaker Oats. Regular Cream of Wheat. Roman
Meal Instant Cereal. Safeway Quick Oats. 3-Minute Brand Quick Oata. Wheatena. Whole
Wheat Hot Natural Cereal.
 FROZEN PIZZA, FROZEN FISH 83

Frozen pizza
Cond ensed from Consumer Reports. January 1980
Fresh pizza from a local pizzeria tastes WHAT YOU GET. Chef Boy-ar-dee Double
better than any of the frozen brands we Top cheese pizzas claim to have twice as
tried, and for a real pizza lover, it's worth much topping as crust, but our test sam-
the extra bit that fresh is likely to cost. We ples were only about 59 percent topping
tested cheese and sausage pizzas-some by weight uncooked, 46 percent topping
with thin crusts, some with thick crusts (Si- cooked. We found that Celeste regular-
cilian style). Some have the topping on crust cheeze pizza had the most topping
French or Italian bread instead of on the after cooking; Saluto French Bread had the
traditional crust. An excellent pizza should least topping of the cheese pizzas. We also
consist of moderately thick, well-seasoned weighed the sausage from the meat pizzas
tomato sauce and melted mozzarella before cooking. Gino 's, Oh Boy!, and Toti-
cheese (and, perhaps, some Romano · or no' s Classic had the least sausage, Totino ' s
Parmesan) on a bready, yeasty-tasting Party Pizza and Jenos Italian Bread Pizza,
crust. A thin crust should be crisp, a thick the most.
one, soft and chewy in the center. Our sen- NUTRITION. Pizza is nutritious, whether as a
sory consultants judged the fresh pizzas snack, a lunch, or part of a dinner. The
very good, but most of the frozen ones tested cheese and sausage pizzas did not
tasted only fair. If you like the conve- vary widely in nutrient content. As the
nience of frozen, you can wrap and freeze nutrition table on pages 74 and 75 shows, a
fresh pizza for later use, or choose a frozen two-slice serving of pizza supplies a rea-
pizza from among the brands we rated sonable percentage of a teenager's Recom-
good. Those were La Pizzeria (both thick- mended Daily Allowance of protein, calci-
crust and regular), Ellio's, Stouffer's um, and some vitamins. A light meal of
French Bread, Saluto, Gino's, and Fox De salad, milk, and two slices of pizza would
Luxe cheese pizzas; and Totino' s Revolu- be nutritionally adequate for a youngster.
tionary Classic (with mushrooms), Totino's Note, however, that pizza doesn't have
Revolutionary Party, Saluto Deep Dish, much vitamin C or iron, and it's high in
and La Pizzeria sausage pizzas. sodium.

Frozen fish portions

Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1982
Unfortunately, most of the frozen fish many were labeled as such.
products we tested barely resembled the The products we bought are representa-
real thing. Often, the coating-batter, tive of pre-cooked portions in the super-
breading, or sauce-outweighed the fish market freezer case: either dipped in bat-
inside. The obviously sawed-to-shape ter, coated with bread crumbs, or pre-
"portions"-square, rectangular, oval, tri- sented in a sauce. Like them or not, those
angular-didn't look like fillets, although coatings make up from about a third to
Text continued on page 87.
 Ratings of frozen fish portions :f
Listed by types. Within types, price paid by CU shoppers for breading flavor, some saltiness ~
listed in order of overall sensory package size given. Standard of and slight sweetness; special c
quality as judged by CU's con- excellence for frozen fish: White seasonings noted on labels ~
sultants. Differences between to light beige, moderately firm, should be discernible. :<::
closely ranked products were flaky, and moist meat; delicate,
slight. Cooked serving is 100 gr. , slightly sweet, fresh-fish flavor KEY TO SENSORY RATING: G, ~
or about 3.5 oz. Cost per serving an d aroma; crisp, golden-brown good; F, fair; P, poor; V, vari- ~
was calculated from average coating with mild batter or able

Per cooked serving

~
~
~,,,.
,<¥' ~~/
0

~o" CJ,..o"~~·
Product

Batter-coated fish
r;.. qi'...- "...
q
"' () ; q<;~
~~
CJ•

GORTON'S 10 BATTER DIPPED FISH FILLETS G $2.34 15 55¢ 8.7 299 48¢
VAN DE KAMP'S BATTER-DIPPED FILLETS G 2.33 12 70 11 .8 212 49
GORTON'S 4 BATTER FRIED HADDOCK FILLETS G 2.32 12 63 10.3 305 50
MRS. PAUL'S SUPREME LIGHT BATTER FILLETS 2 G 1.37 7.25 63 11 .9 233 42
SERVE 'N' SAVE 10 CRUNCHY FISH PORTIONS G 1.99 20 34 10.8 267 27
GORTON'S 4 BATTER FRIED FLOUNDER FILLETS G 2.39 12 66 9.4 290 44
VAN DE KAMP'S BATTER-DIPPED HADDOCK G 2. 13 12 60 12.2 217 39
VAN DE KAMP'S BATTER-DIPPED FLOUNDER G 2.87 14 75 10.4 216 46
FRES-SHORE BRAND FISH 'N BATTER 12 COD 2.99 10.9
PORTIONS
G 24 42 269 32

GORTON'S 10 BATTER DIPPED FISH PORTIONS G 2.89 25 42 11 .3 339 29

BOOTH BEER BATTER FRENCH FRIED FISH F 2. 02 12 58 10.3 303 43
BRIWANT WHITE MEAT FISH IN BATTER F 2.23 12.5 60 10.3 317 55
CAPTAIN'S CHOICE 4 BATTER FRIED FISH F 1.97 12 11 .2
PORTIONS
53 255 39

BOOTH CRUNCHY CORN BATTER FRENCH

F 2.17 12 64 11 .2 323 46
FRIEDFISH
· MRS. PAUL'S CRUNCHY LIGHT FILLETS 1 F 2.78 16 60 10.9 250 44
GORTON'S 4 BATTER FRIED FISH FIUETS F 2.06 12 56 8.4 312 40
A&P 4 BATTER DIPPED FISH PORTIONS F 1.56 12 40 10.0 296 37
MRS. PAUL'S CRUNCHY LIGHT BATTER F 1.89 76 11 .1 251 55
HADDOCK FILLETS 4 9

TASTE O'SEA 4 BATTER DIPT FISH PORTIONS F 1.74 12 51 11.0 247 34

TASTE O'SEA 5 BUTTER FLAVORED FISH FIUETS F 1.80 12 49 11 .7 287 38
GORTON'S 4 BATTER FRIED OCEAN PERCH 12 9.7 323
FILLETS
F 1.94 53 39

VAN DE KAMP'& BATTER-DIPPED PERCH F 2.12 14 52 13.1 241 34

Breaded fish
VAN DE KAMP'S 1 BREADED FISH FILLETS G 1.99 14 51 11.7 305 36 ~
GORTON'S 12 CRUNCHY FIUETS G 3.45 20 59 12.2 345 43 ~
MRS. PAUL'S FRENCH FRIED FLOUNDER FILLETS 4 G 1.68 8 66 12.2 201 38
~
~
BOOTH EXTRA CRUNCHY 4 FISH FIUETS,
ORIGINAL FLAVOR G 1.92 12 52 10.9 292 37

VAN DE KAMP'S COUNTRY SEASONED

G 2.46 14 56 11.7 300 35 ~
FISHFIUETS
00
Ratings continued next page. Ql
Ratings of Frozen Fish continued.
Per cooked serving
~)I
I!?
q ii' .~· ~- ~·
O~o
,If
".., ... ,If ~~'C'·
q q./' CJ,/i~~

GORTON'S 4 CRUNCHY FISH FILLETS G 2.07 12 62 10.2 313 44

AAP 7 FISH SANDWICH PORTIONS G 1.47 14 36 11 .8 242 28
MRS. PAUL'S FRENCH FRIED FISH FILLETS 7 F 2.08 14 51 13.9 211 37
BOOTH EXTRA CRUNCHY 4 FISH FILLETS,
BUTTERMILK FLAVOR F 1.95 12 54 11 .0 302 37

MRS. PAUL'S 7 FRIED OCEAN PERCH FILLETS p 2.27 14 53 14.9 221 35

Fish in sauce
TASTE O'SEA SOLE IN LEMON BUTTER G 1.97 9 81 12. 1 249 40
CAPTAIN'S CHOICE SOLE IN LEMON BUTTER
SAUCE WITH SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS G 1.93 8 85 10.9 245 46

GORTON'S FILET OF SOLE FILLETS IN LEMON

BUTTER SAUCE G 1.95 9 80 12.8 141 36

MRS. PAUL'S BUTTERED FISH FILLETS 4 F 1.97 10 78 20.6 131 29

GORTON'S FILET OF HADDOCK IN LEMON
BUTTER SAUCE F 2.02 9 84 14.2 145 37

GORTON'S FLOUNDER ALMONDINE FILLETS v 2.04 8 99 13.2 195 41

 FROZEN FISH, FROZEN POT PIES 87
two-thirds of the product that you buy.
SENSORY QUALITY. Ideally, any batter or
breading on cooked fish should be golden
brown, fairly crisp, with a mild batter or
breading flavor enhanced with a slight sal-
tiness and barely noticeable sweetness.
In the judgment of our sensory consul-
tants, those descriptions don't apply to any
of the tested products. Many of the coat-
ings were either gummy or a bit too sweet,
or were not cooked through. The fish itself
was often either too dry or too oily or had
a dark-meat flavor that was heavier than
the mild taste of good fresh groundfish.
NUTRITION. Fish is supposed to be high in
protein and low in calories and fat. Broiled
fresh fish is all those things. But although
the tested frozen fish supply a good
amount of protein, they also supply more
calories and fat than you might bargain
for. The fault is in the coating or the sauce,
which also carries an added freight of sod-
ium, sugar, and, usually, the flavor enhanc-
er monosodium glutamate.
A 100-gram serving of broiled cod, the
most popular groundfish, contains 28.5
grams of protein. Per 100-gram serving,
protein content of the tested portions
ranged from 8.4 to 20.6 grams.
A serving of broiled cod has about 170
calories. The coated fish averaged about
275 calories per serving, while the sauced
products averaged 184 calories. Fat con-
tent for a serving of broiled cod would be
about 5 grams. The coated products aver-
aged about 17 grams per serving.
There are only about 110 milligrams of
sodium in a serving of broiled cod. It's
apparent that salt is generously added to
the frozen products. Sodium ranged from
276 to 805 milligrams per serving. These
are not products for anyone on a sodium-
restricted diet.
RECOMMENDATIONS. People who like fish
and people who are attracted by its low-
fat, low-calorie, and high-protein levels are
likely to be disappointed in the frozen
products. None that we tested came even
close to CU's standard for sensory excel-
lence. And none would be as nutritious as
plain broiled fish. But some of the highest-
rated frozen portions might just be worth
having around the house for an occasional
quick meal.

Frozen pot pies

Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1981
Most meat pies from the supermarket rated fair because of a multitude of hard-
freezer case are cheap, and they make a to-ignore insults to the senses: spongy, mb-
quick and nutritious dinner. But their qual- bery, or chewy meat; overcooked vegeta-
ity is so lackluster that we are hard-pressed bles; excessive saltiness; and cmsts that
to recommend them even for their econo- were too hard on top or soft or gummy on
my and convenience. Of the 33 chicken, the bottom. A few pies were rated poor.
turkey, and beef pies tested by our sensory For the number of calories they provide,
consultants, only seven were rated good. the tested pies delivered more than their
Those were the 16-ounce Swanson Hun- share of protein. They also provided re-
gry-Man chicken, turkey, and beef pies; spectable amounts of iron and vitamin A.
the 8-ounce Swanson chicken and turkey However, the pies were very salty; only a
pies; and the IO-ounce Stouffer's chicken few of them had less than 1000 milligrams
and turkey pies. Most of the others were of sodium per pie.
88 BEEF STEWS
Beef stews
Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1981
The long, slow, moist-cooking process of
stewing tenderizes meat, so you can use
tougher, less expensive cuts of beef. The
canned and frozen beef stews we tested,
and our own homemade, provided lots of
nutrients for their calories.
TASTE. Half of the tested brands were
judged reasonably tasty; they were rated
good by our sensory consultants. But few
of the canned or frozen stews tasted very
beefy. And the meat was usually too
chewy, the vegetables too soft. H you want
a stew with none of those defects, make
your own. CU's homemade (see recipe
below) was rated excellent.
SERVING SIZE. The store-bought stews come
in package sizes ranging from 71/ , to 32
ounces, making per-serving comparisons
difficult. We judged that an eight-ounce
bowlful would be about right, so we took
each brand's labeled net weight and di-
vided it into equal servings closest to eight
ounces. The serving size was usually 7'/• or
8 ounces, though there were some anoma-
lies.
NUTRITION. The tested stews had from 150
to 350 calories per serving-all quite low
for a meal, and with a lot of nutrients. A
serving of any of the stews supplied about
enough protein for a single meal. The
stews had varying levels of fat; those with
the higher fat levels generally had more
calories.
The stews' sodium content was general-
ly too high for people on a sodium-restrict-
ed diet. The low-sodium Featherweight
had only 49 milligrams per portion.
Among the regular stews, CU's homemade
had by far the least sodium-453 milli-
grams. (You can modify the recipe by sub-
stituting some herbs-basil, thyme, or rose-
mary, for instance-for the salt and bouil-
lon cubes if they contribute more sodium
to the meal than you ought to have.)
COSTS, RECOMMENDATIONS. The frozen
products were generally more expensive.
The best bargain, we think, is our home-
made stew. It was average in cost (47 cents
a serving) and far above average in taste. It
was low in fat and sodium, and its nutrient
levels were among the highest. But home-
made stew takes a long time to prepare.
(You can make a big batch and freeze
some.)
H you want to buy a canned or frozen
stew for its convenience, choose from the
brands at the top of the Ratings. You can
improve a canned stew's lack of beef-stock
flavor by adding some leftover meat. You
might also add your own vegetables and
herbs.
Here's what goes into our stew:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds stew beef, cut into 1-inch
chunks
'/, garlic clove, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
/, teaspoon salt
3
'/, teaspoon W orcestershire sauce
/ , teaspoon black pepper
1
4 cubes beef bouillon
4 cups water
4 cups potatoes, cut into 3/,-inch
chunks
2 cups carrots, cut into %-inch
chunks
1 cup celery, cut into '/,- inch chunks
1 cup frozen peas
Heat the oil in a four-quart pot. Add the
beef, about a third at a time, browning
thoroughly. Remove the beef and put to
one side.
In the same pot and using the oil remain-
ing in it, saute the garlic until it's light
 BEEF STEWS, FROZEN FRIED CHICKEN 89
brown. Add the chopped onion, then cook
until it's transparent. Add the Bour, cook-
ing until it's light brown; the Bour should
absorb all the oil and the mixture will be
clumpy.
Return the meat and its juice to the pot.
Add the salt, Worcestershire sauce, pep-
per, bouillon cubes, and one-half cup of
the water. Stir well to pick tip all the
browned bits from the bottom of the pot
and to make sure the flour is completely
blended into the water. Then add the rest
of the water, and stir to mix.
Keep stirring until the stew boils. Con-
tinue to stir, letting the stew boil slowly
until the thin, watery gravy becomes thick
enough to coat the back of a spoon. The
gravy should thicken quickly just after it
boils.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook
for about 11/ 2 hours; if desired, add herbs.
While the meat is simmering, peel and cut
up the potatoes, carrots, and celery.
Add potatoes and carrots; cook for 10
minutes. Add the celery and peas; cook for
seven minutes, then serve. Yield, 11 serv-
ings. If you want to prepare the entire
batch for freezing, you may want to make
up the stew without the vegetables, then
add them later.

Ratings of beef stews

Listed in order of estimated overall quality, based primarily on sensory
judgments by CU's consultants. Differences between closely ranked
brands were slight. Product types are indicated by abbreviations in paren-
theses: C, canned; FO, frozen/oven tray; FB, frozen/boiling pouch.
The following was rated excellent In sensory quality.
CU'• homem8de.
The following were rated good In sensory quality.
Swift Premium (C). On-Cor (FO). Green Giant. (FB). Dinty Moore (C). Lady Lee (C). Armour (C).
Kroger (C). Swaneon (C). Stouffer'• (FB). Pathmark No Frill• (C). Thrifty Maid (C). Libby's
(C).
The following were rated fair In sensory quality.
Nalley (C). Wolf Brand (C). Banquet (FO). Heinz (C). Town House. (C). Morton House (C).
Bal-air (FO). Nalley Big Chunk (C). Au1tex (C). Kroger (FO). Broadcast (C).
The following was rated poor In sensory quallty.
Featherweight (C).

Frozen fried chicken

Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1982
Frozen breaded or batter-coated chickenof. We bought packages of breasts, legs,
wings, and assorted pieces sold under six
parts come in packages of breasts, thighs,
brand names, including the three most
drumsticks, wings, or combinations there-
Text continued page 92.
 Ratings of frozen fried chicken ~
Listed by types; within types, piece to piece, even within same Very

•
listed in order of overall sensory- package. Package price is aver- Excellent good Good Fair Poor
quality as judged by CU's con-
sultants. Sensory quality occa-
age of prices paid by CU shop-
pers for size given.
@) e 0 ~
sionally varied significantly fron;

-.!?"'"':\ e Per edible ounce m

~/; "/. ..
· ~·
Produc t oJ>~·i"\~ qi'.... ~·.~ q•
Cf
i.'Ci

c;
II'' / ~e
q4;
·~~~04;.,
c.•
Assorted pieces _
CU'• homemade~ 0 43 $2.64 9¢ 6 g. 63
WEAVER DUTCH FRYE
BREASTS, THIGHS, DRUMSTICKS, WINGS 0 24 3.56 19 6 79
SWANSON BATTERED ASSORTED PIECES 0 32 3.82 15 6 82
WEAVER TOUCH-0-HONEY BREASTS,
THIGHS, DRUMSTICKS 0 24 3.62 19 6 77

WEAVER CHICKEN TO GO ~ 56 6.34 15 6 71

SWANSON TAKE-OUT CHICKEN ~ 28 3.69 16 6 77
TYSON OZARK ~ 32 2.70 12 5 72
BANQUET ~ 32 3.03 12 5 87
MORTON ASSORTED PIECES ~ 32 3.36 12 5 81
MANOR HOUSE ~ 32 3.05 12 6 71
Breasts
MORTON BREAST PORTIONS e 22 3.23 15 5 76
MANOR HOUSE BREAST PORTIONS 0 32 3.57 14 6 61
WEAVER DUTCH FRYE BREASTS 0 22 3.72 21 6 77
SWANSON BREAST PORTIONS 0 22 3.52 19 5 76
BANQUET BREAST PORTIONS 0 22 3.37 19 6 79
WEAVER BATTER DIPPED BREASTS 0 22 3.64 21 5 63
Legs
WEAVER DUTCH FRYE THIGHSa DRUMSTICKS e 26 3.31 16 5 75
SWANSON THIGHS a DRUMSTICKS 0 25 2.99 15 6 79
MANOR HOUSE THIGHS a DRUMSTICKS 0 32 3.19 13 6 63
WEAVER DUTCH FRYE DRUMSTICKS · 0 24 3.43 21 6 61
WEAVER BATTER DIPPED THIGHS a DRUMSTICKS ~ 26 3.26 15 5 74
BANQUET THIGHS a DRUMSTICKS ~ 25 2.62 15 6 64 ~
Wings ~
SWANSON CHICKEN NIBBLES WING SECTIONS 0 28 2.96 14 5 106 ~
MANOR HOUSE WING PORTIONS 0 32 3.46 15 5 90 ~
WEAVER DUTCH FRYE WING SECTIONS,
0 28 3.01 15 5 83 t;3
PARTY PACK tj
BANQUET WING PORTIONS
WEAVER BATTER DIPPED WING SECTIONS,
0 27 2.66 12 6 99
£~
PARTY PACK ~ 28 2.92 15 4 65
DJ Includes meat, skin, and coating. ~
mWeight based on cooked chicken; price based on fresh, raw chicken at 65 cents a pound. ~
(0
......
92 FROZEN FRIED CHICKEN
prominent: Swanson, Weaver, and Ban-
quet. For purposes of comparison with the
store-bought brands, we made our own
fried chicken.
SENSORY QUAUTI. CU's homemade chicken
came closest to the expectations of our
taste experts, who characterized it as fresh,
juicy, tender, slightly sweet, and clean in
flavor, with an aroma of seasoned fried
chicken and with a light, slightly crisp
breading that melted readily in the mouth.
Our chicken was rated excellent, although
its breading was a bit too crumbly.
Only two of the frozen products ap-
proached even close to the quality of our
homemade fried chicken. Morton Breast
Portions and Weaver Dutch Frye Thighs &
Drumsticks were rated very good. Most of
the other frozen products were rated mere-
ly good.
One might hope that an assortment of
chicken pieces would contain a representa-
tive assortment of breasts, thighs, drum-
sticks, and wings. Such was not always the
case. Some of the frozen packages con-
tained insufficient light meat. Other pack-
ages contained nameless pieces. Where a
cut-up fresh chicken usually has two half-
breasts, for instance, the frozen birds'
breasts are generally cut into four oddly
shaped pieces. The identity of some bits
was a mystery; others consisted largely of
bone, gristle, and fat, masked by coating.
Among the leg products (mostly with
thighs as well as dmmsticks), the Weaver
Dutch Frye Thighs & Drumsticks was pre-
ferred for the tenderness of its meat and its
tasty coating.
In general, all the wings had golden
brown coatings that tended to be hard or
crunchy. When you buy wings, you get
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
much the same amount of edible material
on the bones as with other fried-chicken
parts, but more of the stuff is coating and
less of it is meat.
RECOMMENDATIONS. You can choose pack-
ages of breasts or legs alone, or, if you
want a family meal with an assortment,
buy a package of breasts and one of drum-
sticks and thighs; we found brands in those
categories that were higher-rated than the
packages of assorted pieces. If you want
finger-food bits for a party, wings make a
logical choice, though not an economical
one; the meat content of the wings was
rather low.
You'll probably get the best fried chick-
en at the least cost by buying a fresh bird
and frying it yourself. You might try CU's
recipe. For that you'll need:
1 broiler-fryer (2'/, to 3 lb.) cut up into 8
to 10 pieces
•;, cup vegetable oil
1 egg
'/, cup seasoned flour or bread crumbs
Pour the oil into a large frypan, and let it
preheat over medium heat.
Beat the egg with water or milk in a
shallow bowl. Put the seasoned bread
crumbs or seasoned fl.our in a paper or
plastic bag. Dip the chicken pieces one at a
time into the egg mixture, and put the
pieces into the bag. Shake the bag until the
pieces are coated; then take them out and
put them aside.
Brown the pieces in hot oil, then turn
heat to simmer. Cover the pan. (Leave
open the cover's vent hole, if it has one.)
Simmer for 25 minutes, removing the cov-
er during the last 10 minutes if you want
crisper chicken. Remove the pieces, drain
them on absorbent paper, and serve.

Spaghetti sauces
Condensed from Consumer Reports, June 1979
There are no Federal standards of identity
for spaghetti sauce. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture requires that a meat sauce
contain at least 6 percent meat before
cooking. When we drained our meat
sauces, we were startled to find so few
meat solids that it was difficult to tell
whether they were supposed to be "meat"
or " meat-flavored" sauces. In most cases,
the meat solids appeared to be mainly con-
nective tissue and gristle, which have a
lower nutritional value than muscle tissue.
There are no USDA regulations covering
the composition of meat-flavored sauces,
which may contain meat extenders or meat
substitutes.
See the table on pages 74 to 75 for nutri-
tional information.
THICKNESS in a commercial spaghetti sauce
is not necessarily a virtue. A homemade
sauce is generally thickened by slow sim-
mering. Most commercial sauces are prob-
ably thickened artificially with the food
starch that's listed on their label>.
LABELS of the Hunt's Prima Salsa meatless,
mushroom, and meat-flavored sauces, and
Golden Grain meat-flavored sauce say
they contain monosodium glutamate
(MSG), a widely used food additive that
causes unpleasant symptoms in some peo-
ple. Buitoni meat-flavored sauce includes
textured vegetable protein (a meat exten-
der that's usually soy-based) in addition to
its ground-beef content.
Only the Ronzoni brands, Prince meat
sauce, and canned Golden Grain meat-fla-
vored sauce are made using olive oil alone.
Many brands are made with other vegeta-
ble oils in addition to olive oil. The canned
Chef Boy-Ar-Dee meat sauce contained no
added oil; its fat content probably came
from the meat.
SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS. Our consultants
SPAGHETTI SAUCES 93
downrated some products for lack of the
proper flavor and aromas; others were too
spicy. Some were too sweet, or they tasted
like tomato soup, tomato paste, overpro-
cessed tomatoes, or dehydrated tomatoes.
Most mushroom sauces lacked the proper
mushroom character, and some meat
sauces had no meat character at all.
cu·s RECIPE is easy to make, very flavorful,
and costs only about 22 cents a serving.
The yield is about five three-quarter-cup
servings. The ingredients are:
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, minced
'/ , medium onion, chopped
1 28-oz. can concentrated crushed
tomatoes
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 cup water
4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
(or 2 tsp. dried basil)
'/, tsp. (scant) freshly ground black
pepper
3/., tsp. salt (or to taste)
Heat the olive oil in a six-quart sauce-
pan over medium heat. Brown the garlic.
Add the onions and saute until they're
transparent. Add the crushed tomatoes, the
tomato paste blended with the water, the
basil, pepper, and salt. Simmer for 30 min-
utes over low heat, stirring often. For a
marinara sauce, add one medium-sized
fresh tomato, peeled and seeded, cut in
chunks, and sauteed with the garlic and
onion. Then add the rest of the ingredients
along with half a teaspoon of oregano.
For a meat sauce, brown a pound of
ground beef, pork, or veal, or a combina-
tion of those meats, and drain off the excess
fat. Add the cooked sauce and simmer an
extra two to three minutes. Add water, if
necessary, to adjust consistency.
For variety, you might add some
94 SPAGHETTI SAUCES
chopped mushrooms, green pepper, car-
rots, or celery after you've sauteed the gar-
lic and onion. Use a high-grade virgin olive
oil. Use tomato paste sparingly-it's capa-
ble of overpowering other Oavorings. Use
fresh herbs and spices whenever possible-
they're more flavorful. Good seasonings,
well blended, can decrease the amount of
salt you need for flavoring your sauce.
Simmer the sauce to thicken it. It will
coat a spoon when it's ready. If you use
fresh tomatoes, choose ripe plum toma-
toes. And be prepared for a different, less
processed flavor in the sauce. Taste as you
cook. Dip a small piece of Italian bread
into the sauce. It will give you a good idea
of how the sauce will taste over pasta.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Our highest-rated
sauce-and the cheapest-was our own
homemade. If you prefer the convenience
of a commercial sauce, buy the largest cans
or jars. They're cheaper per serving. You
can use what you need and freeze the rest.
:rhe meat, meat-Bavored, and mushroom
sauces don't cost much more than the plain
sauces, but they don't contain much meat
or mushrooms, either. We suggest buying
a plain sauce and adding your own extras-
tomato pieces, chopped mushrooms, or
ground beef. Adjust the herbs and spices to
your liking. If the sauce is thinner than you
like, simmer it over low heat, stirring fre-
quently, until it cooks down to the proper
consistency. You'll have a hearty sauce-
and the confidence that goes with adding
your own ingredients.

Ratings of spaghetti sauces

Within types, listed in order of estimated overall quality based on sensory
judgments by CU's consultants. Differences between closely ranked
brands were slight. Container sizes purchased ranged from 15 1/2 to 16 oz.

Meatless sauces. The fol/owing was judged WJ<Y good In sensory quality.

CU'• homemede.
The fol/owing were judged good In sensory quality.
Regu. Aunt Milli•'•· Prince. Ronzoni. Regu Extra Thick end Znty. Buitoni.
The fol/owing were judged fair In sensory qua/lty.
Town HouH. Chef Boy-Ar-Dee (canned). Chef Boyardee. Hunt's PTlme S.IN Extre Thick a
Znty. Ann Peg•.

Marinara sauces. The fol/owing were judged good In sensory quallty.

Ronzoni. Regu. Progrnao. Golden Grein (canned). Aunt Millie'•·

The fol/owing were judged fair In sensory quality.
Prince. Buitoni. Ann Pege.

Mushroom sauces. The fol/owing were judged good In sensory quality.

Regu. Regu Extre Thick end Znty. Prince. Golden Grein (canned). Bultoni. T-n HouH.
 SPAGHETTI SAUCES, CANNED SOUPS 95
The fol/owing were judged fair In sensory qua/lly.
Hunt's Prima Salsa Extra Thick & Zesty. Ronzoni. Chef Boyardee. Chef Boy-Ar-Dee
(canned). Ann Page.

Meat and meat.flavored sauces. The following were judged good In sensory
quality.

Prince. Ragu. Ronzoni. Aunt Millie's. Golden Grain. Ragu Extra Thick and Zasty.
The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
Hunt's Prima Salsa Extra Thick & Zasty. Buitoni. Ann Page. Town House. Chef Boyardee.
Chef Boy-Ar-Dee (canned).

Canned soups
Condensed from Consumer Reports, March 1980
Canned soup is cheap and convenient, but
only a few of the tested soups tasted as
good as a proper homemade one. The
canned soups judged good are probably
worth trying. If you want one of the soups
not made by Campbell, you may have to
search the supermarket shelves.
NUTRITION. We evaluated eight-ounce
servings of each canned soup. None of
them would make a nutritious meal by
itself. To get a meal's worth of nutrition,
you should also have a sandwich (maybe
tuna, cheese, or egg) and a glass of milk.
You could also prepare a condensed soup
with milk instead of water, or stir an egg
into the soup as it cooks and have bread
with your meal. Or eat the soup with a
glass of milk and some crackers, and follow
with a piece of fmit.
The chunkier soups are generally more
nutritious than the thinner ones. The three
vegetable varieties, particularly the Camp-
bell's, were rich in vitamin A.
All the canned soups contained added
sugars. The tomato soups had what we
consider excessive amounts: as much as 2'/,
teaspoons of added sugars per serving. The
soups that the Ratings show to have the
highest levels of carbohydrates (sugars and
starches) contain beans, which are natural-
ly starchy, or more vegetable, noodle, or
barley solids than other soups in their cate-
gories.
In general, the soups were low in fat and
rather low in calories, with about two
grams of fat and 60 to 70 calories per serv-
ing. The bean soups tended to be a bit
higher in fat and calories. People on a sod-
ium-restricted diet would do well to avoid
all the tested soups except the low-sodium
Tillie Lewis and Featherweight products.
The Ratings note the sodium content of
each soup we tested.
CONTAMINANTS AND ADDITIVES. Lead and
extraneous matter were present in non-
hazardous levels. Some of the soups had
chemical additives. Monosodium gluta-
mate (MSG), used in many soups as a flavor
enhancer, induces in some people a variety
of temporary, unpleasant symptoms. Ex-
Text continued page 100
 Ratings of canned soups
Listed by types. Within types,
listed in order of estimated over-
all quality based primarily on
sensory judgments by CU's con-
closely ranked brands were
slight. Brands marked by * re-
quire no dilution; the others
should be thinned with water be-
~
values, determined by CU analy-
ses, are calculated average per
52
~
8-fl.-oz. Per-serving costs are
calcurated from average price
paid by CU shoppers.
~

,.
sultants. Differences between fore being heated. Nutritional
~
~
~
-

,;'/~
Chicken-noodle :,7'-)

• The following were rated good in sensory quality.

llANISCHEWITZ 21.0. 36 1.8 0.3 6.2 0.5 806 A,D,F
CAlmlBELl.'8 9.9 60 3.5 0.4 6.6 2.2 821 A,B
ANNPAQE 9.6 63 3.5 0.6 7.8 2.0 734 A,B
KROGER 9.0 58 2.4 0.2 7.9 1.9 812 A.C
FOOD CLUB 9.8 59 2.2 0.4 7.0 2.5 888 A,C,R

• The following was rated fair In sensory quality.

TOWNHOUSE 9.8 61 3.0 0.5 6.9 2.5 864 A,C,D

• The following were rated poor In sensory quality.

FEATHERWEIGHT 33.0 68 4.1 0.7 7.6 2.5 29 B.E
TILLIE LEWIS TASTI DIET* 36.6 53 4.2 0 8.4 0.5 37 B,D,E

• The fol/owing was rated variable In sensory quality {poor to good) .

ALBERTSONS 10. 1 65 2.7 1.1 7.0 3.0 793 A.C
Tomato
• The following were rated good in sensory quality.
ANN PAGE 8.0 69 1.7 10.0 11 .6 1.8 694
MANISCHEWITZ 18.0 63 1.6 10.0 12.0 1. 1 647
CAMPBELL'S 7.8 89 1.8 10. 1 16.7 1.7 846 A.T
CAMPBELL'S BISQUE 15.6 142 2. 7 18.2 27.8 2.3 973 G
• The following were rated fair in sensory quality.
ALBERT SONS 8.4 73 1.5 8.5 15.8 0.5 798 G,H,L,T
FOOD CLUB 8.4 76 1.6 9.6 17.6 ITl 854 G,H,l,J
KROGER 8.0 76 1.3 9.8 16.6 0.5 764 G,H,l,J
CROSSE a BLACKWELL DUTCH STYLE* 48.6 64 2.7 7.3 9.2 1.9 1192 A,L,U
ROKEACH 19.0 76 1.5 10.8 16.8 0.4 693 G,H,l,T
TOWNHOUSE 7.6 77 1.5 10.6 17.2 0.2 709 G,I
FEATHERWEIGHT 26.0 79 1.7 9.7 16.9 0.6 44 D,E

Bean
• The following were rated very good In sensory quality.
PROGRESSO MACARONI a BEAN* 26.5 156 7.9 4.8 22.6 3.9 1035

~
CAMPBELL'S BLACK BEAN 14.4 107 7. 1 6.9 16.8 1.4 1198 0
Ratings continued next page
KEY TO SENSORY DEFECTS
A-Slightly too salty. ~
t:::j
8-Chewy, dry, and/or tough lngredi- I - Starchy flavor and aroma. P - Slightly too thin.
a - Earthy flavor and aroma.
~
en ts. J- Low tomato character.
C-Soft or spongy ingredients. K -Lacks beef character. R - Some skin flavor.
0-Slight tinny aroma and flavor.
E-Metallic taste.
L- Poor blend.
M-Smokiness overpowers other flavors
S- Musty, beany character.
T - Doesn't dissolve easily in mouth. ~
u.i
F - No chicken pieces. and aromas. U - Chemical flavor.
G - Slightly too sweet. N-Sllghtly chalky and grainy. V - Some bean skins.
H-Bland. O - Undissolved and I or broken pieces. W-Sllghtly too starchy. "'°
-:i
Ratings of canned soups continued

... /.~ ,,~ ...~. / ., -/ .... / ,..":< / ~

00
~). II-
,..'1'
Ci
~~
CJ.
·~"'! -,fl'~
<1.'o~· ....~~
.~

CAMPBELL'S BEAN WITH BACON 13.3¢ 136 7.4 4. 1 20.3 2.9 1030
• The following were rated good in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S CHUNKY OLD FASHIONED
38.4 203 12.5 6.4 24.0 6.4 11 02 M
BEAN WITH HAM*
CROSSE & BLACKWELL BLACK BEAN [j] p
WITH SHERRY*
64.0 90 6.9 3.7 15.8 1134

ANCORA BLACK BEAN WITH SHERRY* 62. 1 130 8.6 2.4 21.8 1.0 906 N,V
ANN PAGE BEAN WITH BACON 12.2 106 5.0 4.7 12.6 4.0 1042 A,V
KROGER BEAN WITH BACON 11 .8 123 4.7 3.5 17.9 3.7 930 0
TOWN HOUSE BEAN WITH BACON 11 .2 137 7.9 3.2 17.7 3.9 1084 c.o
• The following were rated fair in sensory quality.
PAOGRESSO BEAN & HAM• 31 .6 159 11 .2 5.9 25.4 1.5 1244 D
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT SPANISH BEAN* 57.7 191 10.3 3.0 33.0 2.0 8 13 D,E,Q

Vegetarian-vegetable
• The following were rated good in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S CHUNKY' 29.6 104 4.0 5.7 17.0 2.2 815 G,W
PROGRESSO MINESTRONE' 48.8 127 6.3 4 .8 18.3 3.4 915 a
ALBERTSONS 10. 1 89 2.2 6 .0 15.3 2.2 1039 c
CAMPBELL'S ALPHABET 10.5 64 2.0 4.5 10.5 1.5 608 c
KROGER 9. 1 57 1.5 6 .0 9.7 1.4 1032 C,S,T
ANN PAGE 10. 1 64 1.7 5.9 11.4 1.3 1092 C,H
TOWNHOUSE 9.5 55 1.8 3.8 7.8 1.9 858 A,C
• The following were rated fair in sensory quality.
MANISCHEWITZ 19.5 66 2.1 6.8 11 .6 1.3 906 C,H,O
TILLIE LEWIS* 35.8 58 2.8 3.5 8.5 1.4 45 C,E

Vegetable with beef stock

• The following were rated good in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S OLD FASHIONED 11.7 65 3.3 3.7 9.8 1.4 954 A.C
KROGER 8.8 62 2.1 4.9 10. 1 1.5 917 C,K
CAMPBELL'S ALPHABET 10.7 75 2.9 5.6 12.4 1.6 719 C,K
TOWN HOUSE 9.8 62 2.5 4.4 10.0 1.4 934 C,O
FOOD CLUB 9.7 58 1.7 5.2 10.0 1.4 875 C,K
ALBERTSON$ 10.5 71 2.8 5.2 12.0 1.3 900 C,G

• The following were rated fair in sensory quality.

ANN PAGE 10.5 61 2.4 3.7 8.9 1.8 746 C,K,O
TOWN HOUSE OLD FASHIONED 10.7 56 3.2 3.9 8.0 1.3 998 A,C,K

Vegetable-beef
• The following was rated very good in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S CHUNKY OLD FASHIONED* 36.0 121 10.8 2.9 13.2 2.9 960
• The following were rated good in sensory q uality.
CAMPBELL'S MANHANDLERS STOCKPOT 14.5 73 4.7 1.6 8.2 2.4 918 L
ANN PAGE 12.5 58 3.9 1.5 8.0 1.2 858 B,C 5?
KROGER 12.2 69 4.4 1.6 7.2 2.6 958 B,C, H
~
~
FOOD CLUB 12.9 69 3.9 2.4 8.3 2.3 1013 A,B,C
ALBERT SONS 12.9 62 3.9 1.5 6.3 2.4 942 c
CAMPBELL'S MANHANDLERS 14.0 61 5.0 1.2 7.2 1.4 793 B,C,H ~
TOWN HOUSE 12.6 69 4.3 2.3 7.5 2.6 899 A,B ~
en
• The following ld(Jls rated fair in sensory quality.
~
FEATHERWEIGHT 34.5 88 4. 7 1.4 11 .2 2.9 32 C,E,Q ~

OJ Less than 0. 1 g. Key to sensory defects on page 97

100 CANNED SOUPS
cept for Crosse & Blackwell Dutch Style,
all the tomato soups were free of MSG. All
the other varieties contained it, except for
Featherweight Chicken Noodle, Feather-
weight Vegetable Beef, Ancora Black Bean
with Sherry, Columbia Restaurant Spanish
Bean, Progresso Macaroni & Bean, Manis-
chewitz Vegetarian Vegetable, and Pro-
gresso Minestrone.
Disodium inosinate and disodium gua-
nylate are used in a few of the tested soups
as flavor enhancers. We know of no hazard
connected with their use.
TASTE. We prepared all the soups accord-
ing to label directions, and used bottled
spring water when a label called for added
water. In an excellent soup, all the flavors
and seasonings should be balanced, with
the main flavor-chicken, tomato, beef
with vegetables-predominating. None of
the tested soups was excellent, according
to our sensory consultants. Several of the
canned soups-three of the bean soups and
one vegetable-beef-and CU's homemade
vegetable-beef (see recipe below) were
judged very good. All the rest were judged
good, fair, poor, or variable. The Ratings
note each tested soup's particular sensory
defects. Here's our recipe:
5 tsp. vegetable oil
'/, lb. stew meat
(in 1/ ,- in. cubes)
'/, cup chopped onion
1 tsp. salt (op tional)
'/, tsp. (sca nt) fresh
ground black pepper
5 cups water
Diced vegetables:
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
1 cup potatoes
3
/, cup carrots
1
/ , cup peeled radishes
'/, cup fresla green beans
'/, cup celery
'/, cup green peas
'/, cup scallions
Heat three teaspoons of the vegetable
oil in a six-quart pot. Brown meat in oil.
Add chopped onion and saute lightly. Add
seasoning, stir, then add water. Heat to
boiling. Cover pot and simmer for about
one hour or until meat is tender.
In a skillet, saute potatoes, carrots, and
radishes in the remaining oil until the pota-
toes become slightly transparent. Stir in
green beans, celery, and peas.
Add· stir-fried vegetable mix to beef-
water mixture in pot. Add scallions. Then
heat to boil. Cover pot and simmer until
vegetables become tender. Yield: about
five eight-ounce servings.
Our soup has 270 calories per eight-
ounce serving-more than any of the
canned soups. But our soup is much more
nutritious. It has all the vitamins and min-
erals in a pot of cooked vegetables, 11.8
grams of protein and 11.5 grams of carbo-
hydrates per serving, and no added sweet-
ener. The fat (19.8 grams) came from the
polyunsaturated vegetable oil and satur-
ated fat in the meat. Using less or leaner
meat would help lower the fat levels.
Our homemade soup costs 30 cents per
serving. That's more than most of the
tested soups, but the only comparable one
(Campbell's Chunky Old Fashioned Vege-
table Beef) cost 36 cents.

Canned ''baked'' beans
Condensed from Consumer Reports, July 1981
If you want great-tasting beans, you'll have
to make your own. Even the best of the
canned beans we tested were just medio-
cre. Our homemade version (see recipe
below) was far superior. But canned beans
will save you time and money, and you can
improve their flavor by adding, say, franks,
onions, or bacon.
Only a few of the canned beans we
tested are truly baked, and labeled as such.
Most were simply boiled, with tomato
sauce added. We bought a variety of
styles: beans with pork, baked beans, vege-
tarian beans, barbeque or western style
beans, and beans and franks . Navy beans
were the most common variety used by the
canners.
Despite their name, the pork-and-beans
products contained very little pork, usu-
ally less than 1 percent. Some of them have
pork fat or bacon instead of pork.
TASTE. Half of the canned beans were
judged good; the other half, fair. Common
faults were that the products were too
sweet, or lacking in pork character, or that
the beans themselves were tough-skinned.
NUTRmON. Beans are a good source of pro-
tein. A half-cup serving supplies 11 to 17
percent of the National Academy of
Sciences/National Research Council Rec-
ommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for a
man, more for a woman or child. That's a
lot of protein for a side dish, and it's cheap-
er than meat protein, although lower in
protein quality.
Beans are low in calories. Yet they're
filling, because they contain a fair amount
of dietary fiber. As a group, the baked
beans had the most calories; they had a
high ratio of beans to sauce and they're
sweetened with sugar.
All the canned beans were low in fat; the
vegetarian beans were lowest. The highest
CANNED 'BAKED' BEANS 101
amount was in the franks-and-beans prod-
ucts, and even those had only about one-
third as much fat as a cooked three-ounce
hamburger.
HOMEMADE BEANS. CU's homemade pork-
and-beans recipe was judged excellent by
our taste experts. The dish had a nice blend
of flavors and was mildly spicy. If you like
more zing, you can add garlic, chili pow-
der, or cloves.
Here's what went into our recipe:
I lb. dried navy beans
1
/ , lb. salt pork, cubed
I tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1
/ , tsp. ground mustard
'/, tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1
/, cup tomato puree
2 tbsp. molasses
3 tbsp. dark brown sugar
Rinse beans in a three-quart saucepan.
Add six cups of hot water, bring to boil,
and let boil for two minutes. Cover and let
stand for one hour. Drain and discard the
water. Add the salt pork and four cups of
fresh hot water. Bring to a boil and sim-
mer, covered, for 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 300°F. Scoop the salt
pork out of the water and lightly brown it
in the vegetable oil in a three-quart, range-
proof dutch oven or casserole. Add the
chopped onion and saute until the onion is
transparent. Stir in the ground mustard,
black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and
tomato puree. Simmer for about three
minutes. Add the molasses and brown sug-
ar and stir well. Pour the liquid from the
beans into the mixture and let simmer for
another two minutes. Add the beans, stir
gently, and cover.
Bake in preheated oven for three hours.
Yield is 13 half-cup servings.
Ratings on next page
102 CANNED 'BAKED' BEANS

Ratings of canned "baked" beans

Listed by types; within types, listed
in order of estimated overall quality
based on sensory judgments by
CU's consultants. Cost and nutri-
tional information are based on a
4-fl.-oz. serving . "Characteristics"
are not defects, but any distinctive
flavors. Criteria for excellence of
canned beans: Beans should be
whole and firm, with tender skins;
sauce should be moderately thick
and based on tomatoes, or on mo-
lasses or brown sugar; flavor should
be a blend of bean, spices, and fla-
vor of sauce, with pork flavor when
appropriate, and with any other fla-
vors appropriate to the product's
name.

Pork and beans

• The following were judged good In sensory quality.
HEINZ 10¢ 144 586 Pork
A&P SULTANA BRAND 8 129 489 Blended flavors
ANN PAGE 8 138 373 Pork fat
LIBBY'S DEEP BROWN 8 153 337 Clove, bay leaf
VAN CAMP'S 10 133 451 Spicy blend
S&W OLD-FANGLED 13 142 565 Spicy blend
HANOVER 9 137 348 Cinnamon, clove
HUNT'S BIG JOHN'S BEANS 'N FIXINS 19 163 561 Smoky, hot spice
• The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S 9 140 338 Clove
LADY LEE 9 116 479 Clove
WESTERN GOLD BRAND 8 113 542 Tomato soup
Hot spice, smoky
TRAlfPEY'S JALAPEO 15 142 614 green pepper
SAFEWAY TOWN HOUSE 9 135 572 Pork fat
HUNT'S 10 148 479 Clove
PATHMARK NO-FRILLS 7 129 394 Bland
BUSH'S SHOWBOAT 10 133 576 Clove
CAMPBELL'S OLD FASHIONED 13 136 452 Molasses
KROGER COUNTRY STYLE 10 138 340 Molasses
 CANNED 'BAKED' BEANS 103
Per serving

.
., ~
·~~
~
"~
..,.~·
..
~·~·
(Jo~ ~o"
CJ. ~I Ci

KROGER FLAVOR SOFT 9¢ 135 417 Beany flavor

CAMPBELL'S HOME STYLE 12 148 508 Molasses. smoky
A&P GENERIC 7 129 387 Samples varied

• The following was judged variable (poor to good) in sensory quality.

THRIFTY MAID 8 117 410 Samples varied

Baked beans and beans in mola11es/sugar sauce

• The following were judged good In sensory quality.
ANN PAGE BOSTON STYLE 11 146 419 Beany flavor
S&W BRICK OVEN BAKED 16 177 460 Pork
B&M BRICK OVEN BAKED 17 182 432 Pork
FRIEND'S BRICK OVEN BAKED 18 180 507 Black pepper, spicy
BUSH'S BEST BAKED 13 157 475 Smoky, clove

• The following were judged fair in sensory quality.

LIBBY'S DEEP BROWN 11 144 235 Clove
VAN CAMP'S BROWN SUGAR 14 172 464 Samples varied
B&M BRICK OVEN BAKED
21 172 414 Brown sugar
WITH YELLOW-EYE PEAS
S&W MAPLE SUGAR 14 154 475 Beany flavor

Vegetarian beans
• The following were judged good in sensory quality.
LIBBY'S DEEP BROWN 9 143 350 Spice blend
ANN PAGE 9 129 491 Blended flavors
HEINZ 10 125 625 Clove
MORTON HOUSE OVEN BAKED 14 143 584 Cinnamon, clove
VAN CAMP'S 11 115 555 Clove

Miscellaneous
• The following were judged good in sensory quality.
CAMPBELL'S BARBEOUE 12 126 494 Smoky, hot spice
HUSBAND PLEASIN' RANCH STYLE 12 122 524 Chili, cumin

• The following were judged fair in sensory quality.

Vienna sausage,
VAN CAMP'S BEANEE WEENEE 30 164 463 smoky
CAMPBELL'S BEANS & FRANKS 21 186 602 Smoky
104 SALAD DRESSINGS
Salad dressings
Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1979
"French" and "Italian" dressings, the types
we tested, amount to about 45 percent of
all dressings sold. We included conven-
tional bottled dressings, some refrigerated
ones, a few mix packets, and several low-
calorie products.
The classic French dressing is a vinai-
grette sauce-a combination of oil, vine-
gar, salt, and pepper. The typical French
dressing sold in America usually contains
tomato, which alters the flavor and color-
it can be beige to orange. Our sensory con-
sultants think the oil in French dressing
should taste and smell faintly of vegeta-
bles. The flavor and aroma of the vinegar
should be slight, never biting. The spices-
typically mustard, onion, and garlic-
should be mild and well blended.
The classic Italian dressing is a kind of
vinaigrette, too, but again the American
version is different. Our consultants think
an excellent Italian dressing should be olf-
white and flecked with spices. Oil and
vinegar flavors and aromas should be mild.
Onion, garlic, herbs, and spices should be
well blended.
Since most of the calories in salad dress- put all the ingredients into a jar, cap it
ings come from oil, the low-calorie dress-
ings substitute water to cut down on calo-
ries. Unfortunately, oil is an important part ties for several days' use, note that the
of a good-tasting dressing. Most low-calo-
rie dressings were rated no higher than
fair-the common defect was the absence
of the flavor, aroma, and texture of oil.
A WW.CALORIE DRESSING called Herb Mag-
ic (CONSUMER REPORTS, May 1980) contains
no oil, and its Italian and vinaigrette varie- oil, vinegar, and water. Add half a tea-
ties (there arc four others) tasted better
than any other low-calorie Italian dressing
we've tested. Herb Magic Italian has only
11 calories per three-tablespoon serving,
the vinaigrette, 15 per serving. Both dress-
ings were rated good for taste by an infor-
mal panel of CU's food technologists. If
you're counting calories or want to lower
your intake of fat, the Herb Magic dress-
ings are worth a try.
HOMEMADE FRENCH DRESSING. CU's dress-
ing is at least as good as the top-rated prod-
ucts, and costs much less-about five cents
per serving. It contains 285 calories per
serving. If you make your own, you can
control the amount of salt and sugar it con-
tains. It will also be free of additives.
Here's our recipe, which serves three:
•;, tsp. dry mustard
'/., tsp. white pepper
I tsp. tomato paste
1/.1 tsp. salt (optional)
1 tsp. sugar (optional)
7 tbsp. salad oil
3'/, tsp. white vinegar
2 tsp. water
'/, tsp. finely chopped onion
Combine mustard, pepper, tomato
paste, and, if desired, salt and sugar. Add
oil, vinegar, and water, alternately and a
little bit at a time, beating until thick.
Then add the chopped onion. Or you can
tightly, and shake well before using. If you
plan to make the dressing in larger quanti-
longer the onion sits in the dressing the
stronger it will become. Substituting lem-
on juice for the vinegar and water will pre-
vent the onion flavor from becoming over-
powering. As a low-calorie alternative, use
12 ounces of tomato juice instead of the
spoon of curry powder. The calorie con-
tent will be IO per serving, though the
dressing becomes quite nmny. For another
low-calorie salad dressing, try lemon juice
mixed with a few herbs and spices. It
brings out the flavor of the salad makings.
 ICE CREAM 105

Ice cream
Condensed from Consumer Reports, June 1981
We tested a wide variety of vanilla and good as the ice creams. All the ice milks
chocolate ice creams bought in supermar- were watery. Many were icy, and many
kets on the East and West Coasts. We also tasted bland.
tested several ice milks and some hand-
dipped ice creams from specialty stores. CALORIES. Two scoops (a half-cup) of vanil-
SENSORY EVALUATION. Our standards of ex- la ice cream is lower in calories than many
cellence, drawn from those of the Ameri- desserts, including normal portions of cake
can Dairy Science Association, were met and pie and even an eight-ounce dish of
by three brands of vanilla ice cream: yogurt. About half the calories in ice
Schrafft's, Friendly, and Howard John- cream are supplied by butterfat, which is
son's. Ice creams that fell a little short of predominantly saturated. The butterfat
the ideal were judged very good. content of ice milk is far lower.
Ice-cream lovers who swear by the RECOMMENDATIONS. Read the labels. You're
hand-dipped variety may have a point: likely to buy a very good product if it lists
Most of the specialty-store ice creams cream as its first ingredient, and sugar
were judged either excellent or very good, ahead of com symp. If you like vanilla,
while most of the packaged ones were look for natural flavorings. Most of our
judged either very good or good. higher-rated vanillas contained nahtral fla-
Packaged ice creams need stabilizers vors or a combination of natural and artifi-
and emulsifiers to help maintain quality cial; most of the lower-rated ones con-
during storage and shipping. In our judg- tained artificial flavors. All the chocolate
ments, Breyers and Haagen-Dazs suffered ice creams we tested are naturally fla-
from various sensory defects partly be- vored.
cause they're free of chemical additives. Buy ice cream in small packages that
Overall, the ice milks didn't taste as you'll use up fairly quickly, so there won't

What CU's Ratings mean

Products are rated, for the most part, in order of estimated overall
quality, without regard to price.
Models are check-rated (&)when the test samples prove to be of
high overall quality and significantly superior to those of other mod-
els tested .
Best Buy Ratings are accorded to models which are not only rated
high but also priced relatively low, and should give more quality per
dollar than other Acceptable models.
A Rating of a given model should not be considered a Rating of
other models sold under the same brand name unless so noted.
106 ICE CREAM
be much time for ice crystals to grow in
your freezer. You can minimize ice-crystal
growth by buying a package that's brick-
hard, and getting it into the freezer quick-
ly. After serving, return it to the freezer
promptly, and be sure the package is
closed up tight or wrapped in aluminum
foil or plastic wrap.

Ratings of ice cream and ice mllk

Listed by types and flavors; within flavors, listed in order of estimated
overall quality based on sensory judgements by CU's consultants. Nutri-
tion information is based on a 1/:i-cup (4-fl.-oz.) serving. Except as noted,
cost per serving is calculated from average price paid by CU shoppers for
half-gallon size. Standards of excellence for ice cream: The flavor should
be appropriate to the name, vanilla or chocolate. Vanilla ice cream should
have a pleasant dairy flavor and sweetness; no one flavor should overpow-
er the others. Chocolate ice cream should have a rich, full, chocolate
flavor. With either flavor, the body, or consistency, should be firm; the
texture should be smooth and rich .

Vanilla Ice cream

The following were judged excellent In sensory quality.
Schrafft'a. Friendly. Howard Johnson's.
The following were j udged very good In sensory quality.
Snow Star. Baskin-Robbins. Louie Sherry. Sealteet. Dreyer'•· Abbott• Old Phlladelphle.
Breyers.
The following were j udged good In sensory quality.
Lucerne Deluxe. Lucerne Vanilla Flavored. Ann Page. Haegen-Deza. Ledy Lee Vanilla Fla-
vored. Knudsen Party Time. Dolly Madison. Lady Borden. Kroger Deluxe. Ledy Lee Real
Vanilla. Borden Vanilla Flavored. Pathmark. Meadow Gold Supreme. Foremost. Borden All
Natural. Holland Dutch. Abbott• Vanilla Flavored.
The following was j udged fair In sensory quality.
A&P Generic.
The following were j udged variable {fair to good) In sensory quality.
Carnation. Pathmark No Frills.

Chocolate Ice cream

The following were j udged very good In sensory quality.

Schrafft'•· Friendly. Baskin-Robbin•. Howard Johnson's. Dreyer'• Grand. Hugen-Deze.
 ICE CREAM, BOTTLED WATER 107
Louis Sherry. Carnation. Pathmark. Foremost. Abbott• Old Philadelphia.
The following were judged good In sensory quality.
Lucerne Deluxe. Snow Star. Lady Borden. Lady Lee Dutch. Knudsen Party Time. Dolly
Madison. Borden Glacier Club. Kroger Deluxe Dutch. Abbott•. Lucerne Dutch. Breyers.
Seallest. Borden Dutch.
The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
Holland Dutch. Ann Page. Meadow Gold Supreme.

Vanilla Ice mllk

The following was judged good in sensory quality.

Lucerne.
The following was judged fair in sensory quality.
Borden.
The following was judged poor In sensory quality.
Ann Page Look-Fit.
The following was judged var/able (fair to very good) In sensory quality.
Sealtest Light N' Lively.

Chocolate Ice mllk

The following were judged fair In sensory quallty.

Borden. Sealtest Light N' Lively.
The following was judged poor In sensory quality.
A&P Look-Fil.
The following was judged variable {poor to good) in sensory quality.
Lucerne.

Bottled water
Condensed from Consumer Reports , September 1980
bubbles. That category includes ordinary
CU tested domestic and imported bottled
tap water and "bulk" water, which is sold
waters. For added interest, we compared
them to tap water from New York City.in large containers for use as drinking
water.
According to our sensory consultants, the
best-tasting water was the cheapest- New"Sparkling water" is made bubbly by
York City tap water. dissolved carbon dioxide gas. The carbon
TERMS. "Still water" is water without gas
dioxide can occur naturally in the sub-sur-
108 BOTTLED WATER
face water ("naturally sparkling"), or it can
be added later.
Water labeled "spring water" must
come from a spring; it may already be car-
bonated or may have carbonation added.
" Natural spring water" implies that the
water has not been processed before bot-
tling, while plain "spring water" may be
processed. W ater labeled "drinking water"
is usually from a well or the tap, and it's
usually processed in some way before it's
bottled.
" Mineral water" contains dissolved min-
erals. Some so-called "mineral waters"
may actually contain fewer dissolved min-
erals than many city water supplies. The
term is sometimes used to describe all
bottled water except bulk water, club soda,
and seltzer.
" Natural mineral water" is usually from
a spring and contains only the minerals
present in the water as it Hows from the
ground. It may be sparkling or still. Miner-
al water not labeled "natural" may have
had minerals removed or added.
"Club soda" is water (typically from the
tap) that is filtered and carbonated and to
which minerals and mineral salts are
added. "Seltzer" is similar to club soda but
has no added minerals or mineral salts.
Both are considered sparkling waters.
SENSORY C llARACTElllSTICS. Most people
would be hard-pressed to describe the taste
of good-tasting water, though plenty of
places around the country have tap water
that is obviously not good-tasting. Indeed,
the main attribute of a good-tasting water
is the absence of bad taste. But pure H 20 is
not the best-tasting water, either, as a few
sips of distilled water would demonstrate.
Our taste experts think an excellent
water, still or sparkling, should be clear:
free of sediment and color. Its aroma
should be clean: free of off-odors such as
those of chemicals or manure. An excellent
water's flavor should also be clean, though
it may stimulate slightly the tastebuds that
sense sweetness, bitterness, or sourness.
And an excellent water should be refresh-
ing: Your mouth should feel as clean as the
taste of the water.
An excellent sparkling water should look
and taste bubbly, and make the nose and
mouth tingle pleasantly.
According to our Ratings, no generaliza-
tion can be made about the waters' taste by
source, and our chemical analyses indi-
cated that no generalizations can be made
about the relationship of a water's taste to
its chemical components.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Of our excellent wa-
ters-all still waters-only Mountain Val-
ley Water is available nationwide. In New
York City and the northern suburbs served
by its water system, you can get excellent
still water right from the tap.
Residents of southern California who
live within the distribution area of Deep
Rock A rtesian Fresh Drinking Water might
want to try that water if they don't like

CU's objectivity
CU accepts no advertising; i't accepts no samples of products; it
does its utmost to stop use of its name or findings to promote any
product or service. Ask anyone who claims that a CU Rating has
been improperly influenced to write down the assertion and sign it.
Then send the document to us. Consumers Union takes full respon-
sibility for the integrity of its work.

what comes from their tap. It was the least
expensive brand we tested, probably be-
cause it comes in recyclable glass bottles.
Any of the sparkling waters rated good
BOTTLED WA TER 109
are worth trying; since they have different
tastes and levels of carbonat ion, you might
sample various different brands until you
find one you like.

Ratings of bottled water

Listed by types. Within types, listed in order of estimated overall quality,
based on sensory judgments by CU's consultants. Standard of excellence
for bottled water: clear appearance, clean aroma, and refreshing flavor;
the appearance and taste of sparkling waters should , in add ition, be bub-
bly, leaving a tingling sensation in the mouth and nose. Unless otherwise
noted, container is glass. Sodium content and cost figures are per 8-oz.
glass. Costs are calculated from average price paid by CU shoppers.

Bulk stlll waters. The following were judged excellent in sensory quality.

NEW YORK CITY TAP WATER. 1 mg. sodium.

DEEP ROCK ARTESIAN FRESH DRINKING. 2¢. 7 mg. sodium.
The following were judged very good In sensory quality.
ARROWHEAD MOUNTAIN SPRING. 6¢. 2 mg. sodium. Plastic container.
GREAT BEAR NATURAL SPRING. 5¢. 0 mg. sodium . Plastic container.
MOUNTAIN SPRING. 4¢. 1 mg. sodium. Plastic container.
The following were judged good In sensory quality.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN. 6¢. 1 mg. sodium. Plastic container.
DEER PARK 100% SPRING. 8¢. 0 mg. sodium. Plastic container.
The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
SPARKLETTS CRYSTAL-FRESH DRINKING. 4¢. 1 mg. sodium . Plastic container.
BONNIEBROOK SPRING. 6¢. 0 mg. sodium . Plastic container.

The following was judged poor in sensory quality.

POLAR SPRING. 4¢. 1 mg. sodium. Plastic container.

Other stlll waters. The following was judged excellent In sensory quality.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY. 25¢. 1 mg. sodium.

The following was judged very good in sensory quality.
POLAND SPRING PURE NATURAL MINERAL. 20¢. 1 mg. sodium.
The following were judged good In sensory quality.
HINCKLEY & SCHMITT NATURAL SPRING. 16¢. 5 mg. sodium.
EVIAN NATURAL SPRING. 27¢. 4 mg. sodium .
FIUGGI NATURAL MINERAL. 28¢. 1 mg. sodium .
Ratings continued next page
110 BOTTLED WATER, CANNED TUNA
Sparkllng waters. The following were judged good In sensory quality.

PETERS VAL NATURALLY SPARKLING MINERAL. 26¢. 39 mg. sodium.

CANADA DRY CLUB SODA. 15¢. 44 mg. sodium.
LE-NATURE'S CRYSTAL CLEAR MINERAL. 21¢. 6 mg. sodium.
GEROLSTEINER SPRUDEL NATURAL MINERAL. 27¢. 33 mg. sodium .
APOLLINARIS NATURAL MINERAL. 32¢. 114 mg. sodium.
SARATOGA NATURALLY SPARKLING MINERAL. 23¢. 16 mg. sodium.
MONTCLAIR SPARKLING NATURAL MINERAL. 23¢. 9 mg. sodium .
aSANTE NAPA VALLEY MINERAL SPARKLING. 28¢. 46 mg. sodium.
CALISTOGA SPARKLING MINERAL. 23¢. 29 mg. sodium .
CANADA DRY SELTZER PURE SPARKLING. 16¢. 1 mg. sodium.
POLAND SPRING SPARKLING PURE NATURAL MINERAL. 19¢. 1 mg. sodium.
PERRIER NATURALLY SPARKLING MINERAL. 26¢. 4 mg. sodium .

The following were judged fair In sensory quality.

VITTELLOISE NATURAL SPRING. 36¢. 2 mg. sodium.
FERRARELLE NATURALLY SPARKLING MINERAL. 21¢. 13 mg. sodium.
SCHWEPPES SPARKLING MINERAL. 22¢. 21 mg. sodium.
BARTLETT MINERAL SPRING SPARKLING. 26¢. 4 mg. sodium.
SHEFFIELD'S O, SPARKLING SPRING. 22¢. 3 mg. sodium.
DEER PARK SPARKLING 100% SPRING. 16¢. 1 mg. sodium.
SAFEWAY BEL-AIR SPARKLING MINERAL. 19¢. 7 mg. sodium.
VICHY CELESTINS NATURALLY ALKALINE MINERAL. 32¢. 309 mg. sodium.
SAN PELLEGRINO NATURAL SPARKLING MINERAL. 27¢. 11 mg. sodium.
BLACK FOREST NATURALLY SPARKLING GENUINE MINERAL. 26¢. 36 mg. sodium.

Canned tuna
Condensed from Consumer Reports, January 1979
There are 11 species of fish recognized as
tuna, but packers put only a few of them in
cans. White tuna usually carries the name
"albacore." Packers may describe any one
of the species other than albacore as "light
tuna." Cans of light tuna usually contain
the bluefin, yellowfin, or skipjack. Gener-
ally the light tuna tastes stronger than the
albacore.
Some tuna is packed in oil-usually sea-
soned vegetable oil-and some in water.
Our sensory consultants evaluated the
rated brands for flavor, aroma, texture, and
appearance against CU's criteria for each
type. (Note that canned tuna shouldn't
taste or smell too fishy. A strong fish aro-
ma usually means the product is not as
fresh as it should be.) Overall, the tuna
packed in oil fared better in our sensory
tests than water-packed tuna, mainly be-
cause it was less dry.
The best albacore tunas (rated very
good) were Bumble Bee Albacore Chunk
White Tuna in Oil and Chicken of the Sea
 CANNED TUNA , COTTAGE CHEESE 111
Albacore Chunk White Tuna in Oil, ac-
cording to our consultants. The best light-
meat tunas were Food Club Chunk Style
Light Tuna in Oil, A&P Solid Fancy Light
Tuna in Oil, and Progresso Solid Pack Light
Tuna in Pure Olive Oil. As a group, chunk
white was preferred to solid white. The
grated and flaked tuna was the least pre-
ferred.
NUTRITION. Our analyses showed that a
three-ounce serving of tuna contains about
20 grams of protein. That's more than one-
third of the Recommended Daily Allow-
ance (RDA) set by the National Academy
of Sciences/National Research Council for
an adult male. (It's closer to one-half the
NAS/NRC allowance for an adult female,
and more than half the allowance for a
youngster age 7 to 10.) Water-packed tuna
is lower in calories and fat than oil-packed
tuna. Whether the tuna is packed in water
or oil, most of its fat is unsaturated. For
more nutritional information, see the table
on pages 74 to 75.
LISTED INGREDIENTS on most cans of tuna
include vegetable broth and salt in addi-
tion to the packing medium. Most tuna
contains about twice as much salt as pea-
nut butter and about eight times as much
as cooked hamburger. Only the brands
labeled "diet" or "dietetic" lacked added
salt. If you're on a strict low-sodium diet,
you'd best choose dietetic tuna.
LABELS. Many cans of solid white tuna are
labeled "fancy." The word "fancy" merely
means that the tuna is solid-style rather
than chunk or flaked. So a label that reads
"fancy solid white albacore tuna" is redun-
dant, at best. Some labels list an ingredient
called sodium acid pyrophosphate. It's an
additive that prevents formation of stru-
vite, a harmless substance with a scary
resemblance to glass fragments that some-
times appears in canned tuna.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If you eat tuna
straight or perhaps lightly flavored with
lemon juice and garnish, choose the tuna
that tastes best. But if you smother tuna's
flavor in mayonnaise, onion, and other
strong accompaniments, the best tuna for
you may well be the one that's easiest on
your pocketbook. If you're really disguis- ·
ing the fish-making a paste for canapes,
for example-the least expensive type of
tuna (flaked or grated) might be perfectly
adequate.

Cottage cheese
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1979
Almost all brands of cottage cheese are "chunky" cottage cheese contains even
regional. We bought samples in the New larger lumps. " Whipped" cottage cheese
York City area and in Los Angeles and has very small lumps. Under USFDA regu-
Oakland, California. Only 12 of the 42 lations, cottage cheese must have curds,
brands we tested consistently showed rea- plus enough added cream to raise the milk-
sonably low levels of yeasts, molds, or oth- fat level to at least 4 percent. (We've
er microorganisms. called this "creamed cottage cheese" to
TYPES. Small-curd cottage cheese, the most distinguish it from the other varieties.) The
popular variety, contains lumps about the regulations also allow producers to add
size of a com kernel. Large-curd cottage salt. A little less cream produces lowfat
cheese has lumps about twice that size, and cottage cheese, which must have from 0.5
112 COTTAGE CHEESE
to 2 percent milkfat. Curds alone, with no
cream, is "dry curd"; dry curd without salt
is sometimes known as "pot cheese." "Cal-
ifornia style" cottage cheese is made by
adding rennet to the bacterial culture,
yielding a sweetish cheese. California style
is also known as "Frisco," "popcorn," or
"flake" cottage. "Fanner style" is an East
Coast variety, with a somewhat sharp
taste.
NUTRITION. Cottage-cheese protein ranks
in quality alongside fish and beef. How-
ever, pound for pound, beef contains more
protein. Cottage cheese is less than the
nutritional equivalent of meat in other
respects too. A typical serving of tuna or
cooked hamburger supplies more of a
number of other nutrients (see pages 74 to
75). Some bread or crackers, .along with
fmit or a vegetable, will make cottage
cheese into a well-balanced meal.
Cottage cheese is low in calories. A half-
cup serving of the creamed cottage cheeses
we tested averaged about half the calories
in a cooked hamburger patty, two-thirds
the calories in a typical serving of tuna.
The lowfat cottage cheeses were only
slightly lower in calories than the creamed
types.
Most labels don't list the sodium con-
tent. We found the sodium content of the
tested products ranged from a low of 193
milligrams per half-cup (Dellwood Large
Curd) to a high of 570 (Alpha Beta Large
Curd).
TASTE. The defects encountered by our sen-
sory consultants included a lack of fine cul-
tured flavor, a lack of freshness, a curd that
was too sour, or a texture that was mealy,
too firm, or otherwise less than ideal.
REFORMS NEEDED. Our tests showed that
the current practice of stamping cottage-
cheese cartons with only an expiration date
(pull date) or a quality-assurance date is
not a useful guide to freshness. Producers
should also give the date the cheese was
packed.
Bacterial standards should be established
and enforced. When manufacturers · use
nonfat dry milk, that milk should conform
to APHA standards for Extra Grade Nonfat
Dry Milk. Manufacturers should be subject
to compulsory inspection and quality grad-
ing by the USDA. The standard of identi-
ty for cottage cheese should define all
the curd sizes and varieties, so that one can
tell what the product is from the descrip-
tion on the label. Also, sodium content
should be a standard item on all nutrition
labels.

Ratings of cottage cheese

Within types, listed in order of sensory quality as judged by CU's consul-
tants. Differences between closely ranked brands were slight.

Creamed cottage cheese. The following products were judged excellent In senso-
ry qua/lty.

Lucerne Large Curd. Lucerne Smell Curd. Axelrod'• Chunk Style. Dari-Valley Smell Curd.
Knudsen Smell Curd.
The following were judged very good in sensory qua/lty.
A&P Large Curd. Carnation Large Curd. Jeraeymeid Smell Curd. A&P Smell Curd. Knudsen
Large Curd. Alpha Bela Large Curd. Royal Dairy Tiny Curd. Royal Dairy Chunky Curd.
Foremost Smell Curd. Friendship California Style. Carnation Smell Curd. Foremost Large
Curd. Alpha Beta sm·e11 Curd. Dellwood Large Curd.
 COTTAGE CHEESE, FRESH CHICKEN 113
The following were judged good in sensory quality.
Axelrod's Creamed Whipped Style. Jerseymaid Large Curd. Axelrod's Small Curd. Dell-
wood Small Curd.
The following were judged fair in sensory quality.
Sealtest Small Curd. Breakstone's California Creamed Style Small Curd.
The following were judged poor in sensory quality.
Breakstone's California Creamed Style Large Curd. Sealtest Large Curd. Breakstone's Tan-
gy Small Curd.

Lowfat cottage cheese. The following were judged very good In sensory quality.

Foremost So-Lo 2% Lowfat. Axelrod's Easy Dieter 1% Lowfat. Carnation 2% Lowfat. Knud-
sen 2% Lowfat. Lucerne 2% Lowfat.
The following were judged good in sensory quality.
Friendship Calorie Meter 2% Lowfat. Axelrod's Dry Curd Less Than '/,% Milkfat. Alpha Beta
2% Lowfat. Light 'N Lively 1% Lowfat.
The following were judged fair In sensory quality.
Friendship Pot Style 2% Lowfat. Breakstone's 2% Lowfat.
The following were judged poor in sensory quality.
Friendship Calorie Meter 1% Lowfat. Breakstone's Dry Curd Less Than 't.% Milkfat.

Not Acceptable. The following was judged Not Acceptable because of excessive yeast,
mold, and bacterial counts in all samples tested.

Weight Watchers 1% Lowfat.

Fresh chicken
Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1978
Once you bought a chicken merely be-
cause it looked good and was priced right.
Now TV commercials and other ads in-
struct you to look for branded birds. We
checked to see whether mass-production
poultry farming techniques and advertis-
ing hoopla necessarily add up to good
chickens.
SAMPLES were purchased on both the East
Coast and West Coast. We looked at two
supermarket brands (A&P and Safeway),
five regional brands (Foster Farms Califor-
nia Grown, Lipman, Paramount, Perdue,
and Zacky Farms California Grown), and
one national brand (Holly Farms). We also
tested some fresh-killed chickens (bought
at a live-poultry market and killed for us
on the spot), and some chickens that had
been raised "barnyard" style on an Amish
farm in Pennsylvania (those chickens were
frozen, which is about the only way they're
sold nowadays).
114 FRESH CHICKEN, FRESH POTATOES
TASTE. Our tasters found the fresh-killed
broiler/fryers very tender and juicy, with
the white meat especially sweet and fla-
vorful; but they found that the fresh-killed
roasters were inferior in flavor, aroma, and
other qualities to many supermarket anq
brand-name birds. Furthermore, the eating
qualities of a chicken couldn't be predicted
by its labeling as a broiler I fryer or roaster;
chickens in both classes were quite flavor-
ful. Grade labeling won't help in determin-
ing eating quality. "Grade A" on a chicken
simply means the bird comes up to Gov-
Fresh potatoes
Condensed from Consumer Reports. September 1978
The potato is an important staple in the
American diet. On average, every Ameri-
can eats 123 pounds of potatoes a year-58
pounds fresh and 65 pounds processed.
Processed potatoes include frozen french
fries, instant dehydrated potatoes, and po-
tato chips.
Fresh potatoes come in four basic fami-
lies: Round white potatoes have a creamy,
buff-colored skin that's very smooth-
almost shiny-when clean. Inside, they
have a very firm texl:trre. They're good
boiled, baked, home-fried, mashed. Round
red potatoes have a reddish skin that is
often netted in appearance. Inside, they're
firm and white. They're best for boiling
and baking. Long white potatoes are cylin-
drical and slightly Battened at the ends.
Their skin is light tan, smooth, and shiny.
They're extremely firm inside. They're
good for boiling, baking, home-frying,
mashing, and great for french-frying be-
cause of their length and firmness. Russet
potatoes-including Russet Burbanks, the
most popular variety nationwide-are long
and cylindrical, Battened at the ends. Their
skin is msset and heavily netted. Inside,
ernment standards for appearance; it is not
meant to be a guarantee of tenderness or
good flavor.
We found that a widely advertised
brand name wasn't a reliable guide to qual-
ity, nor were brand-name birds consistent-
ly better in eating quality than the super-
market brands. Our Amish-farm chickens
proved quite flavorful, but no more so than
some of the other tested chickens, and they
were much more expensive than the oth-
ers. In CU's opinion, you can safely select
chicken on the basis of cost.
they're "floury" or "mealy"-perfect bak-
ing potatoes. They also make good french
fries-long and mealy.
Beyond the four families, there are the
new potatoes, which can be of any variety.
These are young, small potatoes that are
harvested and marketed from January
through September. They're either white-
skinned or red, and their thin skin scrapes
off easily. Inside, they're very white and
firm-textured. They're perfect for boiling,
skins on, and serving with butter and fresh
parsley. Their firm texl:trre also makes
them good for potato salad.
CHOICE. Choose potatoes that are well-
shaped, firm , and smooth. There should be
no soft spots or knobs. The fewer eyes and
the cleaner, the better. Avoid greenish
potatoes; a green cast comes from overex-
posure to light and means that the potatoes
will taste bitter. You should also avoid
potatoes that have large cuts or cracks,
skinned or decaying areas, bulges or
bmises. Finally, don't choose potatoes that
are sprouting. Sprouts can cause a potato
to shrivel or soften; they also cut down on
storage life.

STORAGE. Stored properly at home, pota-
toes should keep for several months ("new
potatoes" for several weeks). Keep them in
a kitchen closet or cabinet-potatoes need
darkness, a coolish room temperature, ,and
some humidity and ventilation.
PREPARE potatoes for cooking by gently
scrubbing them with a vegetable brush or a
clean sponge. To conserve nutrients, leave
the skin on when cooking. If you must peel
the potatoes, wait till after they're cooked;
you should then be able to peel off a thin
FRESH, FROZEN POTATOES 115
layer of the skin easily and quickly. Pota-
toes retain nutrients better-with or with-
out skin-if they're cooked whole.
NUTRIENTS. A naked baked potato 2 1/2
inches in diameter provides only about 95
calories, but one heaped with butter or
sour cream is a high-calorie side dish that
provides about 250 calories; french-fried
potatoes, about 230 calories in a half-cup
serving. All in all, baked potatoes are an
excellent accompaniment to a meal-more
nutritious than most other fillers.

Frozen french fries

Condensed from Consumer Reports, May 1982
browned, with a mild aroma of fried pota-
If you're particular about the cut of your
french fries, the frozen-potato industry has
to and perhaps a whiff of oil. Any hint of
gone out of its way to please you. You can
rancidity or other off-flavor was frowned
buy the regular straight-cut kind or a vari-
upon. The tasters looked for fries that
ant with crinkled sides. There are steak, or
crackled crisply at first bite, giving access
dinner, fries-flatter, wider and longer than
to a soft interior that chewed easily into a
the regular kind-and the descriptively moist, mealy mass. The tasters expected to
have a clean "mouth-feel" after chewing a
named shoestrings, narrower than the reg-
fry, although they didn't downrate fries
ular fries, and in either straight cut or crin-
kle cut. And there are circular cottagethat left a slight starchy mouthcoating or
fries, with their corrugated surfaces. We
even a trace of oily residue.
commissioned expert sensory consultants Only CU's homemade fries earned excel-
lent marks. But our experts rated six of the
to sample 36 brands of fries in the various
styles. frozen products very good.
NUTRITION. The potato need not be a fat-
All our frozen potatoes had been pre-
tening food. Eaten plain, a medium-size,
fried "at the factory, and all the labels sug-
3.5-ounce baked potato yields only about
gest that a mere reheat in the oven (8 to 30
minutes, depending on package instruc- 93 calories 'and virtually no fat. Load that
same potato with fats of one sort or anoth-
tions) will do. But we cooked each variety
er and you pay the price in calories.
of fries by the method its label lists first. So
26 products ended up in the oven, six more Frozen fries may get a double helping of
fat-once when they are fried at the facto-
were pan-fried in vegetable oil, and the
rest, including CU's homemade fries (%-ry and again, if you heat them in oil, at
home. The fries we heated in our oven
inch-square strips cooked in oil at 375°F
for about 10 minutes), were deep-fried. averaged 185 calories and 7 grams of fat
SENSORY QUALITY. When the potatoes per 3.5-ounce portion. The fries we pan-
emerged from oven or pan, our taste fried or deep-fried contained, on average,
experts expected them to be uniformly 257 calories and 15 grams of fat.
Ratings on next page
116 FROZEN FRENCH FRIES
Ratings of frozen trench fries
Listed in order of overall sensory oven. Cooked serving is 3.5 oz.
quality as judged by CU's consul- Cost per cooked serving was calcu-
tants. Differences between closely lated from average package price
ranked products were sl ight. Ex- paid by CU's shoppers.
cept as noted, all were heated in an

Per cooked eerving

Product .§-~ (Jo

~
Ci

Excellent
C U'• homemade R 15¢ 224(g) 7(g) 4
Very Good
LADY LEE R 13 183 6 23
LYNDEN FARMS Sh 16 261 11 37
ORE· IDA GOLDEN FRIES R 14 171 5 20
BIRDS EYE c 16 272@ 16@ 19
PATHMARK c 12 267@ 14@ 16
KROGER St 15 148 4 23
Good
BIRDS EYE TASTI FRIES c 19 209 10 189
BEL-AIR ( SAFEWAY) St 19 150 4 27
ORE-IDA Co 21 201 7 15
HEINZ DEEP FRIES c 20 211 8 11
HEINZ DEEP FRIES R 18 193 8 15
HEINZ DEEP FRIES St 21 186 7 16
LADY LEE c 13 187 6 34
BEL·AIR) Sh 18 169 6 43
BEL· AIR ( SAFEWAY) R 14 144 4 22

[I) Key to cuts: C, crinkle; Co, cottage fries; R, regular; Sh, shoestring; St, steak or dinner fries.
(g) Deep-fat fried. With frozen products, method chosen according to label's primary direction;
calories and fat would likely have been lower if oven-heated.
rn Pan-fried, according to label's primary direction; calories and fat would likely have been lower
if oven-heated.
~ Sensory tests on crinkle cut; other data on regular or crinkle cut.
 FROZEN FRENCH FRIES 117

Product ~
Ci~ Ci
J''
ORE·IDA St 18¢ 161 4 26
KROGER Co 14 216rn 11rn 28
SCOTCH BUY (SAFEWAY) R 12 203111 12111 24
SCOTCH BUY (SAFEWAY) c 12 214111 1om 13
A&P Sh 15 186 6 59
ORE-IDA Sh 19 236 7 33
KROGER c 13 118 4 17
Fair
NO FRILLS (PATHMARK) R.crn 9 338rn 21rn 56
A&P St 19 1901Zl 10!ID 15
SCOTCH BUY (SAFEWAY) Sh 11 218!ID 11m 21
BIRDS EYE R 20 368rn 24rn 10
ORE-IDA CAISPERS c 21 280 16 547
OAE·IDA GOLDEN c 16 174 6 18
KROGER R 13 156 6 28
A&P c 15 154 3 31
BIRDSEYE St 21 281rn 18rn 13
KROGER Sh 16 181 6 23
A&P R 16 172 4 33
A&P Co 18 155 4 54
llEL·AIR (SAFEWAY) c 13 143 5 30
CRISPY COOKIN' R 28 277 12 42

How to use the Buying Guide

•
•
Look in the Index for specific reports .
Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
118 TURKEYS
Turkeys
Condensed from Consumer Reports. November 1981
The modem turkey is a processed food. It's
specially bred using artificially insemi-
nated eggs, raised in confined quarters on a
chemical feast, often injected after slaught-
er with hasting solutions that contain col-
orings, ftavorings, and texture enhancers,
and then frozen solid.
We tested frozen birds, along with fresh,
unbranded turkey as a comparison. Most
were self-hasting. We also tested frozen
turkey breasts and frozen turkey roasts and
rolls. Roasts are boneless, log-shaped af-
fairs that come in their own roasting pans;
some are white-meat only, and some have
both white and dark meat. Rolls are bone-
less, football-shaped things with both
white and dark meat; they come encased in
netting that stays on until they' re cooked.
Most of the whole turkeys and turkey
breasts were mediocre in taste and tex-
ture-good hut not very good. The roasts
and rolls were usually worse than medio-
cre.
NUTRITION. While there's little to praise
about the taste and texture of the modem
turkey, the bird is as nutritious as ever.
Turkey provides a generous supply of pro-
tein with less fat and fewer calories than
many other meats-about 25 percent fewer
calories than roast beef and 46 percent
fewer than pork loin. Most of the fat in
cooked turkey is on the underside of the
skin and in the pan drippings. So you can
reduce fat intake significantly by passing
up both.
Natural turkey has some sodium, but
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
many of the birds and bird products we
tested had much more sodium than could
he considered natural. Generally, the birds
injected with hasting solutions had more
sodium than nonhasted birds, and the
roasts and rolls had most of all.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Tenderness and juici-
ness in a turkey depend mostly on the
bird's age at slaughter. A young bird is five
to seven months old; one labeled " fryer-
roaster" may be younger than 16 weeks.
Some packagers note whether the bird is a
hen or tom. But since sex is related only to
size (toms are larger, hens are smaller), that
doesn't tell you anything about the quality
of the meat.
At the time we purchased turkey, frozen
whole birds cost about $1 a pound. Our
11-pound turkeys yielded 5 1/ , to 6 pounds
of cooked meat, which averaged out to 36
cents per serving.
The turkey breasts with hones cost an
average of $1.83 a pound. Each 6-pound
breast provided about 3y, pounds of
cooked turkey meat, at a cost of about 57
cents per serving.
Though decidedly inferior in quality,
roasts and rolls were no cheaper for it.
They cost $1.59 to $2.29 per pound. The
all-white-meat versions were generally
more expensive than mixed white and
dark. Since they're boneless, roasts and
rolls produce no waste, but they do shrink
nearly 25 percent during cooking. and they
wind up costing about the same per por-
tion as turkey breasts.

Ratings of turkeys
Listed by types; within types, listed
in order of overall sensory quality as
judged by CU's consultants. Differ-
ences between closely ranked
products were slight. Standard of
excellence for turkey: Brown, crisp
skin; moderately tender, juicy meat;
delicate, "sweet" (fresh-tasting)
white meat; mild dark meat that
isn't gamey; no trace of steamed-
meat, chemical, or inappropriate
TURKEYS 119
flavors or aromas. The protein, fat,
calorie, and sodium content given
are based on a 3-oz. serving con-
sisting of wh ite meat, dark meat,
skin, gravy, and pan drippings.
Whole turkeys averaged 11 lb.,
breasts 6 lb., roasts 2 lb., rolls 4 lb.
Cost is for a 3-oz. serving of cooked
meat and was calculated from aver-
age price paid by CU shoppers.
Per serving

~~Cb

Brand o<4t~· ~
t::Jfif!lo. '!> ~· (JO"''

Whole turkeys
RIVERSIDE Very good B 35¢ 195 200 mg. 26% 14%
LAND 0 LAKES Very good B 35 134 175 25 7
EMPIRE KOSHER Very good N 39 148 138 24 9
GOLDEN STAR BY ARMOUR Good B 35 201 146 26 15
FRESH TURKEY Good N 42 149 71 29 7
SWIFT Ll'L BUTTERBALL[!J Good B 51 145 162 23 8
A&P Good B 32 173 108 24 12
MARVAL OF VIRGINIA PRIME Good B 38 192 101 25 14
NOR BEST Good B 33 159 167 28 8
JENNIE-0 BRAND Good B 27 186 159 23 14
ARMOUR Good N 35 179 66 23 13
HONEYSUCKLE WHITE Good B 39 168 120 26 10
WISHBONE BRAND PRIME Good N 36 133 98 24 5
MANOR HOUSE Good B 35 195 167 24 15
VALLEY STAR Good N 38 134 88 27 6
SWIFT'S PREMIUM BUTTERBALL Good B 38 190 129 26 13
CD 8-Basted; N-Nonbasted; W-All white meat; C-Combination white and dark meat.
~ Comes with gravy packet.
~ Labeled as a roast.
Ratings continued next page
120 TURKEYS
Per serving
Ratings of Turkeys continued
.;:.~6;

0..,..~·
f!l>tfi
c,•
VALCHRIS Good B 32¢ 185 90 mg. 26% 13%
THE HOUSE OF RAEFORD Good B 36 133 233 26 6
Turkey breasts
THE HOUSE OF RAEFORD Verygood B 50 133 195 26 5
SHENANDOAH Good B 50 162 184 28 9
JENNIE-0 BRANDO Good B 61 120 244 24 5
RICHBROOK (HEN) Good B 53 144 269 27 7
MARVAL OF VIRGINIA PRIME Good B 57 144 74 30 6
GOLDEN STAR BY ARMOUR Good B 66 139 119 27 7
MANOR HOUSE Good B 57 181 94 28 12
SWIFT'S BUTTERBALLD Good B 67 122 181 25 5
Roasts (or rolls)
SHENANDOAH 0 Good w 64 100 496 18 4
SWIFT'S PREMIUM Fair w 55 125 569 17 8
SWIFT'S PREMIUM Fair c 51 119 598 17 8
MARVAL OF VIRGINIA Fair w 60 102 558 19 5
MARVAL OF VIRGINIA Fair c 56 109 636 17 7
JENNIE-OD Fair w 63 121 727 18 6
GOLDEN STAR BY ARMOUR (ROLL) Fair c 53 176 193 25 12
SHENANDOAHD Fair c 59 107 530 16 6
LAND 0 LAKES BUTTERMOIST Fair w 38 106 605 20 5
LAND 0 LAKES BUTTERMOIST Fair c 39 116 624 18 7
JENNIE-OD Fair c 57 123 735 16 8
MANOR HOUSED Fair c 66 122 704 16 7
MANOR HOUSED Fair w 64 116 663 18 6
NORBEST (ROLL)D Fair c 46 125 407 27 4
ARMOUR Fair w 57 109 383 20 5
ARMOUR Fair c 51 109 445 20 5
[j] 8-Basted; N-Nonbasted; W-All white meat; C-Combination white and dark meat.
!ll Comes with gravy packet.
rn Labeled as a roast.
 Energy conservation
Saving fuel at home
Like the old gas guzzlers on the road,
many homes beside the road guzzle fuel as
though it were still very cheap. Unlike the
cars, though, many homes can be made far
more fuel-efficient with improvements
that will repay their cost very quickly
compared with other investments.
A common-sense approach includes
making your house heat-tight. Insulation
(page 139) and exterior storm windows
(page 142) are expensive, but pay off hand-
somely. Windows can also be insulated
from the inside; a variety of indoor win-
dow treatments (page 144) are available.
Less obvious sources of heat loss include
caulking that needs to be replaced (page
138), drafty windows and doors that need
to be weatherstripped (page 141), and
uninsulated ducts and hot water pipes that
traverse unheated areas. Small investments
in these areas, if needed, can repay them-
selves in a year or two. Don't assume that
existing insulation and storm windows can-
not be improved upon in houses built in
the 50's and 60's; attic insulation may be
only three inches thick, and storm win-
dows may be due· for new weather strip-
ping.
The next place to look for fuel efficiency
is in the heating and cooling systems.
There's not much you can do to improve
the efficiency of electric resistance heating
or gas burners. But the efficiency of oil-
heat systems can often be improved dra-
matically, especially if a house that was
formerly "loose" has been made heat-
tight: The prevention of heat loss means
that the heating system would, in effect,
gain excess capacity that can be readjusted
or improved for an even greater saving.
Consult your oil-burner service company
about "derating" the burner (installing a
smaller oil-burner nozzle), and consider
replacing your present oil burner with a
high-efficiency model (page 134). So long
as your furnace isn't too decrepit, such
improvements are likely to pay off in sav-
ings faster than converting to a gas-heat
system. If your house has gas service, it
might pay you to replace an old oil burner
with a new, high-efficiency gas burner.
A thermostat that automatically sets
back the temperature at night or when the
house is usually unoccupied (page 136) can
often be a worthwhile investment whether
you heat with oil or gas.
The second greatest energy user in most
houses is the water heater (pages 125 and
129). High-efficiency gas-fired models are
available. Electric water heaters generally
cost more to operate, but if you're stuck
with heating water electrically, you can
122 KEROSENE HEATERS
reduce operating costs significantly with a
heat pump water heater (page 133). If the
heater is in an unheated space, an added
wrap of fiberglass insulation (page 134)
can repay itself in about two years for an
electric heater, three to four years for a gas
heater. If the water heater is in a space that
is heated, there's less benefit from added
insulation during the winter, but the heat
load and air-conditioning bill would be
Kerosene heaters
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1982
Many people have turned to kerosene
heaters because they believe electricity is
too expensive to use for space heating.
Others may have bought a kerosene heater
because they need more heat than a typical
portable electric heater can provide. But
kerosene heaters as a class still present
inherent hazards not found on modem
electric heaters. These include the danger
of fire should the heater be accidentally
upset or carelessly refueled, plus the haz-
ards of storing flammable liquid near living
quarters. Less obvious are possible health
hazards from the pollutants that a kerosene
flame puts into a house.
The 18 heaters we tested fall into two
Ratings of kerosene heaters
Listed by types; within types, listed
alphabetically. All were judged in-
herently hazardous; .they should be
used with extreme care. Because of
the pollutants these devices add to
indoor air, CU recommends against
reduced in the summer.
The electric bill for appliances is yet
another area where significant energy sav-
ings can be made. In this chapter you'll
find electric fans (pages 146 and 156) and
air-conditioners (page 149). For efficient
models of washing machines, refrigerator I
freezers, and other appliances, see the
chapter on kitchen and laundry equipment
(page 8).
general groups based on type of operation.
Five models heat mainly by convection,
warming air that's then distributed
through a room. The rest of the heaters
heat primarily by radiation; a shiny metal
reflector 'beams out heat from the burner
without heating the air itself, an arrange-
ment that's good for spot-heating but not
so good for spreading heat evenly through-
out a room. None of the heaters we tested
have a thermostat to control the output,
nor can the output be effectively con-
trolled manually by adjusting the wick.
The rectangular units, all radiative, are
rated by their manufacturers at 9000 to
Text continued page 124
use of a kerosene heater especially
in homes with pregnant women,
asthmatics, persons with cardiov-
ascular disease, children, and the
elderly. Prices are suggested retail;
+ indicates shipping is extra.
 • e o
Better
-- .
Woroe
~

~l>q,,J
...
b ~J
~(/j ~
~· ~(/>~'
"O ....
, ,o+·,$-
~($"~·

.,c."' ....·~· ~~ ~·
Brand and model
( <l~ ~~~q . +"''lio~q ,_q\~

Convective type
KERO- SUN OMNI 105
KOEHRING MAGNUM KCM 200
290
272
c
c
~
0 •• 19,500
20,000
12,000
13,000
15
14
SEARS Cat. No. 40305
YUASA J-50
298+
250
c
c
0
0 •• 19,700
18,000
13,000
14,000
14
17
Radiant type
ALADDIN EQUATOR S581U
ALADDIN TEMP-RITE 9
285
252
c
R
0
~
•• 15,200
9600
11 ,000
6000
15
25
~
GLO-INTERNATIONAL CORONA SP-DX 239 R ~ ~ 9500 8000 17
KERO-SUN RADIANT 10
KERO- SUN RADIANT 36
250
250
R
R
~
~ •• 9600
9600
8000
7000
20
16
~
~
~ttj
RADIANT KING RK 100S
YUASA J-20
179
176
R
R
~
~
•• 9600
9000
6000
7000
25
18
~
Not Acceptable :i:;.:

~
• The following 2 radiant models were judged Not Acceptable because they present a severe fire hazard. When tipped over in CU's
tests, they continued to burn and leaked appreciable quantities of fuel. Listed alphabetically.
KOEHRING DELUXE KR D 93 203 R • • 9300 8000 17 ~
SEARS Cat. No. 40204 188 + R • • 9300 8000 17 ~

[j] C =Cylindrical. R= Rectangular. ~

124 KEROSENE HEATERS
10,000 Btu per hour; the cylindrical mod-
els, both radiative and convective, at about
15,000 to 22,000 Btu per hour. We found
those estimates to be rather optimistic.
Typically, the rectangular models deliv-
ered only about 7000 Btu per hour; the
cylindrical heaters, about 13,000 Btu per
hour. By way of comparison, a 1500-watt
electric heater can deliver about 5000 Btu
an hour.
FIRE HAZARDS. The heaters are heavy (30 to
40 pounds when fully fueled) and hard to
tip over. They're also equipped with safety
devices that are supposed to keep the
flame and the fuel contained if the heater is
knocked over. To find out how well those
features work, we tipped the heaters-part-
way over at first, then over fully.
The flame-cutoff mechanism triggered
on every heater. The wick either retracted
or was blocked by a metal cover. Two
essentially similar heaters were rated Not
Acceptable, however, because the flame
didn't consistently extinguish when the
cutoff triggered.
Although liquid kerosene is surprisingly
hard to ignite, it will bum readily if it's
abrorbed by a rug, which acts as a wick.
Fuel spilled from a heater onto a rug
caused the greatest problem with the two
Not Acceptable models-the soaked rug
blazed furiously. Seven of the other Rated
heaters, all but one of them radiant mod-
els, were given poor marks as fire hazards
because they leaked kerosene when we
tipped them more than 60 degrees. None
of them continued to bum, however.
The knobs and carrying handles of all
the heaters stayed safely cool, but the top
of every heater became hot enough to
cause a bum. Obviously, you should try to
keep small children well away from a kero-
sene heater. It would be wise, too, to keep
the heat-radiating surfaces of a heater at
least three feet away from combustible
surfaces, and to follow the manufacturer's
cautions about clearance around heater
surfaces.
POU..UTJON HAZARDS. Any heating system
that burns fuel will give off some gases as it
operates. A central heating system has a
chimney to carry those products of com-
bustion away from the house. Portable ker-
osene heaters don't have a chimney.
We calculated the concentration of four
gases produced by these heaters-carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen diox-
ide, and sulfur dioxide-that would be
reached in a moderate-sized room with
normal wintertime ventilation. The levels
for some of the gases were high enough to
constitute a serious health hazard for preg-
nant women, asthmatics, persons with car-
diovascular disease, children, and the el-
derly. The pollution levels we calculated
could also harm healthy individuals, in
some cases. (For a full discussion of those
hazards, see the report beginning on page
496 of the October 1982 issue of CONSUM-
ER REPORTS.)
SAVINGS? Any portable heater-kerosene or
electric-can save you a good bit in winter
heating bills if you lower the central-heat-
ing thermostat (to 55°, say) and use the
heater to keep one room comfortably
warm (68°, say). We worked out a couple
of examples for typical houses in severe-
winter and moderate-winter zones. They
showed net savings of $4 70 to $685 for a
supplemental kerosene heater, against sav-
ings of $398 to $610 for an electric heater
of comparable output.
But the purchase price of a kerosene
heater would offset that advantage for sev-
eral years. The models we tested cost $170
to $298, two to three times the cost of a
good electric heater. And a kerosene heat-
er is likely to need a new wick ($10 to $24)
every year or so. Add to those expenses the
bother of storing fuel safely, refilling the
heater regularly, and trying to cope with
the hazards of spilled fuel and polluted air,
and a kerosene heater is seen as much less
of a bargain.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Should you buy a
portable kerosene heater at all? CU thinks
 KEROSENE HEATERS, SOLAR HEATERS 125
not. A kerosene heater's open flame poses some areas. If you're considering buying
an obvious hazard of fire. The gases it one-even after reading this report-con-
gives off as it bums pose a less obvious- tact your local building and fire authorities
but no less serious-problem. Storing the to make sure that its use is legal. Check
kerosene about the home poses hazards of with your fire-insurance company, too, to
its owm find out if using a kerosene heater will
Using a kerosene heater is illegal in jeopardize your coverage.

Solar water heaters

Condensed from Consumer Rep orts, May 1982
People put a solar water heater in their Jn one, a solution of antifreeze and water
home because they think they will save circulates through the collectors. Since the
energy and money. Solar water heaters, we liquid is toxic, it must be confined to a
have found in our tests, do save energy. closed loop of pipe, with a heat exchangers
Whether they actually save money is less in or near the storage tank to transfer heat
certain. The problem, at least for the from the loop to the water in the tank.
moment, is that the equipment and instal- Four of the solar water heaters we tested
lation costs, unless heavily subsidized, are are of that "closed-loop" type.
still too high to make the return, in the Jn the second design, water drains down
form of energy savings, attractive. from the collectors when the collector
Certain combinations of climate, energy temperature drops below the temperature
prices, and tax credits, however, may make of the water in the storage tank. That's
solar water heating worth considering. Tax called a "drain-<lown" system. But to avoid
credits are the key here because solar the problem of corrosion, a variation on
water heaters are expensive. The five we the down-drain system has been devel-
tested for this report range in price from oped-what the industry calls a "drain-
$2400 to $3500 plus installation, com- back" system. The one we tested circulates
pared with $100 to $400 for a convention- distilled water that's kept separate from
al water heater. the water in the tank. The distilled water
TWO SYSTEMS. The typical parts of a solar drains down to its own small tank atop the
water heater are: collectors to heat the storage tank.
water; pipes to connect the collectors to a Both designs work, but at some cost in
storage tank; a baclmp heater to supply efficiency. Heat exchangers never transfer
hot water when the sun's energy can't; a 100 percent of the energy, and those used
pump to circulate the water; and an elec- in a closed-loop system are usually double-
tronic controller that stops the circulation walled to insure against antifreeze solution
when the sun isn't shining. mingling with tap water. The double-
Jn a tropical or semitropical climate, walled design further reduces the amount
where water rarely freezes, the collectors of heat transferred to the water. Drain-
can directly heat the water that comes out down systems can safely use a single-
of the tap. Climates with sustained freez- walled heat exchanger, but they make
ing temperatures require a more complex extra energy demands on the electric
system to prevent freeze-ups and broken pump.
pipes. There are two chief designs in use. TESTS. The five water heaters rated for this
126 SOLAR WATER HEATERS
report are complete brand-name systems
from major companies in the solar field.
All are sold for installation in existing
houses in low-sun, frigid-winter areas such
as the Northeast. In ordering them, we
asked for "a system to replace an aging
52-gallon electric water heater." The man-
ufacturers then specified the components
appropriate for our climate. The systems
we got are fairly similar in collector area
(55 to 76 square feet) and tank size (four of
the five hold 80 gallons; the other, IM
gallons).
We tested the systems in the middle of
winter. Past experience has shown us that
any solar heater of the size we tested could
provide 80 percent or more of a house-
hold's hot water in summer. The short,
often cloudy days of winter make diHer-
ences in the systems' performance more
apparent.
We installed the systems in our Mt.
Vernon, N.Y. building to approximate the
typical setup in a two-story house, with
collectors on the roof and tank in the base-
ment. A computer regulated water use in
the pattern of a hypothetical family of
four. Altogether, the family used about
64 1/ 1 gallons of hot water a day, or about
450 gallons a week. Those numbers coi:re-
spond to what the U.S. Department of
Energy considers average hot-water use.
One system, the Revere, was best at
wresting energy from the winter sun. In a
month with an almost equal mix of sunny
and cloudy days, it produced more than 25
percent of its hot water with solar energy.
The second-best performer over the same
period was the Solar Processes, which
heated more than 20 percent of its hot
water from the sun. On sunny days alone,
the two systems' use of solar energy rose to
45 and 35 percent, respectively. The elec-
tric backup heaters heated the remainder
of the water.
The Sunworks and the Grumman gener-
ated about 15 percent of their hot water
with solar energy over the same partly-
cloudy weeks; on sunny days, they pro-
duced about 30 percent of their hot water
with sunlight. The State system did the
worst of the five. At best, it produced only
about 20 percent of its hot water with solar
energy.
Those numbers are useful mainly for
comparison under worst-case conditions:
short, cold, often cloudy days with an
inflexible demand for hot water by our
hypothetical family. If our systems ran
year-round, we estimate they could gener-
ate 50 to 60 percent of a family's hot water
from solar energy. We would still expect
the systems' rankings to remain the same.
If you live in a part of the country with
more sun than New York-and that's just
about anywhere, except for the Northeast
and Northwest-you would think that pro-
portionately more of your hot water could
be heated by the sun. But that's true to a
partial extent, because the systems sold in
really sunny places-like Tucson and
Miami-are typically smaller arid cheaper
than the ones we tested. They're designed
to provide only 55 to 70 percent of the hot
water you require. That way, their poten-
tial is rarely wasted on the sunniest days by
rising to more than 100 percent of your
needs.
INSTALLATION AND BEYOND. All the models
we tested arrived with the tricky parts of
the plumbing and the controls preassem-
bled. The State system is the most inter-
grated. Virtually all its plumbing (except,
of course, the long lengths of pipe) came
already mounted on the storage tank. The
Grumman has a "solar module" that con-
tains almost all its plumbing and controls.
The other systems required only a few pipe
connections to be made.
This trend toward prefabrication is an
important step forward for the solar-
water-heating industry. Besides assuring
better quality in the manufacture of com-
ponents, factory-assembled systems can
cut installation time-and cost-considera-
bly. They can also help to reduce the mis-
Te:x:t continued page 128
 Ratings of solar water heaters
Listed in order of increasing cost
of operation, based on perform-
ance in winter 1982. In CU's
judgment, performance differ-
ences will diminish in year-round
usage, but relative rankings will
not change. All systems have
collectors. tank with backup * indicates price is approxi-
heater, necessary mounting mate.
hardware, pump, and electronic
controllers. Prices are total retail
• e o
for all components and are ex-
clusive of installation costs,
which can be $1000 or more; ......
~
·-•
Collecton

~
Brend Md model

REVERE SOLAR SYSTEM 7954313 $3500* €) CL 3 35x93 66 80 1 A,C,E

SOLAR PROCESSES 1121-3-120 2640 e CL 3 35x77 55 120 1 A,C,F,H
SUNWORKS 1000- 2482 0 CL 3 36x84 61 80 1 A,C,E
GRUMMAN SUNSTAEAM 2650* 0 CL 2 48x96 62 80 2 A,B.D.E,I
STATE SOLARCRAFT SYSTEM
[i] CL, closed-loop; DB, drain-back.
2400*
• DB 3 38x98 76 80 2 C,G

KEY TO COMMENTS
A - Comes with pressure gauge; useful as
indicator of leaks In collector loop.
B-Comes with fluid-temperature gauge;
useful for troubleshooting system per-
formance.
C- Heat exchanger in tank.
D- Heat exchanger outside tank. G - uses distilled water In collector loop
E- Uses glycol mixture In collector loop to prevent corrosion.
to prevent freeze-ups. H - Comes with insulating blanket for.
F - Uses silicone fluid In collector loop to tank.
prevent freeze-ups. I-System tested has Model 332A col-
lectors and Model CF1llOA heat ex- ~
changer module. !:g
128 SOLAR HEATERS
takes that have characteristically plagued
solar heater installations in the past, even
in the hands of professionals. Even so, the
job is rather too intricate for most do-it-
yourselfers.
The cost of installing the kind of solar
water heater we tested depends on local
labor rates. A fee of $1000 or more is not
unusual. Before you sign a contract, you
should get at least two estimates and thor-
oughly check an installer's qualifications.
And make sure your contract spells out the
cost and terms of servicing.
These systems haven't been around long
enough for CU-or anyone else-to have a
good idea of exactly what maintenance
will be required. Warranties on the sys-
tems we tested vary. Most offer a five-year
warranty on the collector and tank and one
year's coverage on other components. Any
estimate of how long a system will last can
only be a guess. The most common guess
we've heard is 20 years.
PAYBACK? That's an oft-used term in dis-
cussing the economics of solar water heat-
ers because the equipment is so expensive
compared with the cost of conventional
water heaters. Simply put, the payback
period is the length of time it takes to pay
for the equipment with the savings made
by the equipment.
But complications arise in any attempt
to determine payback because there are so
many variables, including some that can't
be calculated. Will energy costs rise so fast
that the investment in a solar water heater
will produce a better return than the
investment of a like amount of money in a
money-market fund? No one can really
say.
The cost of energy for heating water can
1 of 10 or more, depending
vary by a factor
on your location and whether your water
heater runs on electricity or gas. Presently,
natural gas is too cheap for a solar water
heater to make much of a savings over a
gas-fired water heater.
Energy prices aren't the only variable to
consider, of course. In figuring out how
much a solar water heater can save, you
also need to weigh the use of solar energy
against other forms of energy conserva-
tion. By reducing the amount of hot water
you use or how much it's heated, you can
save on your water-heating bills, and you
can accomplish the saving with little or no
expense. (A worksheet and charts in the
May 1982 issue of CONSUMER REPORTS can
help you estimate the extent of that and
other savings.) A further variable is the
amount of sun in your area; the more sun,
the greater fraction of your family's hot-
water needs a solar heater can provide.
Another possibility to consider is a dif-
ferent kind of water heater entirely, a heat
pump. The models we've tested-see page
130-can save nearly as much energy as a
solar system, and they cost less to buy and
install.
After calculating all the variables and
imponderables, it's possible to project a
yearly saving of $250 to $350 in favor of a
solar water heater over a tolerably effi-
cient electric heater. But a more reason-
able estimate would be something like
$200 a year. To obtain that saving, you'd
have to spend upward of $2000, plus an
additional $1000 or so for installation. The
payback period of a system so costly
would be very near the hoped-for life of
the equipment.
Without tax credits, there would be lit-
tle financial reason for installing a solar
water heater. The Federal tax credit is cur-
rently 40 percent of the cost of an active
solar installation, up to $10,000. That
works out to a saving of $1200 for a $3000
solar water heater. With an effective cost
of $1800, the solar alternative becomes
more attractive.
About half the states add a tax credit or
other incentive onto the Federal subsidy.
(In Arizona, the most generous state, a
$3000 heater would cost you only $800.)
About half the states (not necessarily the
same ones that provide tax credits) also

exempt a solar installation from raising the
valuation of yom house for property taxes.
For specific information about tax cred-
its and other benefits in your state, you can
call the Conservation and Renewable En-
ergy Inquiry and Referral Service, a Feder-
WA TER HEATERS 129
ally funded clearing house for information
on conservation and alternative energy
sources. Its toll-free number is 800-523-
2929, except in Pennsylvania (800-462-
4983) and Alaska and Hawaii (800-523-
4700).

Water heaters
Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1981 and May 1982
The conventional water heater needs no for hot water until you're ready to replace
introduction. Whether it runs on natural an old water heater. Below, we report on
gas or electricty, its nothing more than an insulation kits-a boon for older models
insulated tank with a heater-either a gas that may not be as well insulated as those
burner or electric heating elements. We on the market today. On the next page, we
tested gas-fired and electric water beaters also discuss the heat-pump water heater, a
that are more energy-efficient than many new type that extracts heat from outside
older heaters still in use. But you're not air and costs far less to run than a conven-
necessarily stuck with high energy costs tional electric model.
Conventional water heaters
We bought and tested the most popular e1ectric models to heat up a new tankful.
sizes, 40 gallons for the gas models and 50 FEATURES. Normally, some hot water will
or 52 gallons for the electrics. Approxi- rise into the pipes even if you're not run-
mate prices range from $200 to $424 for ning any water. Such circulation hims the
gas models, $220 to $382 for electrics. first few feet of water pipes into a radiator,
COST OF OPERATION was the most impor- giving off heat from the water. To reduce
tant Ratings factor. Electric water heaters the unwanted circulation, some models
carry significantly higher operating costs. come with one or two heat traps, typically
But differences in operating costs among a loop of tubing that's mounted between
the electrics or among the gas models were the water heater and the pipes. If the water
slight. heater you buy isn't equipped with heat
The operating costs in the Ratings can traps, you should add a pair; they can
give you a good idea of the relative effi- mean a worthwhile saving.
ciency of the various models we tested, but To increase the tank's life and to help
don't expect our calculated costs to match maintain operating efficiency, you should
precisely those you'd pay. The assump- drain off some hot water periodically (us-
tions we used are noted in the Ratings. ing the drain valve supplied) to keep sedi-
CAPACITY. The "stored hot water" column ment from accumulating at the bottom.
in the Ratings gives the volume we ob- CHOICE. If you already have natural gas
tained from each model before the outlet supplied to your home, and unless you pay
water temperature dropped 20°F. Since an exceptionally low rate for electricity, a
the electric models have a larger tank, they gas-fired water heater is almost certain to
can hold more hot water than the gas mod- cost less to run than an electric model.
els. But when you do run out of water, Cost aside, the electric models reheat wa-
you'll have to wait much longer for the ter more slowly if you drain the tank. This
130 WATERHEATERS
could be an important consideration if
your family uses a lot of water. Our model
of choice is the Sears-it's the cheapest to
run and one of the cheapest to buy. But if
you don't have a natural-gas supply, you
Electrlc heat pumps
A heat pump can deliver more energy, in
the form of heat, than it consumes in elec-
tricity. Instead of converting electricity
directly into heat, a heat pump extracts
heat from the air and transfers it to the
water. We tested two models of different
types. One, the E-Tech BJOl, is designed to
be connected to an existing water heater.
The other, the Temcor RE82.5A03M,
comes complete with its own water-stor-
age tank.
Given the relatively high cost of elec-
tricity, a heat pump makes the best eco-
nomic sense as a supplement to or replace-
ment for an electric hot-water heater. Both
of the tested models offer substantial sav-
ings in operating costs over conventional
electric heating. But you have to save a lot
year after year to make up for the initial
cost of each unit. The E-Tech i!: priced at
$749 plus shipping and installation; the
Temcnr, at $1100 plus installation.
Once installed, a heat pump should take
over most of the water-heating chores. The
E-Tech has a sensor that shuts off the heat
pump when the air temperature around it
drops below 45°F. At that point, an
optional relay turns on the heating ele-
ments of the existing hot-water tank. Simi-
larly, the Temcor has a switch that auto-
matically turns on the conventional heat-
ing elements in its own tank when the
ambient temperature gets below 45°. The
more often the conventional electric ele-
ments are called on, the lower your saving
from the heat pump.
don't have to resort to a conventional elec-
tric water heater. A heat pump water heat-
er, described below, can produce substan-
tially lower operating costs.
Ratings on page 132
Unlike conventional water heaters, the
E-Tech heat pump runs on 120 volts, 20
amps. The Temcor runs on 240 volts, 20
amps.
OPERATING COSTS, CAPACITY. Our tests
showed that, at the average national elec-
tricity rate, the E-Tech would cost about
$157 a year to run if connected to a 50-
gallon tank. That's half the operating cost
of the most economical conventional elec-
tric water heater we've tested. The Temcor
would cost about $174, but that's with its
own 82-gallon tank. (The E-Tech would
probably cost about the same if hooked up
to an 82-gallon tank.)
Both heat pumps are slow to heat water.
The Temcnr' s large tank will help ease this
problem; we found that 66 gallons of hot
water could be used before the water tem-
perature in the tank dropped significantly.
From then on, however, the Temcor would
take a long time to replenish the hot water
supply. With just the heat pump in opera-
tion, it could heat only 11 gallons per
hour; the E-Tech, 16 gallons.
CHOICE. Overall, assuming that your pre-
sent electric water heater is sound, the
E-Tech looks like the better choice of the
two tested heat pumps. It heats water fast-
er, it's cheaper to buy, and its warranty
covers parts and labor; the Temcnr's war-
ranty covers only parts. The fact that the
Temcnr is a complete unit isn't much of an
advantage unless your house lacks the
floor space for a bulky appliance next to
the water heater.
Ratings on page 132

lnsulatlng kits
By adding insulation to the tank of your
water heater, you can reduce the amount
of heat lost through its walls, thereby
reducing the amount of energy required to
maintain the water at a set temperature.
The typical insulating kit consists of a
fiberglass blanket, about 11/, inches thick,
that's wrapped around the heater and
secured with tape. One kit we tested is a
sheet of flexible plastic foam, %-inch thick,
that's secured with straps and tape. Some
kits also have an insulating lid, or top
plate, to cover the top of an electric water
heater. (The top of a gas-fired model
should not be insulated; the insulation
would interfere with the flue and create a
safety hazard.)
We installed the kits on conventional
water heaters. The fiberglass kits reduced
storage costs for the gas water heater by
about one-sixth, for a saving of up to about
$6 a year at a gas rate of 54.8¢ per therm.
On the electric water heater, the Thermo
Saver was the best because unlike the oth-
er fiberglass models we tested, it has a two-
inch-thick top plate. It reduced storage
WATER HEATERS 131
costs by about one-third, or up to $17 a
year at an electricity rate of 6. 75¢ per kilo-
watt-hour. The Con Serve CHW20'2 and
the RSA Wrappitup kits cut storage costs
by about $11 a year. (We did not test the
Con Serve CHW201, which has two-inch
insulation and a two-inch top and should
yield a greater saving.) The Pioneer kit,
with its thin foam insulation, would reduce
annual operating costs only by about $5
for an electric heater and by about $3 for a
gas model.
Any of these kits would produce a great-
er saving if installed on an older water
heater that has less of its own insulation
than newer models do. You'd also see a
greater saving if your water heater is in a
cold room or if you have its thermostat set
higher than 140°.
When installing one of these kits, be
sure to keep insulation away from the
heater's controls and wiring. When han-
dling fiberglass, you should wear a dust
mask, gloves, and a Jong-sleeved shirt, and
wash your clothes separately so the fibers
aren't transferred to other laundry.

What CU's Ratings mean

Products are rated, for the most part, in order of estimated overall
quality, without regard to price.
Models are check-rated (9) when the test samples prove to be of
high overall quality and significantly superior to those of other mod-
els tested.
Best Buy Ratings are accorded to models which are not only rated
high but also priced relatively low, and should give more quality per
dollar than other Acceptable models.
A Rating of a given model should not be considered a Rating of
other models sold under the same brand name unless so noted.
132 WATER HEATERS
Ratings of water heaters and heat pumps
Listed by types; within types, listed
in order of increasing annual cost of
operation. Where operating costs
available; * indicates price is ap-
proximate; + indicates shipping is
extra. [QJ indicates model is not

.
are identical, listed alphabetically. listed in current catalog.
Dimensions are in order of height
Very
and diameter, except as noted, and Excellent good Good Fair Poor
do not include clearance around
heater. Discounts are generally E& e o ~

Gas water heaters

SEARS KEN-
MORE Cat. No. 40,000 Btu/hr. $132 49 33 0
33544
RHEEMGLAS
21V407 34.000 135 44 30 ~

RHEEMGLAS
21X407 334 56x17% 34.000 135 44 30 ~
RUUDGLAS
M407
334 56x173!. 34,000 135 44 30 ~
RUUDGLAS
P407 34,000 135 44 30 ~

WARDS Cat. No.

33713 245+ 58x18 1'2 40,000 138 53 29 ~

A.O. SMITH
FSG40-870
32,500 140 44 29 ~
A. O. SMITH
PGC40-850A 383 53 1/•x20 1/• 32,500 140 39 32 ~

MORFLO ESG41 200• 59x18 33,000 149 37 32 ~

STATE
SRV40NRT2
333 59 1'2x 18 52.500 151 61 33 Q D

OJ Costs based on the following: hot-water
temperature setting of 140 °F; cold-water
temperature of 70 °; air temperature of 70 °;
daily hot-water consumption of 64.3 gal.;
energy costs of 54.8¢ per therm for gas,
6. 75¢ per kwh for electricity; use of heat
traps in hot- and cold-water lines.
[gJ Storage capacity allows for 20 ° drop in
hot-water temperature while drawing 5 gal.
per min.
rn Height x width x depth.
ill Without tank 's resistive heaters (see
story) .
[fil Amount of extra stored hot water.
 WATER HEATERS 133

STATE
SRX40NRT2
$424 59 1/2x18 52,500 Btu/hr. 151 61 33 Q D,H

JACKSON
GE04010
200• 58x18 35.ooo 151 43 30 e
Electric water heaters
A. O. SMITH
PEC52K-890
373 55x21 3/• 4500 watts 319 21 40 e
A. O. SMITH
277 54%x20 1/2 4500 319 27 38 ~
EES52D-890
STATE
SSV521RT1
327 59 1/4x20 5500 319 32 42 Q A

STATE
SSX521RT1
382 59>120 5500 319 32 42 Q A.H
@ WARDS
Cat. No. 35724
240+ 59x20 1/4 3800 319 22 40 e a
SEARS
KENMORE Cat. 235+ 59x20 5500 322 30 41 Q F
No. 32554
BRADFORD-
WHITE 210• 46x22 4500 watts 324 27 35 8 C,E
Ml150S5D
MORFLO 220• 49 1'2x21 4500 330 26 37 ~
EFR52D
MOR FLO
MEFR52D
250• 49 1/2x21 4500 330 26 37 8 G,H

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES Ratings continued next page

All conventional models: are glass-lined.
Except as noted, all conventional models
have: provision for pressure/temperature re-
lief valve that must be purchased separately;
1 anode to reduce corrosion.
All conventional gas water heaters: have rated
capacity of 40 gal.; have water-temperature
control judged convenient to adjust; have
pilot judged difficult to light.
Except as noted, all conventional gas water
heaters: require 3-in. flue pipe.
All conventional electric water heaters: run on
240-volt ac; have rated capacity of 50 or 52
gal.; have controls that are difficult to adjust.
Except as noted, all conventional electric
wa ter heaters have: 2 water-temperature con-
trols and 2 heating elements.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A - Has only 1 water-temperature control and
1 heating element.
8-Comes with 1 heat trap (see story).
C- Comes with 2 heat traps (see story) .
0-Requires 4-in., rather than 3-in., flue
pipe.
E- Comes with pressure-temperature relief
valve.
F- Can be wired for off-peak metering,
where available from power company.
G- Requires screwdriver to open drain.
H- Has 2 anodes for increased protection
against corrosion.
134 WATER HEATERS, REPLACEMENT BURNERS

~
BRADFORD-
WHITE MISOSSD $270* 46x22 4500 watts 333 27 36 ~
JACKSON
EM052210 290* 48 1'2x24 4500 340 28 37 e
Electric heat pump•
E-TECH 8101 749+ 25x18 1'2x10 1t 2 rn 12,000 Btu/hr. 157 16 400-
TEMCOR 1 7000 172 11 ill 66 B,E
1100 64 '2x25
REl25A03M

High-efficiency replacement burners

for your oll furnace
Condensed from Consumer Reports. February and October 1981
A conventional oil burner draws in a rela- average price of $1.23 per gallon, a new
tively large amount of air, so that the fuel- burner could bring a saving of $16 to $20
rich parts of the flame bum completely for every $100 spent on oil. Combining a
and don't produce an excessive level of high-efficiency burner with a flue damper
smoke. High-efficiency burners, often would produce an even greater saving.
called "flame-retention" burners, mix oil Until recently, conversion of an oil-fired
and air more completely than convention- furnace to gas operation entailed a trade-
al burners, so a flame-retention model can off: lower fuel prices for lower efficiency.
draw in less air and produce a smaller, Gas-burning equipment commonly availa-
more compact flame. Compared with a ble couldn't match oil burners for the heat
conventional burner, a flame-retention delivered for the number of Btu of fuel
model delivers more heat to the house and, consumed.
like a flue damper, reduces the amount of In the past year or so, though, a number
heat that escapes up the chimney. of high-efficiency gas burners have been
In our tests, the Aero FAFC and the introduced which come close to matching
Sloan lntcrbumcr Mark I gave our furnace the performance of their oil-fired counter-
a combustion efficiency of more than 85 parts. We tested several high-efficiency
percent. Thii other four models turned in gas burners that can be used with an exist-
combustion efficiencies of 80 to 83 per- ing oil furnace or boiler (and a couple of
cent. On a typical oil-heating system with lower-efficiency conversion burners).
a combustion efficiency of 65 to 70 per- A conventional gas burner (known as an
cent, and assuming the estimated national "atmospheric" burner) takes in much more

air than it really needs in order to insure
that the fuel burns completely, without
giving off too much carbon monoxide. But
the excess air also means that much of the
heat produced by the burner goes up the
chimney rather than into the house. The
newer, more efficient gas burners (usually
called "power" burners) use less air and
therefore deliver more of their heat to the
house in much the same manner as do
flame-retention oil burners. Reducing the
excess air also means that a power burner
can be "derated" effectively. That is, the
burner can be adjusted so that it mns for
longer periods but uses less gas whenever
it's on. Some power burners also eliminate
the standing pilot light.
We looked at eight power burners,
including one (the ABC/Sunray GC-210)
that can burn either oil or gas. For compar-
ison, we also looked at some atmospheric
gas burners that are sold as replacements
for an existing oil burner. In our tests, the
power burners had combustion efficiencies
ranging from about 79 to 83 percent-
about the same as the high-efficiency oil
REPLACEMENT BURNERS 135
burners we tested. The atmospheric burn-
ers ran at about 74 percent efficiency;
that's typical of most conventional gas-
fired equipment.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Before making a deci-
sion about converting from oil to gas heat,
tighten up your house and make sure your
heating system is performing at its peak.
The February 1981 issue of CONSUMER
REPORTS outlines the steps you should take
to have the system upgraded. If you need
to install a new burner, the choice between
a high-efficiency gas burner and a replace-
ment oil burner depends on installed cost
and the prices of gas and oil in your area. A
new oil burner would cost about $400,
installed. If you don't already have a gas
line into your house, a gas burner would
cost $800 or more, including an adequate
gas supply. And as the difference in price
between oil and gas decreases, it will take
longer for the cost of conversion to be
made up in lower fuel bills. If you do
choose a gas burner, it should be installed
only by an experienced professional for
safety's sake.

Ratings of high-efficiency replacement

burners
011 burners. Listed in order of combustion efficiency, as measured on
CU 's test furnace. All are judged to be adaptable to most existing fur-
naces. Installation should be performed only by an experienced techni-
cian. Prices are approximate and include controls; installation is extra.
AERO FAFC (Aero Environmental Ltd., 37 Hanna Ave., Toronto, Ont. M6K 1X2), $300. Combus-
tion efficiency, 86 percent.
SLOAN INTERBURNER MARK I (Sloan Valve Co., 10500 Seymour Ave., Franklin Park, Ill.
60131), $300. Combustion efficiency, 86 percent.
BECKETT AF (R.W. Beckett Corp., 38251 Center Ridge Rd., Elyria, Ohio 44036), $250. Com-
bustion efficiency, 83 percent.
CARLIN 100CRD (Carlin Co., 912 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, Conn. 06109), $285. Com-
bustion efficiency, a 1 percent.
WAYNE MSR (Wayne Home Equipment Div., Scott & Fetzer Co., 801 Glasgow Ave., Fort
Wayne, Ind. 46803), $300. Combustion efficiency, 81 percent.
ABC-SUNRAY FCF-234 (ABC Sunray Corp., 45 S. Service Rd ., Plainview, N.Y. 11803), $320.
Combustion efficiency, 80 percent.
136 REPLACEMENT BURNERS, THERMOSTATS
Gas burners. Listed by types in order of combustion efficiency, as
measured on CU's test boiler. (Atmospheric burners included only for
comparison purposes.) Differences within types were judged slight. Effi-
ciencies when used with other heating systems may differ. Firing rates are
minimum and maximum in thousand Btu for specific models tested; other
models are usually available. Except as noted, all have a standing pilot
light. Prices are approximate and include controls; installation is extra.

Power burners
BECKETT G2SC (R.W. Beckett Corp., 38251 Center Ridge Rd ., Elyria, Ohio 44036), $385.
Combustion efficiency, 83 percent. Firing rate, 70/255.
TASC SWIRL II SB-201 (Technology Application Service Corp., Umstead Industrial Park, Ral-
eigh, N.C. 27612), $300. Combustion efficiency, 83 percent. Firing rate, 80/200. Electronic
ignition; no standing pilot light.
ADAMS SPEEDFLAME HP 2258 (Adams Manufacturing Co., 9790 Midwest Ave., Cleveland
44125), $350. Combustion efficiency, 82 percent. Firing rate, 50/225.
ABC~UNRAY GC-210 (ABC Sunray Corp., 45 S. Service Rd., Plainview, N.Y. 11803), $893.
Combustion efficiency, 82 percent. Firing rate, 100/240. Electronic Ignition; no standing pilot
light. Also works as oil burner (not tested).
MIDCO ECONOMITE DS22 (MIDCO international Inc., 2717 North Greenview Ave., Chicago
60614), $355. Combustion efficiency, 81 percent. Firing rate, 50/225. Electronlc ignition; no
standing pilot light.
ROBERTS-GORDON SP-250A (Roberts-Gordon Appliance Corp., 44 Central Ave., Buffalo
14240), $325. Combustion efficiency, 81 percent. Firing rate, 70/250.
WAYNE P250 AF (Wayne Home Equipment Div., Scott & Fetzer Co., 801 Glasgow Ave., Fort
Wayne, Ind. 46803), $325. Combustion efficiency, 81 percent. Firing rate, 50/250.
AERO PGB-220 (Aero Environmental Ltd ., 37 Hanna Ave., Toronto, Ont. M6K 1X2), $298.
Combustion efficiency, 79 percent. Firing rate, 65/220. Electronic Ignition; no standing pilot
light.

Atmospheric burners
WAYNE AU250 (Wayne Home Equipment, Div. Scott and Fetzer), $225. Combustion efficiency,
74 percent. Firing rate, 75/250.
HOTFLAME CONVERTO BURNER SGI 225 (Silvan industries inc., Carney, Mich. 49812), $240.
Combustion efficiency, 73 percent. Firing rate, 50/225.

Energy.saving thermostats
Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1981
Turning down the thermostat at night or setback-the difference between high and
when the house is empty is one of the easi- low settings-and the longer its duration,
est ways to save energy. The greater the , the more you stand to save. For $25 to $95
 ENERGY-SAVING THERMOSTATS 137
or so, you can buy the convenience of a
thermostat that switches from a normal to
a setback temperature and back again at
preset times. The five thermostats we
tested are a representative sample of the
electro-mechanical models available.
All are "two-wire" models-they require
only two electrical connections to replace
an existing thermostat. Any reasonably
handy person should be able to install such
a unit.
The clock-timer models have a timer
dial with movable pins that switch the unit
between normal and setback temperatures.
By moving the pins, you control the dura-
tion of the setback periods. You then set
the desired normal and setback tempera-
tl.ires. Once set, the thermostat works auto-
matically.
The mechanical-timer models have to
be wound, like a kitchen timer, to start
each setback period and determine its
duration. Mechanical-timer models are
best suited, we think, for households that
don't keep to a regular schedule.
Any of the tested thermostats would
help you save energy. The Honeywell
clock-timer model was the most conve-
nient; the PSG wind-up mechanical mod-
el, the cheapest.

Ratings of energy-saving thermostats

Listed by types; within types, listed in order of estimated overall quality. All
operate on 24 volts ac and control heating system only. Except as noted,
all must be carefully leveled when installed. Discounts may be available. @.l
indicates model was discontinued at original publication.

Clock-timer
HONEYWELL T8082A, $73. Specifications: Setback periods (up to 3 per day), 1 hr. to 23 hr.
Controls temperatures from 42° to 88°. Normal and setback temperatures set directly. Button
can override clock In middle of cycle; change cancels automatically on next cycle. 12-hr. clock
face. Also available as Wards Cat. No. 69211, $75 plus shipping. Comments: Most convenient
model tested. Clock is easy to read, setback periods are easy to set or change. Clock's battery
is of a special design; the replacement, available only from Honeywell, was judged inconvenient
to install. CU has received some complaints that the clock on earlier versions is unreliable. Be
sure to buy the latest version-the one without a second hand.
WHITE-RODGERS AUTOMATIC SETBACK COMFORT-SET IF72-20, approx. $80. Specifica-
tions: Setback periods (up to 2 per day), 2 hr. to 22 hr. Controls temperatures from 45° to 85 °.
Normal and setback temperatures set directly. Lever can override clock In middle of cycle;
change cancels automatically on next cycle. 24-hr. clock face. Comments: Clock face judged
hard to read, setback periods difficult to set. Setback pins have a small bump that fits into a
notch on timer dial. We needed several tries to get the bump in the notch we wanted . Clock's
Ratings continued next page

For the full story

The date of the original article in CONSUMER REPORTS appears at the
head of each Ratings list. In the absence of Ratings, this date usually
appears in the text. For a more complete report, consult the original
version. (For back issues, see page 5.)
138 CAULKING COMPOUNDS
battery may not be readily available except from White-Rodgers. Earlier Version of the IF72-20,
without override lever, may still be available. Sears Kenmore Cat. No. 9141, $60 plus shipping,
is essentially similar except has a clock that's easier to read .
ROBERTSHAW AUTOMATIC SETBACK THERMOSTAT T30-1041, approx. $95. Specifica-
tions: Setback periods (1 or 2 per day), 2 hr. to 22'1, hr. Controls normal temperatures from 50 °
to 90 °. Setback temperature, set Indirectly, Is 0 to 10 degrees below normal setting. 24-hr.
clock face. Comments: Has a timer dial judged difficult to program for the desired setback
periods. Clock ticks audibly, which might be annoying. Uses readily available battery. Leveling
not as critical as with other brands.

Mechanical
[ID HONEYWELL SEMIAUTOMATIC CHRONOTHERM T8084A, approx. $50. Specifications:
Setback periods, 2 hr. to 11'/, hr. Controls temperatures between 54 ° and 86 °. Comments:
Must be wound, like a kitchen timer, to start setback periods. Timer ticks audibly, which may be
annoying .
PSG DIAL-A-SETBACK, approx. $25. Specifications: Setback periods, •;, hr. to 12 hr. Unit Is
used with present thermostat, which controls normal temperature. Setback Is controlled with
preset temperature sensor; model number of unit Indicates setback temperature. Additional
sensors are approx. $8 each . Comments: Must be wound to start setback periods. Use of
preset temperature sensor was not judged a disadvantage; homeowners tend to choose one
setback temperature and stay with it. Timer ticks audibly, which may be annoying . Leveling not
as critical as with other brands.

Exterior caulking compounds

Conde nsed from Consumer Reports, October 1981
Caulking, like weather stripping, helps disposed to crack. They're medium-priced,
save energy by reducing the amount of air from about $2 to $3 a cartridge.
that leaks in and out of a house. Caulking Silicones, butyls, and other synthetics
also helps preserve the house struchrre by characteristically cure to a springy tough-
keeping water out of cracks and joints. The ness. They should perform particularly
caulking compounds we tested are of vari- well around door and window frames or
ous types. All come in cartridges that fit a other joints subject to mild jars and shocks.
standard caulking gun. Most silicone caulks don't take paint well.
TYPES. Oil-based compounds tend to be Synthetics tend to be expensive-especial-
sticky and sometimes messy to apply. ly silicones, which nm $5 and up per car-
They dry slowly and remain relatively soft. tridge.
Soft texture can be a plus in a caulk, as RECOMMENDATIONS. Many of the caulks
long as the material holds together. And oil were rated excellent in resistance to weath-
caulks are, cheap; we paid on average ering. The top five were also judged excel-
about $1.15 a cartridge. lent in ease of application. So was the Dow
Acrylic-latex caulks are soluble in water Com ing Pointablc, but it would sag notice-
until dry, so drips and smears are easy to ably if it were applied in hot weather or
clean. They usually dry quickly and hard, direct sunlight. The other products that
which is all right as long as they're not weathered best weren't quite as easy to

apply, but with most of them, the differ-
ence may hardly be significant.
A product judged very good in weather
resistance would be a decent choice if you
CAULKING, INSULATION 139
needed a particular color to match paint,
or if you couldn't find any of the higher-
rated caulks. Most of them had moderate
adhesion problems.

Ratings of exterior caulking compounds

Listed in order of estimated overall quality, based mainly on resistance to
weathering. Differences in overall quality between closely ranked products
were judged slight.
The following were judged excellent in weather resistance.
DOW CORNING (silicone). M-D SILICONE. HB FULLER CAULK-IN-COLORS (acrylic latex).
DAAWOATH SEAMSEAL CONTRACTORS' (acrylic latex). TAU-TEST SUPREME (acrylic
latex). UGL ACRYLIC. STAY-TITE No. 88 (oil). RED DEVIL (acrylic latex). WARDS ACRYLIC.
MACCO SUPER (acrylic latex). CONTECH (acrylic latex). M-D SPEED LOAD (oli). UGL ELAS-
TIC (oil). SEARS POLYURETHANE. GEOCEL WATER SEAL 100 (elastomerlc copolymer). WIL-
HOLD (acrylic latex). DOW CORNING PAINTABLE (silicone).
The following were judged very good In weather resistance.
UGL AC-88 (acrylic copolymer). DAP BUTYL-FLEX. M-D ACRYLIC. GE SILICONE. SEARS
HIGH PERFORMANCE (acrylic latex). WELDWOOD (acrylic latex).
The following were judged good In weather resistance.
G-H ETEANAFLEX (acrylic latex). SHERWIN-WILLIAMS (acrylic latex). SEARS STAINABLE
WOOD TEXTURE (type unspecified). RED DEVIL LIFETIME (acrylic copolymer). OAP FLEXl-
SEAL CW100 (rubber-based). STAY-TITE 20 YEAR (acrylic latex). RELY-ON (oil). GOODYEAR
PLIO-SEAM (elastomerlc rubber).
The following were judged fair In weather resistance.
DAAWOATH POLYSEAMSEAL ALL PURPOSE (latex). G-H DAAFTITE (oil).
The following were judged poor in weather resistance.
OAP ACRYLIC. GE WINDOW & DOOR (silicone). G-H BUTYLOID. CONTECH EASY CAULK
(oil).

Insulation
Condensed from Consumer Reports. February 1978
All homes should be adequately insulated "R-value"; the higher the R-value a given
to help reduce fuel wastage. Nearly any material has, the better it is as an insulator.
insulating material will slow the flow of And R-values are additive, so that two
heat, but some materials do a better job fiberglass baits, each rated R-19, together
than others. The measure of a material's yield R-38. The siding, roofing, and floor-
ability to retard heat flow is known as the ing in a house also have R-values of their
140 INSULATION
own, albeit small ones. An uninsulated
attic isn't R-0; it's normally anywhere from
R-2 to R-4. For a detailed discussion of
how much insulation is enough and how to
protect yourself when dealing with a
home-improvement contractor, sec CON·
SUMER REPORTS, Febmary 1978. The work-
sheet in the October 1981 issue of CONSUM-
ER REPORTS can help you determine the
savings to be achieved by insulating your
house in various ways.
WHERE TO INSULATE. Every building sur-
face that separates the living area from the
outside can lose heat. However, you don't
have to insulate the entire house at once.
Start with an un6nished attic and crawl
spaces. Then insulate the walls and ceiling
between an unheated garage and your liv-
ing area. Then insulate the ceiling in an
unfinished, unheated basement. Finally, in-
sulate exterior walls, including finished
attic and basement.
TYPES OF INSULATION available are detailed
below, as well as the R-value per inch for
each, and where each type can best be
used. You can install some types yourself;
others must be handled by a contractor.
Batts and blankets (fiberglass or mineral
wool; R-3.1 per inch): Suitable for use in
unfinished areas. Made in standard thick-
nesses (generally yielding total R-values of
11, 13, 19, and 22), and in widths meant to
fit between wall studs and floor joists.
Available with or without vapor barrier.
Presents very remote fire hazard.
Loose-fill (cellulose, R-3. 7; mineral
wool, R-3.l; perlite, R-2.6; fiberglass, R-
2.3; and vermiculite, R-2.1): Suitable for
use in both finished and unfinished areas.
Can be poured into place between exposed
floor joists or blown into finished wall or
floor cavities. Any loose-fill material may
settle in time, thus lowering its R-value.
Except for cellulose (which has been
blamed for many fires), the risk of fire from
loose-fill insulation is remote.
Plastic foam hoards (urethane, R-5.9;
polystyrene, R-4.5; and headboard, R-3.6):
Suitable for use as exterior sheathing or to
cover finished walls. To insulate finished
walls, panels of material are attached to an
existing wall, then covered with a vapor
barrier and, for fire protection, gypsum
board at least 1/2-inch thick. Plastic boards
don't shrink or settle, hut they are combus-
tible. They must be covered with a fire-
retardant material as specified by your
local building code.
PROPER INSTALLATION. It's important to in-
clude a vapor barrier (a sheet of foil, plas-
tic, or treated paper) facing the inside of a
house to prevent moisture condensation,
which could soak insulation, lowering its
R-value. Moisture might also cause studs,
joists, and sheathing to rot, and exterior
paint to blister. If you are insulating fin-
ished walls, apply two coats of oil-based or
aluminum paint or a coat of Gliddcn's
lnwl-Aid paint (see CONSUMER REPORTS,
Febmary 1980) to the inside walls for
some protection against condensation.
Don't block vents in eaves or crawl spaces
with insulation-they're important for
temperature and moisture control. Keep
insulation away from the top and sides of
recessed lighting fixtures and other heat
sources. (If you're going to use loose-fill,
you'll have to install a shield of some sort
to keep the material in place.) Wear
gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and long trou-
sers, a dust mask, and goggles to keep dust
or stray mineral wool fibers away from
your skin, lungs, and eyes.
The R-values given above are those gen-
erally accepted hy both government and
industry. You would be wiser not to deal
with contractors or suppliers who claim
markedly higher R-values for those materi-
als.
Check the label of loose-fill insulation;
it should give the number of square feet a
bag will cover, the thickness of material
for that area, and the resulting R-values.
Follow that thickness level carefully. If the
label doesn't provide that information,
don't buy the product.

RECOMMENDATIONS. Prices vary widely
from one area of the country to another. If
you're planning to install insulation your-
self, shop for the best price. Otherwise,
WEATHER STRIPPING 141
shop for the best contractor, even if that
means paying extra, in order to improve
your chances of getting insulation installed
safely and properly.

Weather stripping
Condensed from Consumer Reports , October 1981
Weather stripping won't compensate forthey aren't subject to friction or abrasion.
Nonreinforced felt strips, made of poly-
big gaps where a window sash fits into the
ester or wool, can be used in ways similar
frame. Such a window should be fixed or
to foam strips, but they're not self-adhe-
replaced. And weather stripping doesn't
eliminate the need for storm windows. But
sive. They're cheap, so they may be the
weather stripping will help significantly to
right choice if you have to seal great
lessen the loss of heat due to air leakage.
lengths and appearance is secondary. But
Double-hung windows should have weath-
because felt tends to hold moisture, you
probably should use it only where it will
er stripping around the entire frame and
be able to dry out.
where the two sashes meet; doors and case-
ment windows, around the frame and atREINFORCED STRIPS. Some of these are felt,
the bottom. vinyl,' or foam, with reinforcing of a fairly
stiff aluminum or plastic. Some of the
Many weather-stripping products come
in long rolls, designed to be cut to fit. Most
foam types come in straight lengths rather
can be used on both doors and windows,
than rolls, and have a wood backing. Other
and all allow normal operation. We found
reinforced strips are tubular gaskets, often
made of vinyl or of EPDM rubber.
only minor differences in quality among
brands of a single type. Reinforced weather stripping is usually
NONREINFORCED STRIPS. These are the least
quite visible. It's butted up against closed
windows or doors, inside or out, and sta-
durable weather stripping we tested. Self-
adhesive foam strips, the most common pled, nailed, or glued to the frame. Tf the
type, are usually inexpensive. Some are
window is one you want to open, rein-
polyurethane ("open cell") foams-soft,forced vinyl or felt make an especially use-
lightweight, and not very durable. Some
ful seal because they can be fastened firm-
are vinyl ("closed cell") foams, somewhat
ly to the window frame. Most types of
more dense and firm. Some are black reinforced weather stripping will last sev-
sponge mbber, which is denser than vinyl
eral years.
TENSION STRIPS. These are thin, flexible
and available in a greater selection of
products that bend or fold in place to form
thicknesses. A newer foam, of EPDM mb-
a tension seal. Most are metal, generally
ber, has a firm, nonporous surface that's
sometimes ribbed. EPDM mbber is more packaged with nails for installation. A
expensive than the other foams. newer type is of self-adhesive plastic. If
The self-adhesive foams are quick and
invisibility is important, tension strips are
easy to use, but they don't always stick.
usually your best bet. They fit into the side
The foams are best used where they are
channels of a window and at the tops and
bottoms of both sashes, where they're
held in place by compression, and where
142 STORM WINDOWS
completely hidden when the window is
shut. They're equally unobtmsive when
they're fitted into door jambs. Tension
strips are the only weather stripping that
can successfully close the gap where the
sashes of double-hung windows meet.
However, they can't fill irregular gaps as
the compressible foams and gaskets can.
Of the three brands of folding plastic ten-
sion strips we tested, JM and Manco
showed good durability; Sears Draft Barri-
er did not.
Two manufacturers, Stanley and W./.
Dennis, make self-adhesive plastic tension
strips that are prefolded. These come in
fixed lengths, and are intended for the
inside right-angle surfaces of door jambs.
DOORS. The gap at the bottom is often the
greatest source of heat loss around a door.
Special kinds of weather stripping are
available for that gap. Door sweeps are
attached to the inside face of an in-swing-
ing door (or to the outside face of an out-
swinging door) with just enough overlap at
the bottom to seal the gap. Most have a
felt, vinyl, or bmsh strip reinforced with
aluminum or wood. For doors that open
over an interfering carpet, there are
sweeps that raise automatically when the
door is opened and lower when it is shut.
Door bottoms attach to the underside of
a door to fill the gap between door and
threshold. Most are vinyl gaskets held in
place by an aluminum or wood channel
that screws onto the door. The L- or U-
shaped type, which fits under the bottom
of the door but can be screwed into its
face, is more visible but far easier to install
than a gasket that requires removing the
door for attachment to the bottom edge.
Thresholds are attached to the sill be-
neath the door, replacing the existing
threshold. Typically, they're aluminum or
wood with a channel containing a rnbber
or vinyl gasket. The gasket can become
worn down if the doorway is in constant
use; however, replacement gaskets are
available for both door bottoms and
thresholds, so you don't have to buy a
whole new unit.

Storm windows
Condensed from Consumer Reports, September 1980
Although just about any storm window can dow that's not in very tight condition.
help save energy and money, details in the Loose prime windows cost you money
way a storm window is built and installed because your furnace must replace the
can make a difference in how much you heat that escapes in the air passing around
can save. the windows.
A storm window, installed over a prime TYPES. Most of the windows we tested were
window-one of those installed when a aluminum " triple-track" models. A triple-
house is built-makes a pocket of air that track storm is permanently installed over
insulates against the loss of heat by con- the outside of a prime window, thus elimi-
duction (the transfer of heat through the nating the bother of putting up screens in
glass itself). A storm window can cut con- the summer and replacing them with storm
duction losses by about half. A well-con- sash in the fall. A triple-track window has
stmcted, tightly installed storm sash also two panes of glass, each of which slides up
reduces air leakage around a prime win- and down in its own track, like the sashes
 STORM WINDOWS 143

Window improvements:
How they compare
This table shows the annual costs of replacing the heat and warm
air lost through a window. Subtracting the cost for an improved
window from the cost of a loose prime window shows the saving
each improvement could bring. (A tight storm window over a
loose prime window, for instance, saves about $13.50 a year in
our example-$24 minus $10.50.) Costs are based on heating
with natural gas (at 55.7 cents per 100 cubic feet), in an area with
5000 degree-days per heating season.
Window + improvements Annual lost-fuel cost
Loose prime window (unimproved) $24.00
Loose prime window + loose storm window 13.50
Loose prime window + tight storm window 10.50
Tight prime window 17.75
Tight prime window + loose storm window 9.50
Tight prime window + tight storm window 9.00

in an ordinary double-hung prime window. various window improvements. (You can

A screen in the third track protects against
insects when the sash is opened for ventila-
tion in the summer.
We also bought a double-track model
with a steel frame, and a triple-track type
with a frame of plastic rather than alumi-
num. All were about the same size (three
feet wide by five feet high). Prices varied
from about $24 to $100 per window.
Since storm windows are assembled
from components by hundreds of small
companies, we did not rate the windows by
brand. Still, we think the windows we
bought in our locale are representative of
the general quality of storm windows
available in other parts of the country. See
CONSUMER REPORTS, September 1980 for a
list of the brands we bought and the prices
we paid.
TESTS. Our tests were designed to compare
the amount of energy you could save with
begin to save energy and money by caulk-
ing and weatherstripping the rrime win-
dows to make them tighter. Installing
storm windows will increase your saving.
The example in the accompanying table
indicates the range of savings possible with
different improvements. As the table
shows, if the prime window is tight, it's not
so important whether the storm window is
loose or tight.
The amount of energy and money you
could save will depend on the number and
size of the windows in your house; whether
you heat your house with oil, gas, or elec-
tricity; and the number of degree-days in
your area. (The degree-day is commonly
used to measure the heat required in cold
weather. ) The October 1981 issue of CON-
SUMER REPORTS has a worksheet that can
help you determine the savings to he
achieved with storm windows and other
144 STORM WINDOWS, WINDOW INSULATORS
types of insulation. The report starting
below covers window insulators that are
installed indoors.
SHOPPING. Shop carefully, rather than take
what a dealer has in stock or buy on the
basis of a come-on price. Inspect the win-
dows closely. The important details to
look for include:
Rigid frame: The pieces of the frame
should be put together securely, so that the
sides don't bow away from the sashes and
the frame doesn't twist. Comer joints
should be neat and solid, with no cracks
where the pieces come together. A rigid
frame helps a storm window resist wind
pressure. So do "anti-how" pins, small
wedges that help keep the sashes tight in
their tracks. If the windows you want don't
have them, you can improvise by wedging
small blocks of wood into each track. A tie
har-a stiffener which connects the sides of
the frame at the middle, where the sashes
meet-helps prevent the sides of the win-
dow from bowing apart.
Weather stripping: This should be all
around the sash to block air leakage,
including the top of the window and the
sill. "Marine" glazing, a bead of plastic or
rubber all around the edge of the glass on
both sides of the pane, makes for a strong-
er, tighter sash.
Tight-fitting sashes: You shouldn't be
able to jiggle a sash up and down when it's
locked in position. And there should be a
sash interlock where the two sashes come
together. To test how well the interlock
works, close the window and try to push
Indoor window insulators
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1981
Like exterior storm windows, indoor shut-
ters, roller shades, plastic sheets, and drap- convenience. (Insulating effectiveness is
eries can serve as insulation-and are often
less expensive than storm windows. We
tested a variety of indoor window treat-
the two sashes apart. If you can separate
them, one of the sashes doesn't sit quite
right in its track and thus can't interlock
with the other sash. Some windows have
weather stripping, rather than an inter-
lock; that could be just as effective, provid-
ed the rest of the window is rigid.
The storm-window frame should have
two small "weep holes" (roughly 1/s-inch in
diameter) along the sill. They allow rain
water which penetrates the insect screen-
ing to drain away from the window.
CONTRACTORS. If you decide to hire a con-
tractor to supply and install your storm
windows, we recommend that you take
certain precautions:
• Deal with an established, reputable com-
pany. Avoid door-to-door salespersons of-
fering unbelievably low prices.
• Get a written contract describing the
windows in detail: size, color, brand and
model designation if it exists. If the win-
dows don't have a brand name (many do
not), the contract should specify the type
of glazing, the type of weather stripping,
and other key details. The contract should
include a warranty on the installation, as
well as the manufacturer's warranty on the
windows themselves. Terms of payment
should also be specified.
• Inspect the windows when they're deliv-
ered, in order to be sure they're the ones
you ordered.
• Check that the work crew completes the
installation according to your specifica-
tions, and inspect the windows before the
workers leave.
ments for their insulating effectiveness and
often expressed by a product's R-value; the
higher the R-value, the more effectively a
product slows the flow of heat.)

SHUTIERS. Shutter systems (from R-2.5 to
R-6) did the best insulating job. But most of
them are expensive-more than $100 for
shutters to fit a 3x5-foot window. And
most are heavy, weighing from 25 to 45
pounds. An exception is the Homesworth
Sun Saver shutter kit (R-4.5), which costs
$34 and weighs 18 pounds. However, the
Sun Saver requires assembly and consider-
ably more work to install than the other
shutters.)
Most shutters have plain, flat face
panels that can be decorated with any
paint, stain, moldings, fabric, or wallpaper
you supply. In general, shutters present a
negligible added fire hazard.
ROLLER SHADES were also useful insulators.
The Window Quilt (R-2.5) is a five-layer
roller shade with a middle layer of metal-
ized plastic between fiber batting and fab-
ric covers. It rides in channels attached to
the window frame; that arrangement stop-
ped drafts quite effectively. The Thermo-
Shade (R-1.5) looks and works a bit like the
top of a roll-top desk. It let some air leak
through its window-frame tracks. Either of
those shades might be a good choice for a
skylight or a slanting window.
INSIDE STORM WINDOWS. Som-e plastic
storms that fit the inside of a window can
save heat (with an R-value of about R-1)
just as well as an exterior storm window.
And plastic storms are cheaper than typi-
cal aluminum-framed exterior storm win-
dows. The plastic windows we loqked at
use various materials-vinyl, acrylic, or
polyester. All three are about as transpar-
ent as glass. Vinyl, however, will slightly
distort the view through the window, and
it's apt to become brittle.
Any plastic window presents a signifi-
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
WINDOW INSULATORS 145
cant added fire hazard. None provides for
ventilation or emergency removal, though
with the plastic sheets, a loop of tape
attached at one comer could help you rip
the plastic off in seconds.
DRAPERIES AND LINERS. A drape hanging so
that it's open at top and Qottom will serve
mainly to divert drafts toward the floor. If
you plan to insulate your windows with
drapes, hang the drapes down to the floor,
box them in at the top with a valance, and
fasten the sides to the window frame.
We tested some drapery liners and an
insulated drape. We also tested a plain,
unlined cotton drape; its R-value was a
meager 0.4. The liners have an R-value of
0.9, so a liner plus a plain drape would
have an R-value of 1.3.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Insulated shutters and
shades provided the greatest saving of the
products tested, but they require attention.
To pick up free heat from the winter sun,
shutters or shades on windows facing east,
south, and west have to be opened or
closed according to the time of day and the
level of sunlight.
Shades and draperies are useful for win-
dows that are too large to be covered with
conventional storm sash, or for skylights
and other glassed-in areas that may be eas-
ier to insulate from the inside.
Storm windows require much less atten-
tion than the other types of insulators.
And, unlike the other window insulators,
installing storm windows (even the indoor
plastic kind) lets you benefit from the Fed-
eral conservation tax credit. But if you
already have exterior storm windows, add-
ing another layer of window insulation on
the inside will not yield a proportionately
higher saving.
146 SUN CONTROLS, WHOLE-HOUSE FANS

Sun controls for windows

Condensed from Consumer Reports. March 1979
Covering the windows to block out the sun fourths of the visible light-about compa-
is fine in the summertime-it can sharply rable to the view you'd have through a pair
reduce the need for air-conditioning. In of moderately dark sunglasses. All prod-
most parts of the country, however, the ucts will help reduce glare and should also
summertime saving would be too small to help keep carpets, upholstery, and draper-
compensate for the losses you'd incur by ies from the fading caused by sunlight.
leaving the windows covered during the RECOMMENDATIONS. The shade and solar
heating season. At that time, keeping out screening have a slight edge over the films;
the sun eliminates an important-and, they're as effective in blocking out the
free-source of heat. Therefore, to be sun's rays, and they're easier to install and
effective in most areas, a sun-control de- remove. Varieties of sun-controller shade
vice must be easy to remove in winter. cloth that lack a reflective outer surface
TYPES. We tested a small but representative would be somewhat less effective, in our
sample of the sun-control products on the judgment, than the shade we tested. We
market-plastic film, a special window think the films would be useful only in the
shade, and " solar" screening-assessing southernmost areas of the country, where
their capabilities as energy-savers and their they could be left up all year.
convenience of use. Glue-on plastic films If you decide to use one of these solar-
are available in reflective varieties, which control products, install it first on west-
convert windows into tinted one-way mir- facing windows, since they add the greatest
rors, and nonreflective ones, which darken amount of light and radiant energy to a
windows like sunglasses. " Solar" screening house during the summer. Deal with east-
can be used in place of existing insect facing windows next, and leave northern
screening; it has a close weave that deflects and southern exposures alone. North win-
sunlight while still allowing a view out. dows gain very little direct radiant energy
The window shade we tested is hung at any time. South-facing windows reflect
indoors like a conventional shade, but it mos't of the sun's energy during the sum-
has a reflective outer surface. mer, because the sun strikes them at a fair-
Most products typically blocked out ly steep angle; in the winter, when the sun
about three-fourths of the total radiant is lower in the sky, they add a good deal of
energy. Most also blocked about three- solar heat.

Whole-house fans
Condensed from Consumer Reports. June 1981
A whole-house fan isn't a substitute for air- blades. Their housings range in size (height
conditioning, but it is a reasonable cooling x width x depth) from 393/, x 393/, x 17
alternative for some people in some loca- inches to 46 1/, x 46 1/, x 17'/, inches. One
tions. The models we tested have 36-inch model is a single-speed fan. The other
· Tert continued page 148
 WHOLE-HOUSE FANS 147

Ratings of whole·house fans

Listed , except as noted, in order of " Sh ut ters," oppos ite), working
estimated overall quality. Models agai nst a pressure load judged rep-
judged approximately eq ual in resentative of household installa-
overall quality are bracketed and tion. + in dicates shipping is extra.
listed alphabetically. All have 36-in.
Very
blades. Air fl ow is as measured by Excellent good Good

•
Fair Poor
CU with fan mounted upright and
with automatic wall shutter (see
Noise

CHELSEA HVB36T $396 2 6000 0 Q 8 'A.B,D

SEARS Cat. No. 6402 [I] 205+ Var. 1800 e Q 8 A b
HUNTER 22329 [1] 269 Var. 9000 0 • 8 C,E
COOL AIR AW362S 314 2 5200 0 Q 8 B
EMERSON WHF362 220 2 8100 e ~ 8 E b
FASCO 3636NS l!l 336 Var. 5100 e Q 8 E d
HUNTER 22196 ffi 354 8400 e Q F
LAU NITAIR RE36542S [1) 260 2 6200 0 Q Q E c
FRIGID HV362 370 2 6700 0 8 Q B a
ITl Essentially a single-speed model with vari- jg) For wall installation only.
able-speed control; price listed includes (1) Fan avallable from J.C. Penney as Cat. No.
control. Separately available control is 8679, $280+ .
Hunter 22367, $21.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
Except as noted: Fans are for both wall and a - Motor lacks thermal-overload protection.
ceiling installation; fan bearings are sealed b - Fan has sleeve bearings that require peri-
and require no lubrication; fan motors have odic lubrication.
thermal-overload protection. c - One fan bearing is a sleeve bearing; no
fitting provided for lubrication .
KEY TO ADVANTAGES d - Variable-speed control had relatively nar-
A-Has fusible link/switch that turns off fan
row range of effect.
in case of fire; also serves as off switch
when servicing. SHUTTERS
B - Fan judged sturdier than most. For each brand, we list number and suggested
C - Most components galvanized for corro- retail price of its wall shutter (tested) and
sion protection. . number and price of its ceiling shutter (not
D - Comes with ceiling/wall mounting kit tested) . Chelsea: LWL36, $103; S36A. $89.
(brackets, spring suspension and canvas Sears: Cat. No. 6427, $65+ ; 6440, $70+ .
boot) , judged highly effective in reducing Hunter: 22065, $106; 22335, $76. Cool Air:
noise. SWA36, $86; SC36, $111 . Emerson: WFS36,
E- Resilient stripping included for fan instal- $100; WST36, $84. Fasco: 3136, $118; 3436,
lation, an aid in reducing noise. $87. Lau Nitair: 556, $79; 610, $79. Frigid:
F-Shipping crate can be used as part of SD36, $95; C36, $90.
installation framing.
148 WHOLE-HOUSE FANS
models have either two speeds or a vari-
able-speed control.
The fans were priced from $205 plus
shipping to nearly $400. You would also
need shutters for the intake into the attic
and the exhaust through the attic wall.
Shutters, switches, and installation may
cost another $200 to $500.
CAPACm, EFFICIENCY. The key to getting
the best from a fan is to choose one with
the right capacity for your house. Find the
volume of the house in cubic feet. (Multi-
ply length by width by height of each
room, hallway, and stairwell to be venti-
lated. Don't include closets, storage rooms,
or the attic itself. Add the results.) The
volume will bear a relationship to the fan
capacity you'll need (in cubic feet per min-
ute, or cfm). If you live in a region where
summers are long and hot, the relationship
should be about one to one (6000 cfm for a
6000-cubic-foot house). If you live where
summer temperatures aren't extreme, di-
vide your house volume by two (3000 cfm
for a 6000-cubic-foot house).
With one- or two-speed fans, you'll
want a fairly close match between house
volume and fan capacity at maximum
speed. With a variable-speed model, if the
fan has somewhat more capacity than your
house warrants, you can turn it down to
the right speed. We made our measure-
ments of maximum air flow under condi-
tions we judged reasonably typical of
home installations; note that our results
often differed from the air-flow ratings
marked on the fans.
INSTALLATION. The fan can be placed hori-
zontally on an opening through the ceiling
to the attic. Or it can stand vertically near
the ceiling opening, enclosed in a suction
box that directs air into the fan. Or it can
be affixed to a wall so that the entire attic
serves as a suction box. H your attic is well
ventilated, you'll need a fan of slightly
larger capacity with a wall installation
than with the other setups.
Although the Ratings note a few models
as exceptionally quiet, whole-house fans as
a group aren't particularly noisy. But wall
studs or ceiling joists with a fan attached
directly to them will carry noise to your
living space. And a ceiling-mounted fan is
apt to be noisier than one at the end of the
attic.
SAFETY. The high start-up current of some
of these fans probably won't trip circuit-
brealcers, but fused circuits should be pro-
tected by a slow-blow fuse. You'll also
need to ground the fan and any motorized
shutters. Most tested models have a ther-
mal-overload protector.
The Chelsea and Sears fans have a fus-
ible linlc that melts in the heat of a fire,
shutting down the fan and closing motor-
ized or manually operated shutters. Such a
safety switch is available as an option for
some of the other fans.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Your calculated• ca-
pacity requirement doesn't necessarily rule

What about prices?

The Buying Guide Issue usually notes prices as given in the full
report cited at the beginning of each article. Unless otherwise
stated, prices are list or suggested retail, current at the time of
original publication. In many cases, inflation will have increased
prices, but the price relationships among models is stable enough to
be informative to consumers.
 WHOLE-HOUSE FANS, AIR-CONDITIONERS 149
out some fans with greater capacity than
you need. If you need a 0000-cfm air flow,
you don't have to choose the top-rated
6000-cfm Chelsea, which was the most
expensive model tested. For a lot less mon-
ey, you could choose the second-rated
Sears Cat. No. 6402; it delivered a maxi-
mum of 7800 cfm, but its variable-speed
Air· conditioners
Condensed from Consumer Reports, July 1982
It pays to buy an energy saving, "high-
efficiency" air-conditioner even though it's
likely to cost more initially than a standard
machine. A high-efficiency model will save
you enough electricity over a few years of
use to offset the extra purchase price. An
air-conditioner's Energy Efficiency Ratio
(EER) indicates how effectively it uses
electricity; the higher the EER, the more
efficient the unit. Models tested for this
report were all high-efficiency, with EER's
between 8.5 and 9.4.
For comfort, the unit you choose must
also have sufficient cooling capacity, but
not too much lest you pay for more cool-
ing thari you need. Use the worksheet cin
pages 150 to 151 to calculate your cooling
needs for the room in which the air-condi-
tioner will work. Consider only machines
whose output, rated in British thermal
units per hour (Btu/hr.), is within about 10
percent of your calculation. Rated here are
models between 7800 and 8800 Btu/hr.
PERFORMANCE. Under heat wave condi-
tions-when the temperah1re is high and
utilities may reduce line voltage-most
models could start and nm without trou-
ble. If you live in an area subject to brown-
outs, you'd be wise to choose among mod-
els that scored highest in the "extreme con-
ditions" column in the Ratings. Several
control allows for any air delivery down to
nearly half that figure. If you need greater
fan capacity, consider the Hunter 22329
with a separate variable-speed control.
The Ratings list the automatic wall and
ceiling shutters for each brand. You might
want to price-shop for them; they needn't
be of the same brand as your fan.
low scorers could leave you sweltering.
For maximum comfort, an air-condition-
er should maintain a nearly steady temper-
ature level. None of the high-rated models
were outstanding in this respect, but most
could hold the temperah1re swing to about
four to six degrees, a satisfactory range.
When set for regular cooling, an air-
conditioner keeps its fan nmning even
when the compressor has cycled off. Most
tested models also have an automatic, or
"energy saver," setting that turns the fan
off too. Using the setting may chop a few
dollars off your electric bill over a cooling
season. However, you must keep in mind
that the machine is on, even though all
noise has stopped, or it may cycle back
into operation while you 're away and
needlessly cool the room.
If your air-conditioner will be installed
in a comer or high in a wall, the effective-
ness of the louvres that direct its airflow
assmnes real importance. For such installa-
tions, check the Ratings for models that did
well in "directional control. "
The moisture that condenses from hu-
mid air as it is cooled should be dispersed
as a fine mist. Fewer than half the tested
models could do that in our high-humidity
test. The rest dripped or dribbled from the
Text continued page 155
 .......
Cooling· load estimate form for room air-conditioners ~
This form -has been adapted from one published by The Association
of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) In standard RAC-1 .

QUANTITY
x
HEAT GAIN FROM QUANTITY FACTOR FACTOR

1. DOORS AND ARCHES: Multiply the factor by uncooled space. Consider rooms connected by a
the total width (linear feet) of any continually open door or arch more than five feet wide as a single
doors or arches between room to be cooled and an large room for this and following calculations.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ft,. x 300

2. SUN THROUGH WINDOWS: Multiply window " outside awnings." Factors given are for single glass
area for each exposure by applicable factor. For only. For glass block, multiply factors by 0.5; for dou-
windows with Inside shades or blinds, use factor for ble glass or storm windows, multiply factors by 0.8.
" Inside shades." For windows with outside awnings Enter al right
only the largest
(with or without shades or blinds), use factor for
figure from the
No lntidl Ovllidt column below
lhldls WdM IWftingt (Arel X F8Clor)
Facing northeast ................................................... . x 60 or 25 or 20
Facing east .......................................................... x 80 or 40 or 25
Facing southeast x 75 or 30 or 20
Facing south .................... . x 75 or 35 or 20
Facing southwest .................................................. . x 110 or 45 or 30
Facing west ........................................................... . x 150 or 65 or 45
Facing northwest ........................................:......... x 120 or 50 or 35
Facing north ......................................................... x 0 0 0

3. CONDUCTION THROUGH WINDOWS: Multiply

total square feet of all windows In room by the appli-
cable factor.

Single glass ........................................................... . _ _ _ _sq . ft. x 14

Double glass or glass block _ _ __sq. ft. x 7

4. WALLS: Multiply total length (linear feet) of all
walls exposed to the outside by the applicable
factor. (Consider doors as part of the wall. Consider
walls shaded by adjacent structures, but not by
trees or shrubbery, as having " north exposure."
" Light construction" means an uninsulated frame
wall or a masonry wall 8 In. thick or less; " heavy
construction" means Insulated frame or masonry
thicker than 8 In.) Also make computation for Inside
walls adjacent to uncooled spaces.
 Light HNYy
con1truclion con1truction
a. Outside walls
North exposure _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ft . x 30 or 20
Other than north exposure ............................. . _ _ _ __ _ _ft. x 60 or 30
b. Inside walls (between conditioned
and unconditioned spaces only) _ _ _ __ _ _ft . x 30 or 30

5. CEILING: Multiply total ceiling area by factor for

the ceiling construction most nearly matching your
own ceiling.

a. Uninsulated with no space above sq. ft. x 19

b. insulation 1 inch or more,
no space above ............................................... . sq . ft. x 8
c. Uninsulated with attic space above q . ft . x 12
d. Insulated with attic space above ...................... sq . ft. x 5 = Enllfone
• · Occupied space above ..................................... sq. ft. x 3 = fig1nonly

8. FLOOR: Multiply the factor by the total floor

area. Disregard this item if floor is directly on ground
or over a basement. ~q. ft. x· 3

7. SUBTOTAL: Add the loads calculated above. Subtotal

8. CLIMATE CORRECTION: Multiply item 7 by cor-

rection factor, selected from map on page 155. (item 7) X (Factor from map)

9. PEOPLE: Multiply number of people who will nor-

mally occupy cooled space by 600. Use minimum of
two people. x 600

10. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT: Determine total plates; if not, multiply the nameplate amperage by
wattage for lights and electrical equipment in the the voltage for an estimate. Multiply the total watt-
cooled area (except the air-conditioner itself) that age by the factor.
will be in use when the conditioner is operating.
Many appliances may give wattage on their name- _____watts x 3

11. TOTAL COOLING LOAD: Add items 8, 9, matched fairly closely by an air-conditioner's Btu/hr. Total
and 10. The result, in Btu per hour, should be rating. Btu/hr.

NOTE: For night cooling only: The factor for Item 1 Is construction is 20; for all others, 30. In item 5, the
,_.
200. Disregard item 2. In item 4, the factor for heavy factors are 5, 3, 7, 4, and 3. ,_.
en
 ,....
Ratings of air-conditioners "'
Nl

Listed in order of estimated
overall quality. Except where
separated by bold rules, closely
ranked models differ little in
overall quality. Except as noted,
all were judged easy to install in prices quoted to CU shoppers in
a double-hung window. Dimen- 11 cities.
sions are rounded to next higher
1/4 in. Prices, rounded to nearest

dollar, are average of retail

o e o
Better
~ •
Woroe

/ .,c,•
Brand and model
~.
c C c C c c C C c C C c C I
FRIEDRICH SS08F10 $543 8000 9.0 1.5 0 0 0 e 0 0 ~ 0 e 0
FRIEDRICH YS09F10ffi
CARRIER 51DXA0081
753
468
8800
8200
9.3
9.2
1.6
2.2
0
0 •
0
0
- e
~ 0
•
0
0
~
0
0 e 0
e e e
WARDS 5161 502 8300 9.0 2.9 @ 0 0 ~ 0 e ~ 0 0 e
AMANA ES92MS 455 8500 9.3 1.9 0 ~ ~ e ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ e
J.C. PENNEY 1178 416 7800 8.7 2.6 0 0 - e ~ e • e 0 e
••
EMERSON QUIET KOOL 8JS7E 383 8200 9.4 2.5 0 0 ~ 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 0

•••
GIBSON AM0886ELBB 384 7800 8.7 2.6 0 0 0 e e 0 0 e
SEARS 71089 404 7800 8.7 2.6 0 ~ ~ e ~ e 0 0 e
HOTPOINT KM908F 437 8100 8.8 2.0 0 ~ e e 0 e e ~ e
GENERAL ELECTRIC AQ908AA 422 8000 8.5 2.4 0 0 e 0 0
0 ~ 0 e e
KELVINATOR MH308T1Q

FEDDERS AST08F2HK
404

419
7800

7900
8.7

9.4
2.6

1.9
0
•
~ e ~ e
-
e e e e e •
~
0
0
0
0
e
e
WHIRLPOOL AHFP802 422
[i] Reverse-cycle air-conditioner (see story) .
8000 8.8 2.3 0 e 0 e 0 • ••• 0

Keys to air-conditioner specifications (page 154)

KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A - Has slide-out chassis. Can be in-
stalled through the wail.
B - Horizontal louvers can be adjusted
downward.
C - Horizontal louvers can be adjusted
downward, but they must be inverted
(a simple operation) .
0 - Horizontal louvers can be adjusted
slightly downward.
E - Lower half of horizontal louvers can
be closed for more powerful airflow.
F - Control panel not covered; access
judged more conven ient than on
most.
G - Has electronic controls; judged very
convenient but may require some
study of instruction book at first.
H -Control markings easier to read than
on most.
I -On automatic setting, fan changes
speed with temperature but never
shuts off.
J - Expanding side panels have metal
frame, judged stronger than plastic
frame on most others.
K - Has pull-out filter; does not require
removal of front panel.
L - Filter has plastic frame; judged some-
what easier to clean than most.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a - Lacks automatic setting.
b - Fixed horizontal louvers.
c -Vertical louvers move in direction op-
posite to control knobs.
d - Vertical louver knobs interfere with
movement of horizontal louver.
e - Has spring-closed cover over con-
trols, a small nuisance.
!-Control markings hard to see.
g - Thermostat control, though marked,
lacks reference numbers.
h - Fan blade exposed while filter is being
removed.
i - Filter, retained by elastic band,
judged more difficult than most to
remove and replace for cleaning.
j - Screwdriver required to remove front
panel.
k - Has no sill bracket or leveling provi-
sion; judged least secure of tested
models during installation or remov-
al.
I -Has only 1 sill bracket.
m - Lacks grille on outside.
n - Had moderate false-start problem.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Has motorized " air sweep" louvers;
feature did not significantly improve
temperature distribution; works only
on cooling settings, making adjust-
ment of vertical louvers difficult on
fan-only settings.
8 - Has ventilation as well as exhaust set-
ting.
C- Side panels must be cut to fit; less
convenient than expanding panels
but provide a better seal.
D- Fan motor must be oiled.
E-5-tt . power cord. ;:.,..
F-4-11. power cord.
G-Has additional 9-yr. warranty on cabi- ~
net.
H- Has additional 4-yr. warranty for com-
b
pressor only.
/-Has additional 4-yr. warranty for com- ~
pressor only; excludes labor. ~
J- Has additional 1-yr. warranty on fan
(parts only) ; warranty on sealed re- ~
frigeration system is for parts only,
but labor coverage can be purchased ~
for $20.
K - Has special provision for disposing of
~
l:J;i
condensate: drain plug for 1/:i-in. drain
line (Amana) or optional overflow kit I-'
(Hotpoint) . ~
 Specifications for air-conditioners ......
See keys on page 153 ~
~~).
~~"':\ ::i..
· 0~
~~). s-~· "~ •• so
~
+Q ~"
,,.o-" .,,..q~"~ ,,.-4.~·" .~~· (;i
0
+.. 1$1'~ ~
Brand and model
( _.•'" ~ -"'(/' ,~·" Q'.'li VO /t::::j
.......
FRIEDRICH SS08F10 124 lb. 16x26x263t. 26 1/• to 42 3 1/• to 6 5 A,B 8,C,D ~
FRIEDRICH YS09F10 135 16x26x263t. 26 1/• to 42 3 1/4 to 6 5 A,B 8,C,D ~
t_:.j
CARRIER 51DXA0081 113 16 1'2x?5x243!. 27 to 41 5''2 3 A.C,F a,g 8,C,D,E ::ti
-- C"/.l
WARDS 5181 105 14 1/2x24 1/4x233t. 28 to 38 4 3 G,I m E
AMANA ES92MS 127 153!.x24 1/2x23 1'2 28 to 40 3 2 F c,h,l,j 8,F,K
J.C. PENNEY 1178 102 153f.x23 1/4X 193f. 27 to 36 4 3 L a,d,e,l,n D
EMERSON QUIET KOOL 8JS7E 79 14x25 1/•x20 1/• 29 1'2 to 40 4''2 3 K,L f,k E.J
GIBSON AM08B8ELBB 104 16x23 1/4x203t. 27 to 37 1'2 5 3 L l,n A.D
SEARS 71089 103 15%x23 1/4x20 1/2 27 to 36 431. 3 E,L l,n D
HOTPOINT KM908F 131 183/4x26 1/4X26 1/4 30 to 39 6''2 3 A.D e H,K
GENERAL ELECTRIC AQ908AA 85 16 1/•x23 1'2x213t. 26 to 38 3 3 D,F,H G
KELVINATOR MH308T1Q 101 153t.x23 1/4x18 1/4 27 to 39 2 1/2 3 E,F a,d,i,j,l,n D
1
FEDDERS AST08F2HK 94 15 /•x24x24 1
26 '2 to 39 33/4 3 D,H,J
WHIRLPOOL AHFP802 102 15 1I4X223f.x23 26 to 38 33/4 3 b,i,k,m D
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES person; have air-exhaust provision, controls; leveling provision, 2 sill brackets,
All: can be run, local codes permitting, on judged minimally effective. and expanding side panels that allow air
ordinary 15-amp branch circuit protected leakage unless well sealed; grille on out-
by circuit breaker or time-delay fuse; Except as noted, all have: an automatic door side to protect cooling fins; 6- to
should be used only with grounded outlet; setting that turns fan off with compressor; 6 112--ft. power cord; 1-yr. parts-and-labor
are rated at 7.5 to 8.5 amps but can draw barrier to prevent accidental contact with warranty on entire unit plus additional 4
more under extreme conditions; should be fan blade when cleaning filter; adjustable yr. on sealed refrigeration system.
carried and installed by more than one vertical and horizontal louvers; convenient

Map of the United States showing
correction factors for estimating the
air-conditioner size you need. Use
with paragraph 8 of the cooling-load
form on pages 150 to 151.
outdoor side of the cabinet enough to be
nuisance if the unit is to be installed over a
patio or walkway.
We list the manufacturers' dehumidifi-
cation specifications for each model. If you
live in a humid climate, give strong prefer-
ence to a model that extracts water well.
CONVENIENCE. The wards model we tested
has programmable electronic controls.
You set the temperature you want, and you
can also have the unit automatically start
and stop at times you select. Setting the
temperature on the other models is a trial-
and-error operation.
"Hi-cool" and "Lo-cool" settings mere-
ly control fan speed, with some effect on
dehumidification but not much on actual
cooling. You get more breeze with a high
fan speed, but you save some electricity
running at low speed.
The Ratings note relative noise levels
indoors and outdoors at high and low fan
settings. Quiet operation indoors is espe-
cially important for an air-conditioner that
will be used in a bedroom or study. Out-
doors, low noise is important near a patio
or neighboring bedroom.
A HEATER/AIR.CONDIDONER. The Friedrich
YS09F10 owes its high position in the Rat-
AIR-CONDITIONERS 155
ings entirely on its performance as an air-
conditioner. Its high price reflects the fact
that it is a "reverse cycle" model that can
cool in the summer and warm in the win-
ter. Air-conditioners that heat are not new,
but many do it with the use of a simple
resistance heater. The Friedrich does it by
extracting heat from the outside air and
blowing it indoors, a method that's very
efficient in its use of electricity. We calcu-
lated that the Friedrich produces heat at
about one-third the cost in electricity of
using an ordinary electric space heater.
Unfortunately, its heat output falls off as
the outdoor temperature drops, so its use
wouldn't be feasible in places where win-
ter temperatures fall below 35°F. Still, it
can be a real cost saver where winters are
mild and homes are heated by electricity.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If the cooling load
estimate form shows that you need about
7000 to 9000 Btu/hr. of cooling, one of the
tested units would suit you. The Friedrich
SS08Fl0 topped our Ratings for its general
good performance and lack of drawbacks.
For an especially muggy situation, con-
sider a machine with better dehumidifica-
tion, but be prepared to sacrifice some-
thing in all-around performance.
156 ROOM FANS

Room fans
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1982
In summer, a breeze is often all that's nec- cools the air in a house; that's the job of an
essary to make a warm day pleasant or to air-conditioner (page 149). Although the
cool a perspiring worker in the heat. We boxy portable fan can be set near a window
have tested ceiling fans and portable fans for nighttime ventilation, it's no match for
(the "breeze box"), both of which do the an attic, or "whole-house," fan (page 146)
job nicely. Neither of these types actually at that task.
Celllng fan s
Large blades allow a ceiling fan to move range" column in the Ratings. The greater
lots of air while turning sedately and quiet- the difference in air-moving ability be-
ly. A ceiling fan, however, isn't a substitute tween the highest and lowest speeds of a
for a portable box fan. Unlike a portable fan, the higher the score in that category.
fan, a ceilihg fan can't bring cool outside A fan with a very good or excellent per-
air into a room. formance range, along with a control that
Most of the ceiling fans we tested are provides three speeds or infinitely variable
$250 and up. Only three are less than $200. speed, should give you a satisfactory
The cheaper.models generally have a plain choice.
painted motor housing, which might be One of the charms of the old-fashioned
appropriate for a kitchen or for a room ceiling fan was the lazy way in which its
with contemporary or casual decor. At the blades swept by-and that's where the
other extreme are the expensive models "minimum speed" column in the Ratings is
with brass finish or baroque trim. In many important. We believe that a minimum
cases, a model is available in several styles speed of about 50 revolutions per minute
and finishes and in several price 1ines, so (rpm) or less would satisfy anyone to
you can let your taste and your budget whom that ambience of tranquility is im-
guide you. portant.
The size of a fan is defined by the diam- NOISE. Ceiling fans are characteristically
eter, or sweep, of its blades. The most com- much quieter than other types of fan. Six
mon size is 52 inches. Our main test group · models, in fact, were virtually silent when
consists of ten 52-inch models and one 48- running at their lowest speed earning them
incher. We also tested four 36-to-38-inch the highest score in the "relative quiet"
models, suitable for a small room. All the judgments in the Ratings.
fans give you a choice of at least two Set at low speed, the models judged nois-
speeds. iest hummed and droned. That kind of low-
PERFORMANCE. For a large room, you'll volume noise can be annoying in an other-
want a powerful fan-one that was judged wise quiet setting.
very good or excellent in air-moving abili- RECOMMENDATIONS. Among the large fans,
ty. The small models moved only about the models in the first Ratings group have
two-thirds ,as much air. a slight edge over the others.
Suppose you want a fan that can churn Models that are lower in the Ratings
up a storm during the heat of the afternoon may also warrant consideration. The large
and stir up a gentle breeze in the quiet of Hunter, for example, is ruggedly con-
the evening. If so, check the "performance structed and powerful. Its major shortcom-

ing is its vigorous performance when it's
set to run at its lowest speed,,_ But in a large
room or in extreme heat, its whirlwind per-
formance could be an advantage. (A wall-
mounted variable-speed control is availa-
ble for reducing the fan's speed.)
A 36- or 38-inch model would be best
where space is tight-in a room up to
about 10 by 10 feet or in an alcove. Of the
four we tested, the Homestead and the
Nutone are the fans of choice.
Portable fans
The box fan, or "breeze box" provides an
inexpensive, versatile way to create a
strong, cooling breeze anywhere in the
house, or to gently ventilate a whole apart-
ment or one level of a house when the
outdoor temperatme drops in the evening.
We tested 20-inch models (that's the
sweep of the blades) and also a couple of
novel 12-inchers. Prices ranged from $23
to $80.
PERFORMANCE. we tested the fans for how
much air they could move when circulat-
ing air in a room and for how well they
could ventilate when exhausting air from a
room that has cross ventilation. The Lake-
wood P83 handled these tasks so well that
it stood in a class by itself at the top of the
Ratings, as it did in 1979 when we last
tested these fans. Unfortunately, the model
has been discontinued, although it may be
available for a while.
FEATURES. Most models have three fan
speeds; a few have two, which may be ade-
quate. Three models can be set to sweep
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
ROOM FANS 157
Many manufacturers claim that a ceiling
fan can save energy in the winter by blow-
ing warm air near the ceiling down to peo-
ple level. Perhaps so in some very special
situations, but when we tried it out in a
large room with a 10-foot ceiling, we
always felt cooler. The cooling e(fect of
moving air-the wind-chill factor-out-
weighed the improvement of a few degrees
in temperature distribution. ,
Tum page for Ratings.
the draft from side to side. The Edison
204014A has oscillating vanes. The two
12-inch fans have round grille assemblies
that can be set to rotate. The top-rated
Lakewood, the Galaxy 3746, and the Sears
8121 have a thermostat to shut them off
when the temperahrre falls b«i:low a set
point. That's handy for when the night
h1rns chilly after you've gone to bed. But
they will automatically turn back on when
it gets hot the following day and ventilate
with hot air, unless you intercede.
All the fans produce about the same
mild roar at high speed. A few were judged
noisy even at low speed.
RECOMMENDATIONS. The top-rated Lake-
wood has a high price to match its out-
standing performance. Most people will be
quite satisfied with any of a half-dozen fans
in the top half of the Ratings that cost less
than half as much. All three of the fans that
oscillate the airflow were sluggish per-
formers and high priced.
Ratings on page 160.

Ratings of ceiling fans
Listed by size. Large models are
listed by groups in order of esti-
mated overall quality; within
groups, listed alphabetically.
Small models are listed in order
of estimated overall quality. Ex-
cept as noted, all have: 4 wood-
en blades: pull chain for turning
fan on and off; reversible motor;
1-yr. warranty covering parts
......
Cll
00
and labor. Prices are suggested discounts may be available. (Q]
retail for fan and blades; where indicates product was discontin- &3
more than one type of blade is ued at time nf original publica- ~
available, model number of ti on . ~
blade kit is given in parentheses. ~
Optional light kits, which attach
oeo~• ~
to fan housing, are generally
available for $10 to $75 extra. +
Better Worse t3
indicates that shipping is extra;
* indicates price is approximate;

Brand and model ( ~..,Ci •

Large models
CASABLANCA CB4222 (835) $429 52 [I) e 0 20 ~ 0 0 105 12 A,L
Im FASCO A952 (9852) 387 52 ~ 0 e 45 ~ 0 0 100 45 A,F,L
PATTON 1015W, A Beat Buy 250 52 [I) e 0 35 ~ 0 e 95 5 A,D,O
SEARS Cat. No. 9066, A Beat Buy 250+ 52 3 0 e 50 ~ 0 e 70 7 N
HUNTER 22272 (22234) 400 52 2 0 ~ 110 0 e ~ 160 75 H,L
PANASONIC F525A 270 52 3 ~ 0 55 0 e 0 70 35 J

CODEP600Jlll 360 52 . [j]

e e 75 ~ ~ e 80 16 A,l,M
[QJLESLIE-LOCKE DF522 300 52 [j] e e 70 ~ ~
• 175 50 C,J

••
[QJ MISTRALAIRE MAS104 150· 48 [j] ~ e 50 ~ e 60 9 B,E,J,M
NUTONE PFM52 BE 270 52 3 e 0 70 e 0 85 25 L
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 5115 240+ 52 [j] e e 551±1 0 ~ 0 90 25 1±1 A,D,P

Small models
HOMESTEAD HP30 (B038) 299 38 [j] ~ 0 100(§] 0 0 e 60 15 (§] A,G,L
NUTONE PFL36 BE 156 36 3 ~ 0 95 0 0 e 55 22 J,N
EMERSON CF363A 150 36 2 ~ ~ 95 ~ e 0 85 45 F,J
HUNTER 22270 (22271) 290 36 2 ~ ~ 190 ~ e 0 90 50 H,L
OJ Speed is infinitely variable between highest and lowest set- rn Screw allows adjustment of lowest sp eed. Figure listed IS with
tings. adjustment as received; at minimum practical setting, speed is
rnSpeed on low is determined by a separate control and can be 40 rpm and electrical draw is 10 watts.
[ID Screw allows adjustment of lowest speed. Figure listed is with
preset at any point between highest and lowest settings.
~ According to the company, the current designation of this model adjustment as received; at minimum practical selfing, speed is
is1600. 55 rpm and electrical draw is 8 watts.

~
KEY TO COMMENTS t::
~
A - Speed-control knob judged too close E- Has built-in light fixture, which ac- I - Unlike other models, has no indication
to blades for safe adjustment when cepts two circular fluorescent tubes of UL listing.
fan is running. (not included) . J - Has nonreversible motor. c;".l

~
B - Rotary knob, judged relatively incon- F - Has plastic blades with wood-grain L-Has 5-yr. warranty.
venient , turns fan on and off. finish. M - Has 5-yr. warranty, but coverage de-

~
C - Two pull chains allow remote opera- G - Has six blades. creases with time.
lion of variable-speed control. H - Has oil reservoir to lubricate motor N-Has 5-yr. warranty on motor.
0-ln CU's sample, misaligned mounting bearings. 0-Has 5-yr. warranty on parts.
holes enlarged with drill. P - Has 6-yr. warranty. .....
°'
<.D
 ......
Ratings of portable fans ~
Listed by size; within size with 1-yr. warranty covering re- ued at time of original publica- '"ti
groups, listed in order of esti- pair or replacement. Prices are tion or is not listed in current cat- g
mated overall quality. Models manufacturer's suggested retail, a log. ~
judged approximately equal are
bracketed and listed alphabeti-
rounded to nearest dollar; * indi-
cates that price is approximate; ~
cally. Except as noted, all mod-
els are box fans with metal
+ indicates that shipping is ex-
tra. Discounts may be available.
oe o--•
Better Worse
~
~
fram e, have 3 speeds, and come !HJ indicates model was discontin-

Performance Noise
t3
e•

~
~)I e• ~.!$
.< ~ ~·($ ~·
c,O~~·
b...
Brand and model ,.,,o*" ~
~
,.
b...
Q'••

20-inch models
@ LAKEWOOD P83
FRIGID P20B
$10 ·
50•
0
e
0
0 •• 0
e
22
18
A,B,E
E,H
b,d 8,F
G
EDISON 2040078
EAGLE AIRE EA203
40
30•
e
0
0
0 •
~
e
e
15
14
E,F
E
f,g
e,f

•••
EDISON 2040118 37 0 0 0 11 E,F g
GALAXY 3713 27 0 0 0 13
GALAXY3714 24 0 0 0 13 - a,f
LAKEWOOD P223
@ SEARS Cat. No. 8120
26
23+
0
0
0
0 •• e
0
13
13
E
-
d
a,f A
SUPERLECTRIC 2086T 40 ~ 0 ~ e 13 E A
[~~-
LASKO 4520
30
30
0
~ • 0
~ ~
~
®
13
8
A c, d,f,h
g
B,E
B,C
SEARS Cat. No. 8121
[QJ SEARS Cat. No. 8139
30+
30+
0
~
• 0
~ ~
~
0
13
8
A c,d,f,h
g
A
A,C
SUPERLECTRIC 20238
SUPERLECTRIC 20128
33
33
~

•• • e
•• •e
~
~
12
12
E
E a,i A
EDISON 204014A 70 ~ 18 O,E f,g A

12-inch models
GYRO AIRE GA1870
[QJ SANYO EF380
80
80 • • • e
[j]
0
[j] Moved only about two-thirds as much air as the Gyro Aire.
0
0 9
9
C,0,1
O,G,l,J g
A,D
A,D

KEY TO ADVANTAGES KEY TO DISADVANTAGES KEY TO COMMENTS

A-Thermostat.
B -Indicator light warns when thermostat
shuts off fan.
C- Variable speed control
0- Air-deflecting vanes may be set to
oscillate (Edieon) or rotate automati-
cally (Gyro Aire, Sanyo) .
E- Has feature that protects against
electrical overload and resets auto-
matically.
F-Judged more stable than most.
G- Legs can be set to prop fan at slight
upward angle.
H - Pry-out grilles for easy cleaning.
I - Brackets for handy cord storage.
J - Can be wall-mounted.
a - Has only 2 speeds. A-According to manufacturer, fan is not
b - Thermostat control is not marked to for use in a window.
show which way to turn knob for high- 8-Shape of frame unsuitable for
er or lower temperature setting. steadying with a lowered window
c-Thermostat reference markings not sash.
labeled. C- Has round frame made of plastic.
d-Judged slightly less stable than 0- Plastic frame. "1;j
most. £-Controls face the outside when fan is 0
e-Outrigger legs judged easy to bend; set in window for exhaust. ~
when bent. legs made fan less stable F- Motor is electrically reversible; fan ~
than any tested. can move air in either direction. t:t!
f - Frame has pointed corners. G-Comes with 5-yr. warranty on parts. t-'
g -Access to interior tor cleaning judged
less convenient than with most. t".l
h - Uncomfortable handle.
I-Unshielded metal legs may scratch ~
bare floors.
t3
"""
0)

"""
 Home care

Garbage /trash bags

Condensed from Consumer Reports, June 1982
There is no uniformity in the size designa- Large trash. This category comprises
tion given to plastic bags. Nor can you tell two sizes-bags that fit up to 30-gallon
much from the thickness or number of cans and bags meant for 32- or 33-gallon
plies. We tested and rated name brand cans. The 30-gallon bags are the most pop-
bags of various sizes plus an assortment of ular size of all garbage bags. They work
unbranded, or "generic" plastic bags. much better in small garbage cans than the
SIZING. We have made om own choice of bags in the previous category, as they
names for the size classifications of bags. leave plenty of extra bag to gather up, tie,
You can match them with bags that you and hold onto if you have to remove the
now use to compare yours to rated bags of bag from the can. The 30-gallon bags we
the same capacity: tested were about 2V2 feet wide by 3 feet
Wastebasket bags measure 22 by 24 high.
inches. Some makers call these " large Thirty-gallon bags may not fit 30-gallon
waste" or "medium garbage" bags and cans, however. It depends on the shape of
give their capacity as 28 quarts, 32 quarts, the can. If the can has a flared or squared
or 8 gallons. top, the mouth of the bag may not be wide
Tall kitchen is the name used by all the enough to go over it without ripping. In
makers except Glad for bags that are 2 feet that case, you'll have to buy a 32- or 33-
wide and about 2Yi feet tall. Labeled gallon garbage bag. The models we tested
capacity varies from 11 to 15 gallons. of that size were about three inches wider
Small trash. All of these measure 2 feet 4 and four inches taller than the 30-gallon
inches by 2 feet 11 inches, though from the hags, and they fit 32-gallon cans snugly.
labels you might think there are two differ- Lawn and leaf. Most of the lawn-and-
ent sizes in the group. Some of the labels leaf brands we tested are a few inches taller
say the bags hold 26 gallons, and others say than the 33-gallon bags. Though their
they fit up to 20-gallon cans. This size is labeled capacity ranges from 39 gallons to
intended for old-style, small garbage cans six bushels (48 gallons), the lawn and leaf
with a nominal size of 20 gallons, and the bags fit nicely in 32-gallon garbage cans.
bags fit those cans very closely. If you fill The Sears Bagzilla is wider and taller still.
the can up to the top, you may not be able It's labeled as holding seven bushels or fit-
to gather the bag together and tie it. ting cans up to 45 gallons. The True Value

lawn-and-leaf bag also says it holds seven
bushels, but it's not wide enough to fit a
jumbo garbage can.
THICKNESS AND PLIES. In theory, plastic
bags can be made stronger by adding thick-
ness or by adding extra plies. Jn reality,
those improvements can be compromised
by low-quality raw materials or poor man-
ufach1ring practices.
Within a given brand, extra thickness or
extra plies resulted in improved strength.
But in the Ratings of all the brands, extra-
thick and multi-ply bags are scattered
throughout.
RECOMMENDATIONS. The Ratings give you
a place to start selecting a good garbage
bag. However, they apply only for normal
loads of garbage for each type of bag. No
GARBAGE/TRASH BAGS 163
bag will withstand pokes from broken
glass, coat hangers, or sharp twigs. And any
bag can handle a full load of crumpled
paper.
The smallest bags, wastebasket sized,
are so much alike that you can buy the
cheapest available. Among the larger bags,
buying the cheapest · you find in the top
Ratings groups will give you the most
quality for your money.
That leaves only the question, do you
need all that quality? Jn many cases, prob-
ably not. It may be a good idea to keep a
supply of top-quality bags around for
when you have tough trash like hedge
trimmings or scrap metal to dispose of, and
to use cheaper bags for ordinary kitchen
wastes, paper, cans, and grass clippings.

Ratings of garbage /trash bags

Listed by types. Within types, listed
in order of estimated overall quality,
except for wastebasket bags; those
were judged equal in quality and
are listed alphabetically. Differ-
ences between closely ranked mod-
els were slight except where models
are separated by bold rules. Unless
specified, type designation Is that
given on package label. Cost per
bag is based on average price paid
for largest package purchased by
CU shoppers.

Product

Waetebasket
FESTIVAL LARGE WASTE 6¢ 20 32 qt. 1.0
GLAD MEDIUM GARBAGE 7 20 a gal. 1.01
HANDl·BAG 6 40 32 qt. 1.0
HEFTY LARGE WASTE 8 20 8 gal. 1.02
KMART LARGE WASTE 6 20 28 qt. 1.0
KORDITE 7 40 8 gal. 1.02
Ratings continued next P•
164 GARBAGE/ TRASH BAGS
'.~...
rt .Ci
,.q
,J>~·~· ·~··
.Ct,
~'O
.,..tf
.Ci
·.$-q
*" I>Ci
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~
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Product o• ~o · # ~ #
Ci v v" v

Tall kitchen
HEFTY 9¢ 45 13 gal. 1.25 2
SAFEWAY 8 30 11 gal. 1.25
K MART HEAVY WEIGHT 11 10 11 gal. 1.5
KORDITE ITI 9 30 13 gal. 1. 1
ANN PAGE 7 30 11 gal. 1.25
SEARS 7 60 44 qt. 1.25
GLAD THE HEAVYWEIGHT
LARGE KITCHEN
14 20 13 gal. 1.7

FESTIVAL 7 30 44 qt. 1.0

HANOI-BAG 8 15 44 qt. 1.05 2
TRUE VALUE 12 12 44 qt. 1. 1
DORA MAY 10 11 15 gal.
Small trash
SEARS BAGZILLA 18 35 26 gal. 1.5
KORDITE TRASH AND GRASS OJ 11 40 20 gal. 1.25
HEFTY STANDARD SIZE 12 20 20 gal. 1.3 2
TRUE VALUE 14 40 26 gal. 1.25 2
WARDS 14 20 26 gal. 1.25
HANOI-BAG TRASH AND GRASS 9 20 26 gal. 1.2 2
Large trash
GLAD THE HEAVYWEIGHT 26 15 30 gal. 3 2
HEFTY EXTRA HEAVY WEIGHT 26 12 30 gal. 3 2
GLAD SUPER WEIGHT 22 15 30 gal. 2 2
ANN PAGE HEAVY DUTY 14 15 30 gal. 2
HEFTY SUPER WEIGHT 21 15 30 gal. 2 2
SEARS BAGZILLA 22 30 30 gal. 1.5
GLAD IMPROVED 14 30 30 gal. 1.5 3
GLAD LARGE 21 8 33 gal. 1.5
HEFTY 16 20 30 gal. 1.5 2
SAFEWAY HEAVY DUTY 25 8 30 gal. 3
 GARBAGE/TRASH BAGS, VACUUM CLEANERS 165
p,•
·~ ...
'O~ c;•R.Ji #'. ·~··
Product "..
(Joi:-
.Ci*"
·,~<:I
+o· v~
~,,/>
v~
~,,/> .
v~
~
~,,/>

WARDS LARGE 18¢ 15 33 gal. 1.4

SAFEWAY LARGE 17 20 33 gal. 1.5
ANN PAGE 11 40 30 gal. 1.5
FESCO 9 50 30 gal. 1.5

DORA MAY SUPER BAG 16 15 32 gal.

Lawn and leaf

HEFTY 28 10 39 gal. 1.7
SEARS BAGZILLA
LAWN CLEAN-UP
45 15 45 gal. 1.5

KORDITE 27 10 39 gal. 1.5

GLAD LAWN CLEAN-UP 25 10 33 gal. 1.7

ANN PAGE 23 20 40 gal. 1.75
SAFEWAY 20 20 40 gal. 1.75

TRUE VALUE
37 15 7 bushels 1.75 2
EXTRA STRENGTH LARGE
HANOI-BAG 24 10 6 bushels 1.5 2
[il According to manufacturer, now made with 2 plies.

Vacuum cleaners
Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1982
Technology, alas, has yet to devise the per-
fect vacuum cleaner. Uprights do well on
carpets hut are ungainly and ineffectual on
hare-floor and above-the-floor cleaning.
Canisters that clean by suction alone excel
at hare-surface cleaning but do poorly with
carpets. And canisters with a "power noz-
zle" sacrifice convenience in the attempt
to combine the best features of the other
two designs.
Making a wise choice, then, depends on
knowing the strengths and weaknesses of
each type. We decided to see what was
available in the various designs at a list
price of less than $400. W e tested 19
uprights, priced from $68 plus shipping to
$353 (with three of them, the price in-
cludes a hose adapter and attachments); 7
suction-only canisters, from $75 to $160;
and 17 power-nozzle canisters, from $145
to $380.
PERFORMANCE. The outstanding carpet
Tert continued page 170
 .......
Ratings of vacuum cleaners O>
O>

Listed by types; within types, tools, hose, and nozzle for canis- models, discounts are generally ~
listed, except as noted, in order ters. Prices are suggested retail, available. ~
of estimated overall quality. (')
rounded to nearest dollar, and,
Bracketed models, judged ap-
proximately equal, are listed al-
phabetically. Weights are to
nearest 1'2 lb. and include stored
unless other.wise indicated, in-
clude attachments only for can-
isters; + indicates shipping is
extra. Except for mail-order
CD
Better
e 0 ~
•
Worse
~
g
~
~

Brand and model . c,e

~......
~~"
c,•
· ~~ ·'"
-""'" ~~:
R" ·~
<l'e;."'.~ q,•~
(,~"\
".~'Ii Cf,._e~"
<i't
q,•..,(lo_(lo
~(/>~".
• ~ . e<I'
~·~
b-4.
••
<>,••
~·<$
b-4.~
e•

VO
~~
::ti
~· tJ:l
e~

Uprights
"
(HOOVER U3101-900 $3400J 21 lb. 0 0 e B,C,D,J,P,S ,V o,s H
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 6049 240 + 22 0 0 e B,C,D,J,P,S ,V o,s H,N
EUREKA 5060 290 18 e 0 e C,U - H
ELECTROLUX DELUXE 1451E 353 []] 24 0 e 0 F,N,O,P,R,W - K
(PANASONIC MC663 220 14 112 0 e e B,J,R,V,W - D,H
PANASONIC MC671 145 13 0 e e B,R,W - D
EUREKA 1425 100 11112 0 0 e w
EUREKA 1428AT 150 0J 111'2 0 0 e - - H
HOOVER U4159 160 17 0 0 e P,V - H
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 6304 160 + 17 0 0 e p - H,N
SINGER U&O 80 12 112 0 0 0 D,R c
 SINGER U88 125 12 0 0 0 D,H s 8,H
SINGER UHD4 220 14 0 0 e D,U s 8,H,L,O
WARDS Cat. No. 8812 68+ 11 1'2 0 0 e
WARDS Cat. No. 8872 190+ 15 0 0 e J,V s H
(HOOVER U4119 95 15 1'2 0 e ~
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 1018 73+ 15 0 e ~
ROYAL 801 290 14 ~ 0 0 D,P,V k H
ROYAL 153 190 13 ~ 0 - D,P,V c,k c

...
· ~°'
~
·,.,($

~~
•• ~·($
'4.<:'
•• •
.~
.Brand and model / .,c,•
~\ v•~'~ ,.
b~
.<:'
Q'•
,,
vo~
ll'

Power-nozzle canisters
HOOVER 83199 $380 30 lb. e e e 0 A,D,N,R,S,V,W l,j,I 8,H,I ~
~
HOOVER 83193 240 24 1'2 e e e 0 -
~
A,D,R i,I
SEARS 2299 370 28 0 @ e 0 D,G,J,K,T b,I A.H
ELECTROLUX DELUXE
1453
EUREKA 1254
300

170
23

21
0
0
0
e •
~
0
0
G,K,O,P,W

G
g,h,r,u

d
G,K,M

A,E
~
~
EUREKA 1745 220 24 1'2 0 e 0 ~ G d,j E,H
~
EUREKA 1773 300 27 1'2 0 e 0 ~ G,L,M.T d,j E,H
~
HOOVER 83189 160 21 e 0 0 0 D g,h,l,v - ......
Cl)
[j] Price includes hose adapter and above-floor cleaning attachments. Ratings continued next page -:i
 Ratings of vacuum cleaners continued .......
a>
00

~ ~
·~($ !\. •• C":l
~· ~
c.•~t:-0, t:-
e•
!\..($
!\..($
'4.(:'
!\..
.(:'
c::::
~
·t:-°' .~
~,c.• ~\'\~ R ;:._,o .(:'
b'4 .t> ~~
~ c,• <l'•e;.• e,'>(J Q'. c,O

0 0 0
" - -
~
~
PANASONIC MC881 $220 21 lb. G,M,Q,S,W
PANASONIC MC883 270 24 0 0 0 G,J,M,Q,S,W j H
J.C. PENNEY
21 5+ 26 0 e 0 ~ G,T.W d E. N
~
Cat. No. 8239 F)3
J.C. PENNEY
Cat. No. 6130 330 + 32 0 0 0 ~ G.L.M,N.T d. g.j,I F.H
SEARS 2196 270 24 121
0 e 0 0 O,G,K,T b,I A
WARDS Cat. No. 5042 260 + 28 0 0 0 ~ G,M,T d,I F
(SEARS 2172 145 17 112 0 0 0 0 G f,s A,J
SINGER C17 - 230 24 112 0 0 0 e G,N,T b,d,l,n,p,r
DOUGLAS C6675 164 17 0 ~ I q,t

Suction-only canisters -- --
HOOVER 83187 160 22 - 0 0 0 A,E.R,S
PANASONIC MC771 140 15 112 - 0 0 e E,G,M,Q,S, W e,u
(HOOVER 83183 90' 16 - 0 0 0 - g,h J
SINGER C16 135 19 112 - 0 e G,N,T n,p

------
EUREKA3710 140 19 - 0 ~ - a,n,s F
(DOUGLAS 86674 75 10 112 - 0 ~ I m.n, q,t,u
EUREKA3320 90 12 112 - 0 0 - f, h,m,n,s,u E

--
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
Except as noted, all: Have 1-speed motor; cannot
be used as blower; use disposable dust bags;
have 15- to 20-ft. cord that must be wrapped by
hand for storage; come with 1-yr. warranty on
parts and labor.
All uprights: Were unstable on stairs.
Except as noted, all uprights: Require adjustment
for carpet-pile height; require 6 to 7 1'2 in. clear-
ance to reach 1 ft. under furniture; have no motor
filter.
Except as noted, all canisters: Have convenient
means of reducing suction; require 3 1/4 in. clear-
ance or less to reach 1 ft. under furniture; are
suitable for use on stairs; have easily cleaned per-
manent motor filter: come with reinforced hose,
metal wands with positive lock, floor/rug nozzle
or power nozzle, wall /floor brush, upholstery noz-
zle, dusting brush, and crevice tool; can store at
least some tools in or on canister.
Except as noted, all power-nozzle canisters: Re-
quire no adjustment for carpet pile.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A -As dust bag fills, suction drops off at slower
rate than with most canisters.
8 - One of few uprights requiring no pile-height
adjustment for optimum cleaning of most car-
pets.
C- Has power-assisted wheels; easier to push
than most uprights. (But power drive of
Hoover U3101-900 and Penner• 6049 took
getting used to.)
D- Beating brush is positioned very close to one
edge of nozzle housing; aids carpet cleaning
close to wall.
E-Judged easier to push over carpet than most
other suction-only canisters.
F - Relatively high suction; judged more suitable
than other uprights for use with hose attach-
ments.
G-Can be used as blower.
H -Requires slightly less clearance (5% in.) than
most uprights to reach 1 ft. under furniture.
I - Easier than most to use on stairs.
J- Has 2 or more speeds; lowest speed signifi-
cantly quieter than highest.
K - Power nozzle has overload protector to guard
against overheating from object stuck in
brush.
L- Power nozzle has window for monitoring con-
dition of drive belt.
M - Indicator shows dust level in bag.
N - Indicator signals when dust bag is full (but
not for Electrolux 1451E when used with
attachments) .
0 - Has interlock to prevent machine from oper-
ating without dust bag.
P- Handgrip particularly comfortable.
Q-Very convenient on-off switch.
A-Convenient on-off switch .
S- Has cord reel with button or pedal release.
T - Has cord reel, released by yanking cord.
U- Particularly long cord (about 30 ft.) .
V - Long cord (22 to 24 ft.) .
W- Relatively quiet for its type.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a - Metal wands with friction fit.
b - Unlike most power-nozzle canisters, requires
pile-height adjustment for optimum carpet
cleaning.
c -Changing setting for pile-height adjustment
was inconvenient.
d - Loose and wobbly power-nozzle and wand
joint; more difficult to control than most oth-
ers.
e -Ability to pick up litter from carpet surface
worse than that of other models.
f- Unlike most canisters, lacks means of reduc-
ing suction.
g - More difficult than most to use on stairs.
h - Tools cannot be stored on or in canister.
i - Handgrip on hose handle uncomfortable for
small hands.
j- Requires slightly more clearance (4 in.) than
most canisters to reach 1 ft. under furniture.
k-Requires slightly more clearance (8 In.) than
most uprights to reach 1 ft. under furniture.
I - Relatively high current draw.
m - Plastic wands with friction fit; may be difficult
to pull apart.
n - Hose flimsy; tended to kink when bent.
o- Unlike most uprights, lacks handhold for con-
venient carrying .
p-Catch on cord reel hard to engage.
q - Full bag difficult to remove without ripping.
r - Power nozzle, lacking detent tor maintaining
upright position, often fell over.
s - Inconvenient on-off switch.
t -Very inconvenient on-off switch.
u-Lacks wall/floor brush.
v- Lacks dusting brush.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-According to company, model discontinued
but may be available in some retail stores.
8-Has 2 speeds, but low speed judged not
much quieter than high speed.
C- Has permanent cloth dust bag; judged messy
to empty, but saves on cost of disposable
bags.
0- Unlike most uprights, has permanent motor
filter. judged easy to remove and clean.
E-Unlike most canisters, has disposable motor
filter, judged easy to replace.
F- Uses both permanent and disposable motor
filters.
G-Cord storage may be improved with optional
automatic cord winder, $31.
H-Has head lamp.
/-Has on/off switch for power nozzle.
J- Has plastic wands with locking provision.
K-2-yr. warranty.
L- Has 3-prong grounding plug.
M- No separate motor filter aside from bag.
N- Model number given is current number of
model CU tested; according to Penneys, the
models tested and their replacements are
essentially similar.
0- Has permanent cloth dust bag; can also use
disposable bags.
170 VACUUM CLEANERS
cleaners were the similar Hoover U3101-
900 and Penneys 6049 self-propelled up-
rights. Next best were the Eureka 5060
self-propelled upright and three Hoover
canisters with power nozzle. The worst at
deep carpet cleaning were the two Royal
uprights and the Douglas C6675 power-
nozzle unit.
We didn't test suction-only canisters for
deep carpet cleaning. Our previous tests
indicated that they wouldn't do nearly as
well as machines whose nozzle has a power
brush and beaters. But we did expect them,
as well as all the other machines, to be
effective at picking up surface litter from
carpets. The suction-only Panasonic
MC771 was the only cleaner unable to gulp
up some short lengths of thread from a
plush rug in one or two passes.
The strength of a vacuum cleaner's suc-
tion doesn't tell much about performance
on carpet, but it's a good indicator of a
cleaner's ability in bare-Boor dusting and
in cleaning jobs above the Boor.
Suction at first was satisfactory in all the
canisters, and particularly high in three
power-nozzle models- a Sears, a Penneys,
and a W ards. With many canisters,
though, suction started to drup rapidly
after the bag had become about a quarter
full, a decline that soon set a limit to the
usable capacity of the bag. With three
Hoover canisters, the decline was relatively
slow; they could work longer than other
canisters without needing a fresh bag.
The uprights proved to be generally low
in suction. But that fact bears only on their
use with hose attachments, not on their
primary job of carpet cleaning. Only the
Electrolux Deluxe 1451E could match even
the weakest canisters in suction. That mod-
el, we'd say, would be the upright best
suited for off-the-carpet work.
By and large, the useful bag capacity of
the uprights was a good deal greater than
that of the canisters. The suction created
by a typical upright is scarcely affected by
dirt buildup.
CONVENIENCE. A canister's on-off switch
should be plainly visible from standing
height and easy to operate by foot. Most
canisters have a pedal switch on the hose
side of the tank. The Panasonics ' arrange-
ment is much better-prominent step-on
buttons and a red-Bag "on" indicator. The
setup on the Douglas models is considera-
bly worse-a toggle switch located in a
recess at the canister's rear.
Vacuums can be rather raucous appli-
ances. Nine models let you switch the vac-
uum's speed down a notch or more, a fea-
ture that should let you reduce noise. But
only six of the multispeed models offer the
advantage of appreciably quieter opera-
tion at a lower speed.
For deep carpet cleaning, the nozzles of
a number of models are supposed to be
raised or lowered to suit the particular car-
pet you're working on. Setting the nozzle
may prove a small nuisance. With some
models, the adjustment is inconvenient, or
the position reached is only vaguely indi-
cated. Four high-rated uprights and most
of the power-nozzle canister units don't
require adjustment in normal operation.
Understandably, the three models with
power-assisted wheels-the top-rated
Hoover, Penneys, and Eureka uprights-
were easy to push, although it took a bit of
a knack to keep the Hoover and the Pen-
neys under control.
Most power-nozzle canisters were easier
to maneuver than the bulky uprights. But a
loose and wobbly joint between the power
nozzle and wands of seven models pro-
voked a sense of uneasy control.
In the hunt for surface litter, few of the
suction-only canisters moved smoothly
over carpet.
Most models work only with disposable
dust bags; the Singer UHD4 upright can
use its permanent cloth bag instead. The
Royal 153 upright won't accept paper
bags; its cloth bag was messy to empty.
But so were the disposable bags in a num-
ber of machines.
 VACUUM CLEANERS, FLOOR POLISHES .171
The easiest and most sanitary bags to
change are the self-sealing pop-in, pop-out
kind used in the Electrolux models.
In most canisters, there's a filter in the
airflow behind the bag to protect the
motor. Some filters are permanent, and
some are disposable; all were judged either
easily removed and cleaned or easily re-
placed. The Electrolux Deluxe 1453 is the
only canister without a motor filter, but
it's protected to a degree by an interlock
that prevents the unit from running with-
out a bag.
Most uprights are of a different design
that requires no motor protection. In only
three models is dirt apt to be drawn past
the bag and toward the motor. The two
Panasonic uprights guard their motor with
permanent filters. Like its power-nozzle
brandrnate, the Electrolux Deluxe 1451E
has a dust-bag interlock.
RECOMMENDATIONS. H your home has ex-
panses of carpeting, an upright would be a
wise choice. H your decor tends toward
bare Boors, loose mats, and a busy layout,
you might do better with a suction-only
canister. If, however, your home doesn't
lend itself to such distinct typecasting, you
might need a power-nozzle canister, a two-
in-one machine-or even two machines, an
upright and a suction-only canister.
The last suggestion need not be as
extravagant as you might imagine. Let's
say that, having decided against any of the
really top-notch machines as too expen-
sive, you're considering instead the pur-
chase of an inexpensive power-nozzle
model with good performance. (Make it
the Hoover S3189, at $160.) As an alterna-
tive, you could probably buy a satisfactory
upright (the Eureka 1425, for example, at
$100) and a satisfactory canister (the Hoov-
er S3183, say, at $90) for very little more.
And the combination of two machines
would represent appreciably higher value,
in our judgment.

Floor polishes
Condensed from Consumer Reports, January 1982
There's a passion for polishing Boors so thane-finished, no-wax Booring, the no-
powerful, apparently, that household- wax products made no real difference in
product manufacturers think they can sell appearance. On no-wax vinyl-surfaced
"waxes" for "no-wax" floors. And they can. flooring, whose shine is less glaring, the
Some resilient-flooring polishes are tar- products added a touch of gloss-but not,
geted specifically for no-wax surfaces. Oth- we judged a scintilla of protection. Like
ers are earmarked for wood Booring. many polishes, they should improve the
NO-WAX WAXES. Manufacturers strive appearance of noticeably worn areas,
mightily to squeeze some sense from this which probably won't develop for years.
anomaly. One might explain it as harsh As it was, we found little difference in the
commentary by polish makers on the qual- performance of products labeled for and
ity of no-wax floors-except that two of the tested on no-wax flooring, and we've omit-
polish makers (Amtico and Armstrong) ted from Ratings consideration the four not
recommend their no-wax preparations for recommended for any other surface. They
their own no-wax flooring. were Annstrong Suncoat, Glamorene Shine
Our test findings don't explain the Guard, Johnson Wax Brite, and Perk.
anomaly, either. On very shiny, polyure- RESILIENT-FLOOR POLISHES. Polish improves
Text continued page 174
 ......
Ratings of floor polishes ~
Listed by types; within types, ucts marked with * are labeled those paid by CU shoppers.
listed in order of estimated over- for use on no-wax as well as reg- ~
all quality based on appearance
after wear. Products judged
ular resilient flooring. Except as
noted, all require occasional €9e o~• ~
'"C:1
equal in quality are bracketed stripping and none requi re buff-
and listed alphabetically. Prod- ing. Prices are the average of
Beller WorH
g
~
~
C/j

Product ( (l._,c,•

For regular resilient flooring

[ARMSTRONG SUPER DURELLE $4.62 $1 .75 32 M 0
• 0 0 e A

e----
BRUCE SELF-POLISHING 4.75 .90 64 M 0 0 0 0 e B,C
SCOTCH BUY CLEANS & SHINES

[ • AMTICO SOLVER LABEL

1.75
3.63
.67
1.63
32
27
H
M
0
e
0
0 •
0
e
e
0
0
B,G
A,D
BUTCHER'S GREEN STRIPE WAX
FOR KITCHEN FLOORS 2.26 1.63 32 H e • e G> e-- A,E,F

JOHNSON WAX GLO-COAT

• MOP & GLO FLOOR SHINE CLEANER
3.10
2.39
1.40
.32
27
32
L
L
e
e e--
--
0
0
e
0
0
e •• A,C
B
(AMWAY SELF-POLISHING 5.90 1. 11 32 M 0 0 0 0 0 A
FORMICA FLOOR SHINE 3.07 1. 17 32 L 0 --
0 0 ~ e • D
 ARMSTRONG MIRASHEEN 4.57 1.74 32 M

---- ----0
0 e •• A

e--
JOHNSON WAX KLEAR 3.22 1.45 27 M 0 0 0 A,C
TREWAX GOLD LABEL SEALER AND WAX 4.13 1.86 27 M 0 0 0 A,F
A&P SELF-POLISHING ACRYLIC
* AEROWAX
1.81
2.93
.82
1.33
27
27
L
M •-- e0
••
0
~
• e
e
0
~
A
B

••-- •
BEACON SELF-POLISHING 2.02 .91 27 M e ~ 0 A
* JOHNSON WAX FUTURE ACRYLIC
* JOHNSON WAX STEP SAVER
3.12
2.38
1.41
.90
27
32
M
L •• 0
0
0
e
0
e ••--
C,D
B,G
JOHNSON WAX SUPER BRAVO

For wood flooring

5.53 1.46 46 M
• 0 e •-- e D

[BRUCE C<EAN •WAX

BRUCE DARK TONE
5.82
2.88
1. 11
1.30
64
27
H
H
0
0
0
0 •• 0
0
0
0
0
0
B,E,H
B,E,I
JOHNSON WAX BEAUTIFLOR
WOOD PREEN
3.35
2.07
1.51
.79
27
32
H
H
0
0
0
0 •• 0
0
0
0
0
0
B,E
B,E,H
JOHNSON WAX KLEAR WOOD FLOOR WAX
BRUCE ONE STEP
4.42
2.84
2. 00
1.28
27
27
H
H
0 0
0
•e• ----
0
0
0
0
B
B
BISSELL ONE STEP WOOD FLOOR CARE 2.91
OJ Applied according to manufacturer's recommendations.
1.11 32 H
•--
~ L, Low; M, medium; H, high.
0
--
0 0 B ~
0
~
KEY TO COMMENTS "'ti
A- Not labeled as self-cleaning product.
B - Labeled as self-cleaning product.
E - Requires buffing.
F - Label recommendations include use
H -Lacks safety closure on size tested.
I - Polish contains coloring agent; for
g
C - Label indicates product may be used on sealed wood floors, but CU dis- use on dark floors only. ~
~
diluted to "refresh" shine when agrees
damp-mopping; judged minimally ef- G- Label makes no mention of need to
fective in such use. strip product, or says product needn't t°/j
D - Not labeled as self-cleaning product be stripped.
but excellent in that test. ......
-:i
c.:i
174 FLOOR POLISHES, UPHOLSTERYCLEANERS
the looks of regular tile or sheet flooring
partly by sealing its relatively porot1S1sur-
face. The effect of the type of Boor on the
performance of the polish is demonstrated
by four dual-t1Se products. (Johnson's Fu-
ture A crylic wasn't labeled for no-wax use
until after our tests were done.) They did
equally well on no-wax flooring. But on
regular flooring, Map & Clo and Amtico
Silver Label kept the surface much cleaner
and shinier than did A erowax and Step Sav-
er. But best of all were three regular pol-
ishes: Armstrong Super Durelle, Bruce Self-
Polishing. and Scotch Buy (a Safeway
brand).
Polishes for resilient flooring are water-
hased emulsions that impart more of a
satin luster than a mirror finish to a dull
surface like that of vinyl-asbestos tiles.
None of the products kept vinyl-asbestos
tiles pristine, although the best kept them
considerably cleaner than the worst.
Some of the regular polishes involve
considerably more work than others. Pol-
ishes that aren't good at self-cleaning
require a clean Boor before they're ap-
plied-otherwise, ,you encase the dirt and
old polish in plastic. We tested all the reg-
ular polishes for their self-cleaning ability,
whether they were labeled as self-cleaning
or not. Oddly, most of the products best at
cleaning are not so labeled.
WOOD FLOOR POLISHES. For those people
who still wax their wood Boors (instead of
giving them a no-wax polyurethane finish),
we tested seven waxes. Four reqhire buff-
ing, and three are "one-step," or self-pol-
ishing, waxes.
The buffing waxes best withstood a
month-long wear test. Apart from a few
scratches, all were shiny and clean-looking.
Buffing (by machine, the easy way)
brought them back to a very high shine,
and another coat of wax hid the scratches
as well. The only criticism we can make of
them, in fact, is that they were quite slip-
pery. But that's what you get from a hard,
high-gloss wax.
The one-step wood waxes were notice-
ably duller and dirtier than the buffing
waxes after the wear test. Their conve-
nience in application is more than count-
ered by their relatively poor showing.
Because water can damage and discolor
wood, wood-Boor waxes are suspended in a
petroleum solvent such as naphtha. Conse-
quently, they are much more hazardous
substances than water-based polishes and
should be used with good ventilation. (The
labels of two of the water-based polishes
we tested say they can he used on wood
floors, too, hut we wouldn't risk it. If the
finish has been breached, the wood could
he damaged by the water.)

Upholstery cleaners
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1981
Cleaning your own upholstered furniture will remove dirt and leave the fabric look-
is much cheaper than hiring a commercial ing brighter. Even so, applying an uphol-
service. We tested do-it-yourself uphol- stery cleaner may change the feel, shape,
stery cleaners for effectiveness and versa- texture, warmth of coloring, or overall
tility in application. We also evaluated look of the fabric. After cleaning, a fiat-
some products meant to protect fabrics; textured fabric might become plushy; pile
they're discussed below. fabrics may become matted. You should
CLEANING. The most effective cleaners, ap- test any cleaner on an inconspicuotlS patch
plied carefully to an appropriate fabric, of fabric before t1Sing it.
 UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS, ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS 175
Try to get by with frequent dry brushing
and vacuuming for as long as you can. If
you must use an upholstery cleaner, do so
gently and sparingly; it's better to reapply
a cleaner than to he overgenerous the first
time. (Note that the liquids tended to soak
through fabrics in our tests.) To protect
your hands, wear rubber or plastic gloves.
CHOICE. Look for high-rated products suit-
able for the type of fabric you need to
clean-forget the others. If you need to
clean velvet or velour without risking
damage to the fabric's appearance or feel,
consider the Blue Lustre Dry powder: It
goes on dry, so it won't mat the pile. How-
ever, more than one application may be
needed, and it's very inconvenient to apply
and clean up. When using the powder,
wear a dust mask, goggles, and gloves.
FABRIC PROTECTORS. We tested three prod-
ucts designed to shield fabrics from dirt,
spills, and stains. Scotchgard Fabric Protec-
tar (about $4 for a one-pound can) and
/\. Mart Fabric Protector (about $2.65 for a
one-pound can) are ready-to-use aerosols;
Amway Concentrated Anti-Soil (about
$5.40 per quart), a liquid, must be diluted
first. We estimated the cost of one thor-
ough application of each product on a pair
of upholstered armchairs and a 78-inch
sofa. The Scotchgard would give protec-
tion from spills and modest protection
from dirt for about $28; the K Mart would
do about as well with spills and not quite
as well with dirt for about $17. Since the
K Mart often required two applications for
adequate repellency, the Scotchgard is
likely to be the more economical of the
two sprays. The Amway could keep our
three pieces free of dirt for only about $2.
It's fine for keeping dirt off furnihue with
flat-textured upholstery, hut it's not meant
for pile fabrics, nor does it guard against
spills and stains. Before using any fabric
protector, you should test your upholstery
for colorfastness and shrinkage.

Ratings of upholstery cleaners

Listed by groups in order of estimated overall quality based on laboratory
judgments of cleaning effectiveness and versatility. Within groups, listed
alphabetically.
CARBONA SHAMPOOZER FOR RUGS & UPHOLSTERY. GLAMORENE DEODORIZING. TUR-
TLE WAX VELOUR. WESTLEY'S VELOUR.

The following were judged lower in overall quality than those preceding.
AMWAY CONCENTRATED RUG & UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO. BISSELL UPHOLSTERY
SHAMPOO FOR HOME AND CAR. BLUE LUSTRE CARPET & UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO.
BLUE LUSTRE CONCENTRATED. BLUE LUSTRE DRY, NEW. SEARS. TURTLE WAX LEATH-
ER VINYL FABRIC. WOOLITE.

All-purpose cleaners
Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1982
We tested 31 cleaners-liquids, sprays, and CLEANING. To prepare for a controlled
powders-in a product category character- scrubbing test on well-soiled white wall
ized by cleaning claims of "more": more panels and floor tiles, we diluted the liquid
dirt, more rooms, more things. and powder cleaners according to their
Text continued page 178
 ~
Ratings of all-purpose cleaners -1
O')

Listed by types; within types, floor tile or counter-top surfaces erage paid by CU shoppers. ::i:...

~
listed in order of estimated over- such as laminated plastic. Ex-
all quality. Products judged
equal in estimated overall quality
are listed in order of increasing
cost per use. None marred vinyl
cept as noted, all come in un-
breakable container, lack safety
closure, and could not remove
crayon marks. Prices are the av-
®
Better
e 0 ~
•
w..,.. §3
"tj
&j
t:.>j
~

0
.~~ i.1-'~~ ~
'!>.. :i:;:
rf p.•
Product
'lo:
..~ ~
°'~-.:
)o,.• •
ii'"'
cl' / ~
'.<::
Cl.)

Liquids
LYSOL DEODORIZING 28 $1.72 $0. 12 0 0 e 0 O,F,G,H
MR.CLEAN 28 2.06 0. 15 0 0 e 0 F,G,H
AJAX PINE FOREST 28 1.74 0.12 0 0 0 0 F,G,H
TOP JOB 28 2. 16 0. 15 0 0 0 0 A,O,F,G,H
AJAX WITH AMMONIA 28 1.56 0. 11 e e 0 0 A,B,F,G,H
AMWAY L.O.C. 32 4.90 0. 15 e e ~ 0 D,F,G,H
SCOTCH BUY DEODORIZING
DISINFECTANT (Safeway) 28 1.54 0. 11 e 0 ~ e O,F,G,H,J

PINE POWER 28 2.17 0.16 e 0 0 om F,H

JANITOR IN A DRUM 32 1. 15 0.29 e 0 0 0 O,E,F
LYSOL DEODORIZING 2 28 1.77 0. 13 0 0 0 e D,G,H
SEA MIST PINE 24 1. 18 0. 10 0 0 ~ om D,G,H
LESTOIL PINE 28 1.96 0.14 0 e ~ om O,F,G,H
WILBERT FRESH PINE SCENT 14 0.96 0.14 0 0 e --OJ D,F,G,H
PINE-SOL 28 2.56 0.18 0 0 --OJ G,H,K
PINE CLEANER (A&P generic)
LYSOL CONCENTRATED
15
12
0.83
1.48
0.11
0.14
----
e
0
---- --OJ D,G, H,K
D, E,F,G,H,K

Sprays
4 + 1 CONCENTRATE 16 1.96 0.23 0 e
-- --
e 0 B,E,F,H,I
WOOLWORTH WOOLCO SPRAY 22 1.22 0.55 0 0 0 e E,F,H,l,l
FORMULA409 22 1.28 0.58 0 0 0 e F, l,L
WALGREENS SUPER SPRAY 32 1.49 0.47 0 0 0 0 H
SCOTCH BUY INSTANT (Safeway) 22 1. 19 0.54 0 0 0 0 F,H,L
GREASE RELIEF 16 1.46 0.91 e e 0 e G,L
SENSATION 22 0.90 0.41 e 0 e 0 E,F,H,l,l
BIG WALLY (aerosol) 20 2.48 1.24 e 0 0 0 E,F, G,H,I

~
FANTASTIK 22 1.28 0.58 0 e 0 E,F,G, H,l,l

Powders
e
--
e §
SPIC AND SPAN (with phosphates) 54 2. 14 0.06 0 0 G,H
'"ti
SOILAX 3 54 1.43 0.12 0 0 e e C,G,H
~
FORMULA10 12 3.89 1.10 0 0 e e G,H ~
SAVOGRAN TSP 16 1.64 0. 10 e 0 e 0 F,G,H
~
SPIC AND SPAN (without phosphates) 54 2. 14 0.10 e 0 0 0 G,H
~
0 0 0
~
SOILAX 44 2.39 0.05 F,G,H
OJ When tested at full or recommended strength for spot-cleaning, product damaged paint. Judgment is
based on spot-cleaning done at-labeled general-cleaning strength. -- ~
....
~
Key to Comments on next page ~
178 ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Contains ammonia compounds; do not
mix with chlorine bleach.
B - Much more effective than most at remov-
ing crayon marks.
C-When used as scouring powder, much
more effective than most at removing
crayon marks.
D- Unwiped cleaner marred paint.
E- Unwlped cleaner marred glass.
F- Unwlped cleaner marred aluminum.
G- Unwlped cleaner marred copper.
H- Unwlped cleaner marred stainless steel.
I- Unwiped cleaner marred ceramic tile.
J- Has child-resistant closure.
K-Comes In glass bottle.
L- Has spray nozzle that can be turned to
"off" position.

instructions for "general cleaning" and
poured them onto sponges. We soaked
damp sponges with the sprays, used
straight from the nozzle.
No cleaner restored the wall panels and
fioor tiles to perfect whiteness. But the
best ones removed nearly all the dirt.
Cleaners that were judged poorest at clean-
ing Boors hardly cleaned at all; they sim-
ply smeared the dirt around. Cleaners that
did poorly on walls lifted some of the
grime, but not much.
To test spot-cleaning, we chose pencil,
red crayon, and a sticky black grease as
typical spots that an all-purpose cleaner
might be expected to remove. Again, we
followed the label recommendations in
determining the strength at which to use
each cleaner. Sprays were used ~11-
strength on the sponges, as were many of
the liquids and powders.
Pencil marks proved the easiest of the
three spots to remove; many of the prod-
ucts erased the marks completely. Grease
was tougher; even the best cleaners left a
faint shadow of grease on the white-
painted panel. The crayon marks defeated
all but A;ax With Ammonia, Soilax 3 (used
as scouring powder), and 4+ 1 spray.
No cleaner was tops for all the purposes
we tested-walls, floors, and spots. But sev-
eral were good enough to earn a top Rating
for "general cleaning."
DAMAGE. While testing the cleaners for
spot-cleaning, we noticed that several liq-
uids at full strength removed the paint
from our test panels along with the dirt.
None, however, removed paint with one
pass of the sponge, so even those noted in
the Ratings as marring paint could be used
full-strength on a wall or cupboard if you
were gentle and careful to rinse them off
right away.
To see what other materials might be
damaged-if only by errant drips-we
dotted various common household-surface
materials with drops of full-strength liq-
uids and sprays and with mounds of wetted
powders, and then let them sit over a
weekend. Some sprays and a couple of the
liquid cleaners turned glass frosty. Most
cleaners left marks on various metals com-
mon in the home-aluminum, copper, even
stainless steel. Many of the labels warn
against use on one or another surface, but
some cleaners damaged surfaces that
weren't included in their label's list of
cautions.

For the full story

The date of the original article in CONSUMER REPORTS appears at the
head of each Ratings list. In the absence of Ratings, this date usually
appears in the text. For a more complete report, consult the original
version. (For back issues, see page~-)
 BED SHEETS, SMOKE DETECTORS 179
Bed sheets
Condensed from Con ~ umer
We tested 27 brands of sheets and pillow-
cases, including polyester I cotton blends,
all-cottons, and satins. All the blends and
most of the cottons and satins we tested
have a no-iron finish. Within types, we
don't think the differences are important
enough to warrant choosing one brand
over another-except for price.
COMFORT. Percale sheets generally have
180 or more threads per square inch. They
come in cotton or blends. Muslin is coarser
than percale, with about 130 threads per
square inch, and it's usually slightly cheap-
er. People with a sensitive touch may find
that muslin doesn't feel as soft and smooth
as percale. But muslin sheets allow better
air circulation.
With the blends, a predominance of cot-
ton doesn't always assure comfort. Overall,
our home-use testers liked a 50 percent
cotton/5() percent polyester blend and all-
cotton sheets equally. Some panelists said
that no-iron cotton wrinkled a bit more on
the bed than a blend.
The satin sheets felt cool at first, but
they quickly became hot and clammy,
according to our testers. Most of them
found the satins exasperatingly slippery.
STRENGTH. Within the blends, the more
polyester, the stronger the sheet, in gener-
al. The seamed comers of fitted sheets take
Smoke detectors
Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1980
Smoke detectors are home fire-alarm de-
vices the size of small ceiling-light fixtures.
They provide timely warnings that save
lives.
Reports. January 1981
the most stress. We noted three types of
seam: folded and sewn flat, with both sides
appearing finished; overcast-stitched; and
finished with seam tape. The first type
proved strongest in our tests, and ·might
save you from repair jobs if your mattress
is a bit oversized. In a store, of course, you
can't check the comer stitching through
the sheet's plastic packaging, and you
probably won't be permitted to open the
package. But if the sheets you want are
displayed on a made-up bed, try to check
the seams.
SHOPPING. The blends we bought ranged
from $4.5() to $22 per sheet for full-sized
percales and from $5 to $8 per sheet for
muslins. The cottons were $12 to $17 and
the satins, $12 to $25. Even if you're will-
ing to pay extra for a particular pattern or
color, it still pays to shop around. You
might also wait for white sales, which are
held in January and July.
Irregulars can be a good buy if the flaw
is cosmetic (an off-color, for instance) rath-
er than functional (frayed edges, slight
tears, or missing threads). Inspect irregu-
lars carefully before using them. If you
find a functional flaw, return the sheet to
the store.
Be sure to check the dimensions on the
package; top sheets can vary in size.
Two kinds of detector are generally sold
for homes: ionization and photoelectric.
Ionization detectors are the quicker-by 20
to 30 seconds-to detect a fast-burning
Te:d continued page 182
 ......
Ratings of smoke detectors 00
0

Listed by type, photoelectric or a basic system, at least two lever, or switch . Prices are 1JJ
ionization. Photoelectric models detectors-one that reacts rounded to nearest dollar; + in- ~
are listed by groups in order of quickly to slow fires and one that dicates shipping is extra; * indi- ~
speed of response to a slow, reacts quickly to fast fires. All cates price is approximate. t.:tj

~
smoldering fire. Ionization mod- operate on one 9-volt alkaline
els are listed by groups in order battery, give a "low-battery"
~
Above lelow
of speed of response to a fast signal, and come with screws for overage Average average
fire. Within groups, listed in order -
of increasing price. Consider, as
wall or ceiling mounting. Except
as noted, all have a test button,
Speed of
response to:
0 0
• Q

~
:...•
e(lo

~~
,,o
Photoelectric models
ADT7535
CHLORIDE PYROTECTOR 3077
$25
30• •• 0
0
0
0
Harsh, steady alarm.
Flashing red light indicates readiness to operate. Harsh, slow-
pulsing alarm.
PITTWAY SA30011l 55 0 0 0 Combination ionization/photoelectric unit . Flashing red light
indicates readiness to operate. Harsh, steady alarm .
WELLS FARGO PSC30[IJ

Ionization models
43
• 0
• Combination ionization/photoelectric unit. Slow-pulsing alarm.

ARCHER 49454 17 0
• 0 Flashing red light indicates readiness to operate. High-pitched,
steady alarm .
WELLS FARGO P5810
GENERAL ELECT RIC 8201401
23
28
0
0 ·•• 0
0
Somewhat harsh, steady alarm.
High-pitched, quick-pulsing alarm.
PITTWAY SA76RC 30 0
• 0 Flashing red light indicates readiness to operate. High-pitched,
quick-pulsing alarm. Can operate with carbon-zinc batteries (not
tested) as well as with alkaline batteries, according to
manufacturer.

STATITROL 809A
EMHART 035815
14
20
0
0 •• 0
0
High-pitched, quick-pulsing alarm.
Steady alarm .
HONEYWELL CD200A 20 0
• 0 Has a sensitivity control; effectiveness appeared negligible. High-
pitched, steady alarm .
FYRNETICS F900D
NORELCO HB09338
22
24
0
0 •• 0
0
Steady alarm.
Steady alarm.
WESTCLOX 83090 27 0 0
• "Portable." Comes with door bracket that should measure 2'/,. in.
for a 2-in.-thick door. Some samples have faulty brackets that
measure 2'/,. in. Harsh, slow-pulsing alarm.
PITTWAY SA300[1] 55 0 0 0 Combination ionization/photoelectric unit. Flashing red light
indicates readiness to operate. Harsh, steady alarm .

••
NORELCO HB0933 24 0 0 Steady alarm. No test button. Has "no battery" flag.
WELLS FARGO P5C30[!]
[TI Identical models.
43
III Identical models.
0
• Combination ionization/photoelectric unit. Slow-pulsing alarm. ~

~
t:tj

~
~
(')

cs
SJ
1--'
00
1--'
182 SMOKE DETECTORS
blaze, such as burning paper or Bammable
liquids. A few seconds can make a life-or-
death difference in this kind of fire. Photo-
electric models respond earlier- by 20
minutes or more-to slow, smoldering fires
of the type caused by a cigarette dropped
on bedding or upholstered furniture. The
latter type of fire is much the more com-
mon and probably causes more deaths and
injuries.
An alarm that combines the two types of
detector would seem to be ideal, but the
two such models we tested had less than
ideal performance and cost much more
than the combined price of the top-rated
ionization and photoelectric detectors.
CONVENIENCE. All the detectors work with
a single nine-volt alkaline battery, which
should last about a year. Each model will
signal you -with a gentle, periodic beep
when the battery mns down.
All the alarms should wake most people
if the detector is near the bedroom. Heavy
sleepers may want to choose from among
the loudest models, which put out twice
the sound of the softest.
Most of the units provide a test button,
lever, or switch meant to let you check
whether the battery is live and the alarm
working. A button-test could give a reas-
suring result even though dirt might be
preventing the unit from detecting smoke.
We think checks with actual smoke give
more reliable results than tests with a but-
ton. A smoking cigarette held six inches
below a photoelectric detector should
sound the alarm. (Be patient-the faint
smoke might take 30 seconds or so to get
through the sensing chamber.) With ion-
ization models, a Baming wooden match
should he used. You should check your
detectors once a week.
Smoke from a fireplace or cookstove
may set off the detector as readily as
smoke from a real fire, even though the
detector is installed at some distance from
the source of the smoke. If the model you
buy does react to normal cooking fumes,
fanning the smoke away from the detector
should silence it quickly. To avoid fre-
quent nuisance alarms, don't install a de-
tector in a kitchen, close to a fireplace, in a
garage, or in the same space that houses
your furnace.
PLACEMENT. Since you can't predict wheth-
er a given household fire will he fast- or
slow-burning, we think it's safest to install
a system consisting of at least one photo-
electric and one ionization model. Place an
ionization detector in a hallway just out-
side your bedroom doors. It then will he
most readily heard during sleeping hours,
should it ever respond to the racing smoke
of a fast fire.
The location of the other, photoelectric,
unit depends on whether your home has
one or two levels. In a two-level house, put
it downstairs in the general living area,
where it can best detect smoke from smol-
dering upholstery or mgs. Mount it near a
stairway to the sleeping area, if possible,
hut not in a kitchen. In one-level homes,
the photoelectric detector in your system
can he put some distance away from the
bedrooms and toward the living quarters.
All the tested detectors can be mounted
on a ceiling or a wall. Ideally, the detectors
should he mounted in the middle of a ceil-
ing; if not, they should he no closer than six
inches to a comer. Wall-mounted units
should he between 6 and 12 inches from
the ceiling.
For added protection, you might want
to put another detector in the basement.
Either type of detector can he used there,
but we suggest the photoelectric design.
Install the unit away from your nrrnace.
An ideal installation would have a photo-
electric and an ionization detector at each
level of a house; smokers should put an
extra photoelectric unit ,i n the bedroom.
The instmctions with most of the detec-
tors advise you to sleep with your bed-
room door closed. That's debatable advice.
Although the closed door would slow the
progress of hot gases and smoke into the

bedroom, it would also mute the alarm,
perhaps costing precious seconds of escape
time before waking someone. Further-
more, with the door open, the detector will
respond more quickly to a fire that starts in
the Qedroom itself, and alert other occu-
pants faster.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Since discounts and
rebate offers are very common, shop
BURGLAR ALARMS 183
around for the cheapest combination of
two fast performers from their respective
Ratings groups. Tf space or other consider-
ations don't allow you to install two detec-
tors, consider the Pittway SA300 combina-
tion model. At $55, that model is a reason-
able though expensive compromise. We
don't think you should opt for an ioniza-
tion model alone.

Burglar alarms
Condensed from Consumer Reports . August 1981
Police believe that many burglars are ama- Motion detectors are the easier type to
teurs who would flee if an alarm sounded set up; many are also easy to move around.
or lights came on. Thus, you could consid- But if you use them while you're home,
erably reduce the risk of a burglary by they inhibit your movements. And unless
installing an alarm system. We tested rela- it's carefully aimed, a motion detector can
tively simple security systems that a do- be set off by anything that moves-a pet, a
it-yourselfer could install without needing rustling curtain, some even by an air cur-
to nm wires inside the walls. rent from a heating or air-conditioning
Different houses and apartments pose vent.
different security problems, and a system Perimeter systems can provide protec-
that's perfect for one home may be wrong tion whether you're home or away, and
for another. Therefore, we didn't rank the they won't restrict movements within the
tested systems. The alphabetical Listings home. But the perimeter systems we tested
do, however, note their strong and weak won't stop a burglar who climbs in through
points. a broken window instead of raising the
These systems wouldn 't be much chal- sash. And installation can be difficult, since
lenge to seasoned thieves. A sophisticated, some of the systems are elaborately wired.
professionally installed security system, So-called wireless perimeter systems are
which could cost a couple of thousand dol- less conspicuous and easier to install,
lars or more, might be a better investment though they require some wiring if you
if you have unusually valuable things to want to keep the cost reasonable.
protect. With either type of perimeter system,
TYPES. Perimeter protectors detect intmd- you have to choose between sensor switch-
ers in the act of entering. Simply opening a es that are normally open and those that
window or an outside door sets off the are normally closed. A normally closed
alarm. Most motion detectors don't oper- system signals a broken wire immediately
ate until an intmder is in the home. They by sounding the alarm when you turn on
sound off only after they detect movement the system. But then you have no protec-
within the area they're protecting. For tion until the fault is fixed. In a normally
greater protection (at greater cost), you open system, a break would go unnoticed
can install both types of system. until you made a routine inspection,
Tert continued page 188
 ......
Listings of burglar alarms (perimeter systems) ~
Listed by types; within types, on 9-volt disposable battery noted, all wired systems can use ~
listed in alphabetical order. Ex- (not furnished) , and all receiv- a second horn. Additional sen- ~
cept as noted, all wired systems ers operate on 120-volt house sors will usually be needed. + ~
operate on 12-volt disposable current, with standby rechargea- indicates shipping is extra. Dis- ~
lantern battery (not furnished), ble or disposable battery. All counts may be available. :i:...
all wireless transmitters operate wireless systems and, except as
~
~
rJ:i
.~o
~l •o
~ 0
'!<.e~·~ .~IS'e\ ~'Ii.~
~"~ ••
'!\..~· ~·<$
£ :!/-"' '!<.~...\.~·S::
~'Ii .,,..
~· :!1-J>. '!<.~...·S"-
.o ·, _'Ii
\. i" 0 ,,-4. ~·
.,c,• .. \ . ~\(!' o• .~ e~ ~~ o• b~ A,.~<f
!!I'"
q\ "'>;:Ci~ co.;,~ Ci• <:l" (JO~

Wired systems
MASTER 2307 $120 2 $ 7 NO Indoor A ,D,E A.B
RADIO SHACK 49474 100 4 3.49 NC Outdoor B,D a,b c
STATITROL 1200A 110 2 6 NC/NO Indoor C,E D,E
UNIVERSAL BA330 100 6 5.49 NC Outdoor B,D a,b c
Wireless systems
EMHART823 280 3 $35 0 5 NC Indoor F,G,O - G
FIRST ALERT BASOOO 175 40 0 6.50 NC Indoor G,l,L,R - J
FYRNETICS 1719 275 2 34-37 2 11 NO Indoor l,K,l,M,P,T c K
NUTONE S2255 350 2 46 2 5.60 NO Indoor H,l,J,S,T c L
RADIO SHACK 49401 180 30 0 3.49 NC Indoor H,l,N,Q,R - F.I
SEARS Cat. No. 57051 120+
UNIVERSAL PT1000 170
Ul NC-normally closed; NO-normally open. See story for relative advantages of each type.
COMPANY NAMES AND ADDRESSES
Emhart: Notifier Co., 560 Alaska Ave.,
forrance, Calif. 90503. First Alert: BAK
Electronics Div., Pittway Corp., 780
McClure Ave., Aurora, Ill. 60507. Fyrne-
tics: Fyrnetics Inc., 920 Davis Rd., Elgin, Ill.
60120. Master: Master Lock Co., 2600 N.
32nd St., Milwaukee 53210. Nutone: Nu-
tone Div., Scovill Mfg. Co., Madison &
Redbank Ads., Cincinnati 45227. Statitro/:
Statitrol, Div. Emerson Electric Co., 140 S.
Union Blvd., Lakewood, Colo. 80225. Uni-
versal: Universal Security Instruments Inc.,
10324 S. Dolfield Rd., Owings Mills, Md.
21117.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A -All components come prewired with
plugs and sockets.
B - Includes indoor on-off switch.
C- Has light for checking circuit before
armirg.
D - Includes panic button for setting off
alarm by hand.
E- Panic button works even when sys-
tem is unarmed.
F - Has a disarm transmitter for turning
off alarm before entering house.
G - Transmitter has operational test
light.
H - Transmitter can be used as portable
panic button.
I - Each transmitter can be wired to sev-
eral sensors.
0 25 4 NC Indoor l,J,L c,d H
30 0 5 NC Indoor H,l,N,Q,R F.I
J - Transmitter has battery test light. KEY TO COMMENTS
K -Special door transmitter has adjust- A - Outdoor on-off key switch is availa-
able exit and enter delays, and it can ble.
be turned off while others are on. B - Exit delay isn't needed; closing a
L - Smoke detectors can be added to selected door arms the system.
system. C- Requires key-operated outside on-off
M - Console lights can identify 8 zones to switch for indoor mounting of control
pinpoint the location of a break-in. box.
N - Console lights can identify 2 zones to 0-0perates on 120-volt house current.
pinpoint the location of a break-in. £-Uses 12-volt lantern battery (not fur-
0 -Automobile-protection transmitter is nished) for standby power.
available at extra cost. F- Uses six C batteries (not furnished)
P - Accessories use carrier current to re- for standby power for receiver.
motely control lights and siren. G - Uses rechargeable battery (fur-
Q- Enter delay is adjustable at each nished) for standby power for receiv-
transmitter. er.
R - Panic-button transmitter works even H- Uses rechargeable battery (not fur-
when system is unarmed. nished) for standby power for receiv-
S - Automatic dialer is available at extra er.
cost. /-Has numbered keypad for coded
T - Includes 9-volt battery for transmit- shut-off; a gimmick, in CU's judg-
ters. ment. tx;i
J- Uses 9-volt battery (not furnished) ~
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES for standby power for receiver. ~
a - Antitamper switch in c ontrol box K - Uses eight AA batteries (not fur- ~
works only when system is armed. nished) for standby power for receiv- ~
b - Has no provision for second horn or er. ;:i...
bell. L-Uses 12-volt lantern battery (not fur- ~
c - Lacks provision for simple overall nished) for standby power for receiv- ;:i...
testing. er.
d - Panic-button transmitter not availa- ~
~
ble.
i::.Q

'"""
~
 .....
listings of burglar alarms (motion detectors) 00
a-.
Listed in alphabetical order. Ex- special sound. * indicates price model was discontinued at origi-
cept as noted, all have a sensi- is approximate; + indicates nal publication or is not listed in
tivity control and a test light or shipping is extra. IQJ indicates current catalog.

/ /
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,e~ct.:S-':\
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0 P.>e• ~ ~
e ff. ,}-~e
t$- ' IC'
ff·~
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c,JP
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~· b... t$-"'
Q·~•• Cio~
q<..'(j o"' 1'.e I>"'
~"'I ."'I ~· + q~ .,,~ c,• ~ t'

!ID COLORADO IP-16 $150. I 40x12 No No C,D b c

DELTA MINUTEMAN II 237 u 23x10 Yes No A,E,H - 8,F
EMHART VECT ALERT 160 55 L 20x20 No No - a,g D.L
FIRST ALERT BA6000 160 u 25x12 No Yes J g 8,G,K
GENERAL ELECTRIC ZONAR 38 u 30x3 No No - b,e,f,g E,K
HEATHKIT GD49 65 u 25x25 Yes Yes F f A,8,M
HONEYWELL DEFENDER II CK200A 100 u 26x16 Yes Yes I I 8
MASTER 2606 220 u 25x15 Yes Yes A,B,G,I b,f 8
MIDEX55 200 M 50x20 Yes No A,B,H - 8,F,K
!ID RADIO SHACK 49300 80 u 29x26 Yes No I - 8 ,H
RADIO SHACK 49320 220 M 50x20 Yes No A,B,H - 8,F,K
SEARS Cat. No. 57151 100+ u 12x10 Yes Yes C,E,H d,e,I 8
SOLFAN 3225 159 M 23x16 No No C,D c 8 ,F,N
STATITROL 1152A 90 I 18x16 No No C,D b,g
UNIVERSAL ULTRAR U-101 90 u 23x15 Yes No - e,g 8.J.K
[]/-infrared sensitive; L-light sensitive; M-microwave; U-ultrasonic.
COMPANY NAMES AND ADDRESSES
Colorado: Colorado Electro-Optics Inc.,
2200 Central Ave .. Boulder, Colo. 80301 .
Delta: Delta Prods., 630 S. 7th St., Grand
Junction, Colo. 81501 . Emhart: Notifier
Co., 560 Alaska Ave .. Torrance, Calif.
90503. First Alert: BAK Electronics Div.,
Pittway Corp., 780 McClure Ave., Aurora,
Ill. 60507. Master: Master Lock Co., 2600
N. 32nd St., Milwaukee 53210. Midex:
Midex Div., Solian Corp., 665 Clyde Ave. ,
Mountain View, Calif. 94043. So/fan:
Mountain West. 4215 N. 16th St., Phoenix,
Ariz. 85064. Statitrol: Statitrol, Div. Emer-
son Electric Co .. 140 S. Union Blvd. , Lake-
wood, Colo. 80225. Universal: Universal
Security Instruments Inc.. 10324 S. Doi-
field Rd., Owings Mills, Md. 21117.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES KEY TO COMMENTS
A - Can act as control center for normally A- Exit delay can be lengthened during
closed (NC) perimeter system. assembly.
B - Can act as control center for normally 8-0perates on 120-volt house current.
open (NO) perimeter system. C-Operates on 12-volt lantern battery
C - Designed to be part of NC perimeter (not furnished) .
system. 0- Operates on 9-volt battery (fur-
D - Designed to be part of NO perimeter nished) .
system or automatic dialing system. E- Operates on 9-volt battery (not fur-
E - Comes with external horn. nished) .
F - Looks like a book. F- Rechargeable standby battery is built
G - Optional external horn ($50) is trig- in.
gered by carrier current (see story) . G - Uses 9-volt standby battery (not fur-
H - External horn is very" loud ( 100 + nished) .
dB). H- Uses 12-volt standby battery (not fur-
1- Has internal horn that can be nished) .
switched off. /- Operates on six AA batteries (fur-
J - Can be part of a wireless perimeter nished) .
system. J- Uses six standby C batteries (not fur-
nished) .
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES K - Has numbered pushbuttons for coded
a - Alarm sounds for only 12 seconds. shut-off.
b - Lacks sensitivity control. L - 120-volt adapter is available at extra
c - 120-volt adapter is required. cost.
d - Poorly designed sensitivity control; M - Kit must be assembled.
gives maximum sensitivity at center of N - Available from Mountain West as So/-
range. fan S22022.
e-More sensitive than most to moving b::l
hot air.
f - Lacks test light or sound.
g - Has internal horn that cannot be
~
switched off.
~
~
~
~
Cl'j
!--'
00
~
188 BURGLAR ALARMS
though the failure might be confined to
just one window or door. And normally
open systems accept a wider variety of
auxiliary sensors (see Listings) than do the
normally closed systems we tested. Which-
ever you pick, check that any equipment
you might want to add to the system later
is compatible.
A couple of models have remote plug-in
accessories that are triggered by "carrier
current" on the 120-volt house wiring.
Test the system to make sure that the elec-
trical outlets will transmit to each other.
WIRED PERIMETER PROTECTORS. A typical
wired system consists of magnetic sensors
for the windows and outside doors, a con-
trol box, a horn or bell, and electrical wire
to connect all the components. Generally,
a 12-volt battery provides power; it should
last about a year unless the alarm goes off.
Details about each system's components
are noted in the Listings.
A double-hung window normally re-
quires two sensors, one for each sash. You
can save money by closing the upper sash
permanently with long screws; then you
need only one sensor, for the lower sash.
Although most wired perimeter systems
are a bother to install, they're relatively
inexpensive. A typical six-room ranch
house with two outside doors, 11 double-
hung windows, and no basement could be
protected for as little as $190 with the
Rndio Shnck system or as much as $284
with the Master system (including batter-
ies). If you permanently shut the upper
sashes, you can deduct the cost of 11 extra
sensors. The Universal system would then
be cheapest, at $145; the Master again the
most expensive, at $207.
WIRELESS PERIMETER PROTECTORS. A wire-
less perimeter system has much the same
components as a wired system, but instead
of wires, low-powered radio transmitters
about the size of a cigarette pack transmit
signals to a receiver in the control box.
Wireless perimeter systems are less con-
spicuous than wired systems, but they can
become very expensive if you need a lot of
transmitters. For the ranch house de-
scribed above, if you installed two sensors
on each window and one on each door and
used one transmitter for each sensor, a
wireless system would cost from $787 for
the Sears to $1407 for the Nutone. We
think it makes more sense to connect both
sensors on each ')Vindow to a single trans-
mitter. The cost would then range from
$512 for the Sears to $923 for the Nutone.
(You'd save a bit more if you screwed each
top sash shut because you wouldn't need as
many sensors.)
You could save even more by using just
one transmitter for each room and one for
each door. That would involve mnning
wire from one window to another within
each room, though you wouldn't have to
nm wire from one room to another, as with
a wired perimeter system. The cost-$387
for the Sears, $703 for the Nutone-would
still be considerably more than that of a
comparable wired perimeter system.
The Nutone offers an optional device
that connects to your telephone line and
dials several numbers, one after the other,
each time reciting a taped message that a
burglary is taking place at your address.
Before you install an automatic dialer, ask
your local police about any restrictions on
such a device. In some communities, your
system may have to dial a private 24-hour
monitoring service instead of the police
(check the classified pages tmder "bur-
glar"). For a monthly fee, the monitoring
service guarantees to answer your auto-
matic dialer and call you back. If there's no
answer or if whoever answers can't give
the secret code word, the service will call
the police.
MOTION DETECTORS. These small boxes,
placed on a shelf or table or hung on a
wall, detect movement through a particu-
lar area inside the house. Most allow a bur-
glar to enter your home before they smmd
off. Aimed at a single door, they can sound
an alarm before the burglar enters, how-

ever. They can monitor critical areas like a
hallway, a staircase, or the entrance to a
room. Properly located and aimed, two or
three detectors can adequately protect an
apartment or a small house.
Two of the tested motion detectors (see
Listings) are sensors only; they are in-
tended to be connected to a perimeter sys-
tem as extra protection. They depend on
the perimeter system's horn and control
system. Several other models can be wired
into a perimeter system even though they
have their own horn and controls. Four
tested motion detectors can function as a
control box for a perimeter system, a con-
venience if you plan to install both types.
Ideally, a motion detector should have a
provision for a remote alarm and a control
to hi.Ill on remote lights. There should be
no internal alarm, or at least it should be
possible to him such an alarm off. (An
internal alarm may direct intmders' atten-
tion to the detector and allow them to
destroy it.) A sensitivity control is also
important; you should use the lowest set-
ting that will do the job. And the detector
should have a test light or special sound so
you can check the monitored area without
setting off the alarm.
Motion detectors work by a variety of
mechanisms, noted in the Listings. Some
are ultrasonic: They project a cone-shaped
beam of inaudible sound that forms a "trap
zone." (The size of the trap zone varies; see
Listings.) You shouldn't aim an ultrasonic
detector at radiators, air-conditioners,
moving curtains, or vibrating windows.
Microwave detectors, in some installa-
tions, have a big advantage over ultrasonic
detectors: Their radar-like waves can reach
as far as 50 feet and can penetrate plaster
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
BURGLAR ALARMS 189
walls and wood, but not brick or concrete.
Thus, a microwave detector hidden in a
closet or a small room can monitor a fairly
large area. But that advantage becomes a
disadvantage if you live in a frame house,
because movement outside can produce a
nuisance alarm. Generally, microwave de-
tectors (and ultrasonic detectors) can't be
used where pets roam freely.
Infrared detectors are set off by the body
heat of a person walking through the trap
zone. With careful adjustment, the two
such detectors we tested will let pets walk
beneath the trap zone without setting off
an alarm. We also tested a detector sensi-
tive to changes in a room's light level. It
operated in a wide range of ambient light,
and was sensitive enough to detect an "in-
tmder" in the light of a four-watt bulb.
UNUSUAL DEVICES. we tested a couple of
devices that detect the sound of breaking
glass. Trouble is, they also responded ;to
other sounds; left overnight in a home,
both models tripped several times.
The Zenith Video Sentinel System M620
($399), which comes with a black-and-
white camera and a TV, had focusing prob-
lems. It might be useful, say, for remote
monitoring of children in a swimming
pool, but for security against burglars, we
think you should spend your money else-
where.
The Colorado Welcome Light Control
SLCI ($199) hlI1ls on outdoor lights auto-
matically when someone approaches its
infrared sensor. That can be both a conve-
nience and a burglar deterrent. When
someone walks up the path to your home,
the lights come on for 2 1/2 minutes. A pho-
toelectric cell prevents the system from
w?rking in the daytime.
190 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, LIGHT BULBS

Fire extinguishers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. October 1979
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) classifies PRESSURE. Extinguishers that use pressur-
fire extinguishers according to the type ized gas to discharge should have a well-
and size of fire they can put out. Class A marked dial that lets you monitor the
fires are fueled by paper, wood, textiles, internal pressure; it shows at a glance
plastic, mbber, and other nonliquid com- whether the units are properly charged. A
bustibles. Class B fires involve flammable dial may give unreliable readings, though,
liquids, such as gasoline, paint solvents, if the unit has been dropped or handled
greases, and cooking oils. Class C fires roughly. Once an extinguisher has been
have the added hazard of electrically live discharged, no matter how briefly, it must
devices, such as appliances connected to be recharged; powder left in the discharge
household wiring. valve may cause a leak that, in time, can
The size of a fire that any extinguisher result in the loss of all pressure. Take the
can be expected to handle is indicated by a unit to a fire-extinguisher dealer for re-
number that's paired with its UL class rat- charging.
ing. An extinguisher rated IA must be able RECOMMENDATIONS AND SAFETY. Fire extin-
to put out a test fire of 50 pieces of 20- guishers are often heavily discounted. CU
inch-long wood 2x2's. An extinguisher recommends having at least two lA:lOBC
rated 2A must be able to put out a fire extinguishers-one in the kitchen and one
twice as big. A lB-rated model can extin- in a living or sleeping area. In larger
guish 3 1/, gallons o( naphtha burning in a homes, you should keep additional units in
2 1/2-square-foot pan. A IOB-rated model the garage and basement, one of them pref-
can handle a fire 10 times that size. A C erably with a 2A rating. These units are
rating bears no numerical prefix; it means capable, but don't try to fight a big fire by
that the extinguishing material does not yourself. And the first thing you should do
conduct electricity, so the unit is safe for in any fire is get everyone out of the house
use on electrical fires. and call the fire department.

Light bulbs
Condensed from Consumer Reports. March 1982
When purchasing light bulbs, most people
the bulb itself), is required by the Federal
make their buying decisions on the basis of
Trade Commission.
wattage. There's more to it than that, of
We know from previous light-bulb tests
coiirse. And a lot of what the buyer needs
that the package information is reasonably
to know is printed right on the light-bulb
accurate. But what does that information
package. At the very least, the package
mean?
tells about wattage, lumens, and life expec-
BULB TERMS. "Wattage" is simply a mea-
tancy. Disclosure of that information, as
sure of the electrical power the bulb con-
well as voltage (which is usually noted on
sumes when it's used on the designated

voltage. Some bulbs convert that power
into more light than other bulbs do.
" Lumens" are units by which light is
measured. A standard 150-watt bulb pro-
duces about 2850 lumens.
Most light bulbs are marked for use on
120 volts, or ordinary house voltage. If
they are operated on exactly 120 volts (of-
ten not the case), they should provide the
watts, lumens, and average munber of
hours noted on the package.
BULB TYPES. cu examined 60-, 75-, 100-,
and 150-watt light bulbs. Among them, in
addition to standard inside-frosted bulbs,
were "soft white" bulbs, extended-service
and long-life bulbs, and krypton bulbs.
Standard light bulbs are generally the
cheapest and brightest bulbs you can buy.
Life expectancy, on average, is 750 hours
for 75-, 100-, and 150-watt bulbs, and 1000
hours for 60-watt bulbs.
Soft-white bulbs are essentially standard
bulbs coated on the inside with white sili-
ca, which reduces glare but also curtails
light output by 2 to 3 percent. Regular
soft-white bulbs should last as long as stan-
dard frosted bulbs.
An ordinary extended-service light bulb
differs from a standard frosted bulb in its
filament, which is designed to operate at a
lower temperature and therefore last long-
er. Extended-service bulbs usually last
about 2500 hours. But they produce about
15 percent less light than a standard bulb
of the same wattage.
Soft-white long-life bulbs are hybrids.
Their light output and life expectancy are
about halfway between those of standard
bulbs and extended-service bulbs. A stan-
dard 100-watt bulb should provide about
1740 hunens and last about 750 hours. A
100-watt soft-white long-life bulb should
provide 1585 hunens and last about 1500
hours. A 100-watt extended-service frosted
bulb should provide 1480 hunens and last
about 2500 hours.
Krypton gas, rather than argon or nitro-
gen, is used in some more expensive bulbs.
LIGHT BULBS 191
Krypton bulbs made by Westinghouse
produce about as much light as typical
extended-service bulbs of the same watt-
age, but they are rated to last even longer
(3000 hours). Krypton bulbs from GE and
Sylvania come in wattages slightly lower
than the familiar ones, such as 90 or 93
instead of 100. They are generally rated to
last as Jong as a conventional extended-
service bulb (2500 hours).
FIGURING COSTS. When we purchased the
light bulbs for this survey report, we found
substantial price differences from store to
store. As a mle, though, the standard and
soft-white bulbs were the cheapest (aver-
aging 50¢ apiece for 60-, 75-, and 100-watt
models). The Jong-life and extended-ser-
vice bulbs cost from 11/ 2 to about 2 times
more (75¢ to $1.08). The krypton bulbs
were the most expensive ($1.16 to $1.70).
But the cost of light takes in more than
just the price of the bulbs. There's the
amount of energy consumed and light pro-
duced to consider, too. One way to express
those related cost components is in terms
of an "efficiency factor" -that is, the light
produced (in hunens) divided by the ener-
gy consumed (in watts).
By that reckoning, standard bulbs are
demonstrably more efficient than ex-
tended-service bulbs, because they pro-
duce more light for a given wattage.
Among 60-watt bulbs, for instance, the
efficiency factor for standard frosted mod-
els averaged 14.8; for typical extended-ser-
vice models, only 12.7.
However, efficiency factors don't tell
the whole cost story, because some bulbs
bum out and have to be replaced more
often than others. Here some redress is in
order to credit the longer life of extended-
service bulbs. And a reasonable way to do
that is to compare all bulbs in terms of cost
per million lumen hours.
In those terms, the purchase cost of stan-
dard bulbs is higher than that of extended
service bulbs (56¢ vs. 53¢ per million
hunen hours for the 60-watt size). But that
192 LIGHT BULBS, ELECTRIC BUG KILLERS
small difference is more than counterbal-
anced by the greater efficiency, and there-
fore relatively brighter light, of standard
bulbs. At the national average of 6. 75¢ per
kilowatt hour the total cost to produce a
million lumen hours with a standard 60-
watt bulb is $5.10, compared to $5.85 for a
60-watt extended-service bulb. In the long
nm, the standard bulb is a better buy than
any other bulb of the same wattage. That
held tme across the board, no matter what
the wattage of the bulb for which we did
the calculations.
In areas where utility rates are higher,
the cost disadvantage of long-life or ex-
tended-service bulbs becomes even great-
er. Their total operating costs match those
Electric bug killers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. June 1982
The mix of light most alluring to nocturnal
insects contains a significant component in
the near-ultraviolet spectrum-"black
light," as it is commonly called. Although
imperceptible by human eyes, black light
exists plentifully in sunlight and can be
produced in quantity by special lamps.
We tested and rated 10 outdoor models
that lure flying insects with black light.
They ranged in price from $75 to $140.
To draw near the light, an insect must
first make its way through the outside
screen, then try to negotiate an electrically
charged grid. A transformer in the top of
the unit produces a high voltage between
the elements of the grid. That voltage kills
the insects.
Most manufacturers recommend hang-
ing their units at a height of six to eight
feet above the ground, and away from chil-
dren in any case.
We attempted to obtain bug killers with
a stated "lure range" of one-third to one-
of standard bulbs only when rates are
about 2 cents per kilowatt hour.
Perhaps, though, cost figures based on
every last lumen of light output are too
precise for most practical purposes. They
may place unrealistic importance on the
ability of the eye to discriminate between
closely differing light levels and on the
ability of people to select bulbs that are
"exactly right." In a sense, then, a simpler,
more intuitive mle of light-bulb econom-
ics pertains: A $1 extended-service bulb
that lasts 2500 hours is a better buy thari a
50-cent standard bulb that lasts only 1000
hours-if the lower light output of the
extended-service bulb doesn't matter to
you.
half an acre-the area that a unit is sup-
posed to be able to clear of insects. But we
included a few three-quarter-acre models
as well, when they were the smallest and
cheapest available from a manufacturer.
And we tried out a few models with incan-
descent, rather than fluorescent, bulbs.
PERFORMANCE. we enlisted a panel of a
dozen staff members who spend a fair part
of their summer leisure time on their
verandas or backyard patios. Every week
or two over a summer, each tester was
issued a different model to use and to
report on by way of a questionnaire.
Overall, the panel reported that the flu-
orescent-bulb devices noticeably reduced
the annoyance of bugs to them and their
families sitting outdoors during the eve-
ning hours.
The model with an incandescent bulb,
however, was a marked disappointment.
The Hall American 10200 IDT'2 attracted
far fewer insects than did the other units.
Text continued page 194
 ELECTRIC B UG KILLERS 193
Ratings of electric bug killers
Listed, except as noted, in order of estimated overall quality. All can be
hung outdoors or indoors. Unless otherwise indicated, all have a 15-watt
'.'black-light" fluorescent bulb, an open or partly open base to let insect
fragments fall through, and a grounded metal external screen. Dimensions
are in order of height and width or diameter. Prices are suggested retail,
rounded to the nearest dollar. (Prices of replacement bulbs are in paren-
theses.) @l indicates model is not listed in current catalog . Discounts are
generally available.
The following 2 models were judged spproxlmstely equal In overs/I quality. Listed slphsbetlcsl-
ly.
Fl-SHOCK FS3000, $92 ($15). 15 1/.x12'/• In. 8 lb. Very good corrosion resistance. Plastic exter-
nal screen . Judged difficult to disassemble.
@l SEARS Cat. No. 1402, $100 ($17) plus shipping. 22'!.x12'/• In. 11 lb. 20-watt fluorescent
bulb. Fluorescent-light output decreased more slowly than with most. Good corrosion resist-
ance. Judged difficult to disassemble.
The following 2 models were judged spproxlmstely equal in overs/I quality. Listed alphabetical-
ly.
FLINTROL XL100, $110 ($18). 19'!.x10'1• In. 93/. lb. 20-watt fluorescent bulb. Fluorescent-light
output decreased more slowly than with most. Excellent corrosion resistance. Edge of base
uecame loaded with Insect fragments. Grid discharge judged noisier than with most. No mount-
ing Instructions.
VANDERMOLEN BUGKIL E85, $100 ($13). 13'!.x12 In. 9'1• lb. Good corrosion resistance. Grid
discharge judged noisier than with most. Judged easier to disassemble than most.
The following 2 models were judged lower in overall quality than those preceding.
WEBER PATIO WEB 23520, $89 ($14). 13'!.x12'1• in. 8 1/2 lb. Fair corrosion resistance. Wide
openings in external screen admitted more large Insects than with other models. Grids some-
times tended to clog . Grid discharge judged noisier than with most. Judged easier to disassem-
ble than most.
UDO EL ZOPPO 1500, $110 ($6). 20'1.x9'!. In. 6 lb. Poor corrosion resistance. 20-watt fluores-
cent bulb. Bulb removal judged easier than with most. Judged difficult to disassemble. Lacks
safety switch to keep unit turned off when disassembled.
The following 3 models were judged lower In overs/I quality than those preceding, primarily
because their grids tended to clog more frequently.
EMERSON EBK15, $80 ($12). 15'! .x8'/• In. 6'12 lb. Excellent corrdsion resistance. Bulb removal
judged easier than with most. Cannot be disassembled.
@l WARDS Cat. No. 2152, $77 ($15) plus shipping.
HALL AMERICAN 10206 IDT100, $140 ($24). 19'! .x14'!. In. 9 lb. 2 8-watt fluorescent bulbs. Poor
corrosion resistance. Closed base became loaded with Insect fragments. Judged easier to
disassemble than most.
The following incandescent-bulb model was judged lower in overall quality than those preced-
ing because it attracted significantly fewer Insects.
HALL AMERICAN 10200 IDT2, $75 ($2.50). 12'1.x9V. In. 4'/• lb. Poor corrosion resistance,
60-watt Incandescent bulb; consumed more power than most. Closed base became loaded with
Insect fragments. Judged easier to disassemble than most.
194 ELECTRIC BUG KILLERS
NOISE. The audible " zap" that announces
the destruction of each insect may be quite
loud in the evening quiet. Some models,
noted in the Ratings, might annoy you or
even your neighbors. Two high-voltage
models that did their job in relative quiet
were the top-rated Fi-Shock FSJOOO and
Sears Cat. No. 1402.
GRID CLOGGING. The grids of three of the
lower-voltage units-the Emerson, the
W ards, and the Hall American 10206
IDT JOO-tended to clog up fast with insect
remains. In times of high insect activity,
they had to be cleaned every few days or so
to retain their effectiveness.
CLEANING. In most cases, cleaning requires
talcing the unit apart, at least to the extent
of taking off the sides so that the grid could
be properly brushed off. But some units
don't come apart easily. Fortunately, ex-
cept for the Emerson, they seldom needed
to be cleaned The Emerson, however, was
one of the relentless cloggers, and the plas-
tic devices that hold it together can be
removed only with a special tool.
BULBS. Most units have to be disassembled
to remove the bulb, but not all offer a
means of getting at the bulb through the
bottom of the unit. That's a ust:ful provi-
sion, because the bulbs needed cleaning
more often than replacement.
About half the bug-killer manufacturers
recommend replacing fluorescent bulbs
every season, while others suggest replace-
ment every two seasons. Some say only
that the bulbs will last about 7000 hours
(more than two long summers of contin-
uous 24-hour use). At any rate, the manu-
facturers seem to agree, the bulbs deterio-
rate long before they bum out, and it's
wise to replace them before their light out-
put diminishes too far. After two months of
continuous use, most of the fluorescent
bulbs had dimmed to between 50 and 60
percent of their original brightness. Light
output from the Sears and Flintrol fluores-
cent bulbs fell off only half as much.
Replacing a fluorescent bulb is expensive;
they cost from $6 to $24.
CORROSION. After an accelerated corrosion
test, simulating several seasons of back-
yard use, five models showed virtually no
rust. But four others-the Udo El Zoppo,
the Wards, and the two Hall Americans-
were heavily rusted, most alarmingly on
their electrocution grids. Follow-up volt-
age tests indicated that they had lost some
of their zap; voltage across the rusted grid
elements had fallen off by 10 to 20 per-
cent. We wouldn't have counted on those
models for many more seasons.
CHOICE. Among the electrocution models
we tested, some make considerably less
sense than others. The bottom-rated mod-
el, with its incandescent bulb, failed to
attract enough insects to make much of a
dent in backyard bug populations.
The three models in the next-lowest Rat-
ings group-relatively low-voltage units
all-imposed aggravating maintenance de-
mands; their clog-prone grids needed
cleaning every few days in the busy season.
The W eber Patio W eb sometimes clogged,
and the Udo El Zoppo proved vulnerable
to rust.
. That leaves, as the most sensible
choices, the four top-rated bug killers. All
of them performed competently. But the
Fi-Shock FSJOOO and the Sears made the
least noise about it.
 Personal products

Men's and women 's trenchcoats

Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1982
The trenchcoat, first designed for British stmction details. In all, we bought and
officers shortly before World War I, en- tested 24 coats-14 men's and 10 women's.
dures as a triumphant survivor in one of Our coats included widely advertised
the rare victories of classic function over brand names, designer labels, and the offer-
fleeting fashion. Its original purpose-that ings of specialty clothing stores and de-
of a single garment to keep soldiers warm partment stores.
in cool and cold weather and dry in wet CONSTRUCTION. Most trenchcoats are made
weather-isn't lost on civilians today. Thus of a gabardine or poplin fabric. Gabardine
the trenchcoat serves well as a topcoat and is a twill weave generally considered more
raincoat in spring and fall and, with a liner durable than poplin (a plain weave) and
zippered or buttoned in, as an overcoat in often with a softer drape than poplin.
winter. And people continue to appreciate The fiber content of a trenchcoat's shell,
the dash of its intricate styling details, or outer fabric, is commonly a blend of
which also once had military uses: epau- cotton and polyester. Cotton generally
lets; a padded storm flap that's also a cush- feels soft to the touch but tends to wrinkle
ion for a rifle butt; and metal rings on the and shrink (although two of our all-cotton
belt line. gabardine coats resisted wrinkling quite
Two well-known English clothiers, well). Hence its combination with polyes-
Aquascutum and Burberrys, claim credit ter, which is very durable and resists wrin-
for the original military design. Today's .kling and shrinkage. The shell material of
Burberrys trenchcoats retain many of the most of our coats ranged from 35 percent
original military features, but for a price to 80 percent polyester.
that seems geared to a military budget (al- Traditionally, the trenchcoat is double-
most $700 for one of the men's models we breasted and belted. But it admits of two
tested). One needn't pay so high a price for different sleeve constmctions: raglan, and
a well-made, good-looking trenchcoat. set-in. Raglan is the style much to be pre-
Although some of the coats we bought ferred in a ready-to-wear garment, because
at around $100 were shoddy in constmc- its sleeves allow more room for differences
tion and appearance, a few $200 coats in shoulders.
impressed both the panel of judges at a The most desirable lining for a trench-
fashion show we staged and our tailoring coat is one made of the same material as
specialist, who examined the coats' con- the shell, to provide an extra layer of water
Text continued page 198
 Ratings of men's and women's trenchcoats .....
~
O">
Listed by types; within types, are double breasted with raglan straps. Unless noted, makers "'-3
listed by groups in order of esti- sleeves and have free-hanging recommend dry cleaning of ::ti
mated overall quality, based on full lining, a full liner that zips in, shell. ~
expert judgment of construction epaulets, neck closure, lapels
~
and panel judgments of style.
Within groups, listed in order of
increasing price paid by CU in
Oct., 1981 . Except as noted. all
that close up to the neck, a
storm flap that buttons over
closed lapels, closed vent, and
continuously adjustable cuff
(2)
Better
e 0 ~
•
Wane
C".l
[2
~

~·
.~
,~
Brand and model
(_ '( ( ( '"(c( / •
o~ /
q,~• _(l.._,c;_ ,,,,~·_ cl'_o,.•_'<~ Ci

Men's trenchcoats
9 MISTY HARBOR NEW TIOGA 3500, A Best Buy 40L $200 A,E 0 e e e P,R
BROOKS BROTHERS ALEXANDER 8810, A S.st Buy 40L 210 B,E e e e e F,P,R,X

LONDON FOG BATES 42L 160 B,E e 0 0 0 F,O,X,Z

BURBERRYS 38L 675 A,C e 0 0 e H,K,P,S,R,X

LORD & TAYLOR 2018 42L 100 A.E 0 e e e B,N,O,Y

SEARS 2141 40L 100 A,E 0 e e e C,F,O
AOUASCUTUM KINGSWAY 40T 385 A,D 0 e e e K,N,P,W,Z
LONDON FOG DOUGLAS 42L 108 B,E 0 0 0 0 C,F, 1,M,O, Y,Z
GLENEAGLES FREDERICK 42L 120 B,E 0 0 0 C,G,O,Q,W,Y,Z
CHRISTIAN DIOR MONSIEUR ROCHAMBEAU

CLIPPER MIST BRENTWOOD

42L

42L
190

90
A,E

B,E
0 0
0
--
e
0
0 B,N,O,Y

B,F,O,V,Y,Z

ALEXANDER'S 2662-3
J.C. PENNEY 2850
42L
42L
50
89
B,D
B,E ••-- e e e--
0 0
B,D,G,J,L,O, W
C,G,J,O,W,Y,Z

• --e e-- e----

CALVIN KLEIN TSP2223 40R 230 B,C B,E,J,K,M,S,V

Women's trenchcoats
MISTY HARBOR MARGATE 3520, A Bet1t Buy 8 175 B,E e G,P,R
AQUASCUTUM 6 410 A,D e e e e K,N,O,P,Z
BURBERRYS 4XL 575 A.D e 0 e E,H,K,P,R,X

LONDON FOG LISSETTE

EVAN-PICONE 1566
8
8
110
160
B,E
B,E
0
0
0 -- 0
0
e e e
F,U,Y
N,O,R,X,Y
LONDON FOG GILDA 8 220 A,E e 0 O,X
BROOKS BROTHERS NEW LADY SALISBURY 8 240 A,C 0 ---- •-- 0 B,H,K,P,R,U,X,Z

SEARS 9471
J.C. PENNEY WINDSOR BAY 5740
8
8
70
105
B,D
B,E
0
• •• •0 G,O,Y
F,O,Y
~
ELLIOTT BASS 781P 10 60 B,D
•-- •-- • •
OJ Men 's coats bought to fit a man who wears size 40L; women 's to fit a woman who wears size 8.
[l] Fiber in order of predominance.
A,B,J,L,Q,T,Y,Z
~
g
C".:l
~
Key to Comments on next page
~
......
co
-.::i
198 TRENCHCOATS
Keys for trenchcoat Ratings
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Single-breasted.
B -Set-in sleeves.
C-Combination raglan, set-in sleeves.
D - Lacks epaulets.
E- Has tab closure at knee.
F-Wash or dry-clean shell.
G -Washable shell.
H -Sewn-down lining at hem.
I- Partially lined.
J -Sleeveless liner.
K - Button-in liner
L - Lapels do not close up to neck.
M - Lining made of shell material, judged
more durable and more protective
against rain than most.
N-Acetate lining less durable than most.
0-Storm flap does not button over closed
lapels.
P - Inconvenient, buckle-style cuff straps.
repellency. Among our trenchcoats, how-
ever, only one was fully lined in the same
material as the shell. Some coats have an
acetate lining, pleasingly smooth but not
very durable. Rayon is sturdier. Sturdier
still are nylon, cotton, or a polyester I cot-
ton blend. Our tailoring specialist pre-
ferred linings fully sewn to the 1'.em of the
shell. Some linings are free-hanging-that
is, open at the hem except for a couple of
tabs or tacks to keep the lining close to the
shell.
Trenchcoats are typically sold with a
removable liner for winter use. Here, the
type of fabric is usually less important than
its thickness-the thicker, the warmer. A
few liners are sleeveless-perhaps not
warm enough for winter. The liners of
more expensive coats are commonly fas-
tened with buttons rather than zippers. On
a couple of cheaper coats, the lining fabric
repeatedly got stuck in the zipper, or the
seam attaching zipper to liner began to
come apart.
A trenchcoat's yoke-the fitted section
at the upper back and shoulders-provides
extra protection for the part of the body
Q - Nonadjustable cuff straps.
A - Has detachable wool collar.
S-Although coat has slash-through pockets,
liner lacks slashes.
T -Although coat has open vent, liner lacks
vent.
U- Lacks storm flap.
V - Lacks yoke.
W-Single-layer yoke.
X - Shell-lined yoke.
Y - Lacks neck closure.
Z-Open vent.
KEY TO SHELL FABRIC
A- Gabardine.
8-Poplin.
C-100% cotton.
D - Cotton I polyester.
E- Polyester I cotton.
that bears the brunt of a downpour. To
serve that function well, the yoke should
be made of a double thickness of shell
material. Second best are single-layer
yokes or yokes lined with conventional lin-
ing material.
Unfortunately, a number of seams ap-
peared quite puckered. Hems pucker,
too-particularly those done with an ordi-
nary machine stitch, and that's how most
are made. A few are made with a machine
hem stitch, which is hardly visible on the
outside of a coat and results in little or no
puckering.
Other details of constmction and style
also deserve attention. Among them: storm
flaps (preferably two, buttoning over
closed lapels); neck closures (hook-and-
eye, tab, or both); adjustable cuff straps;
belts (with associated tabs, buttons, or
D-rings); rear vents (preferably closed in
an inverted pleat to keep out the weather);
and pockets (preferably well-placed, com-
modious, made of strong_ fabric, and fin-
ished with overcast seams).
APPEARANCE. Obviously, if a coat is to look
good on you, it must fit well. The size you
 TRENCHCOATS, DISPOSABLE DIAPERS 199
customarily wear may not be the size that
fits in a trenchcoat; for the staff members
who served as our models, that was the
case with several coats.
Try the coat on over the clothes you'd
normally wear under it. If you expect to
use the removable liner, fit the coat with
liner in, but see how it looks with the liner
out too. You don't want it to look baggy.
RECOMMENDATIONS. When buying any gar-
ment, you should examine it just as we did
the trenchcoats. Look for smooth, unpuck-
ered seams, finished fabric edges, sturdy
pockets, extra buttons, working zippers.
With trenchcoats specifically, look for a
double-thickness yoke, lapels that can but-
ton up to the neck, adjustable cuff straps, a
closed vent, and a button-in liner. Few
trenchcoats will have all these features,
but try to get as many as possible.
The best values we found were the two
Misty Harbor models, at $200 for the
men's coat and $175 for the women's, and
the men's Brooks Brothers at $210. They
were well-made coats that looked good
both to our inexpert and expert panelists.
We've made them Best Buys. The men's
Misty Harbor is check-rated because its
constmction was judged the best of all
coats tested.
A lot more money doesn't necessarily
buy a better coat. The Aquascutum coats,
for example, were judged quite attractive,
and they had most of the functional com-
ponents that we think are important. But a
"dummy" yoke, unfinished fabric edges,
and poorly made pockets were a disap-
pointment in $400 coats.

Disposable diapers
Condensed from Consumer Reports, June 1982
Despite the increasing popularity of dis- outer liner, ready to use for fastening the
posable diapers, there are a diminishing fitted diaper in place.
number of nationally advertised brands Two styles of diapers are represented in
available. Only three remain: Procter & the Ratings; the elastic-leg variety (with
Gamble's Pampers and Luvs and Kimber- hourglass-shaped padding) and the Bat pre-
ly-Clark's Huggies. folded type.
All the tested diapers incorporate a The elastic-leg models are commonly
Buffed-fiber padding between two liners. available in only three sizes: small, for
The outer liner is invariably a plastic-sheet babies of 12 pounds or less; medium for
harrier-the counterpart of water-proof babies in the 13-to-26-pound range; and
pants over a cloth diaper. The inner liner is large, for children over 26 pounds.
a nonwoven material. On the Huggies, Sizing is a bit more complicated for pre-
Pampers, Sears Elastic Leg. and Pata-Cake folded diapers. The smallest size, frequent-
diapers, the liner is spun-bonded polyole- ly labeled "newborn," is for babies of 12
fin, which supposedly keeps a baby drier pounds or less. And the largest, frequently
because the liner does not absorb water. labeled "toddler," is fo?chi!dren over 24
The other diapers use a liner that appears pounds. But prefolded diapers for interme-
to be adhesive-bonded rayon, which is diate-weight children tend to be divided
more biodegradable than polyolefln. All into three further size categories, presum-
have adhesive-tape tabs attached to the ably according to function-"daytime,"
200 DISPOSABLE DIAPERS
"nighttime," and "daytime extra absor-
bent"-but actually according to the
amount of padding they contain, which
may have a bearing on fit for children
within the 13-to-24-pound range.
With both styles, the weight range spec-
ified for the three main sizes varies some-
what among brands. Even at that, weights
don't tell everything; a child's build may
be just as important in determining a good
diaper fit. You may have to try more than
one size of a brand to find the best fit.
PERFORMANCE. Since babies can't tell us
what we needed to know, we turned to
other closely interested parties-people
who change diapers. Seven day-care
centers near CU's headquarters agreed to
help out.
Altogether, about 125 children partici-
pated in our test. When it was over, we
found that we had given out more than
40,000 diapers.
An analysis of the results from the day-
care centers revealed a rather clear Ratings
pattern arranged in three distinct groups of
preference.
Although none of the diapers received
equal grades from all the diaper changers,
we came across few anomalies. Only two
diapers, K Mart Elastic At Leg and Pen-
neys Prefolded, were given both very high
and very low marks. The extreme diHer-
ence of opinions over those two seemed to
depend on whether their padding was like-
ly to drift out of place when wet. It appar-
ently drifted more often than not, and the
Ratings reflect the resulting majority of
low opinions.
K Mart apparently had two difierent
suppliers working with difierent sets of
specifications for at least some of its dia-
pers. Two totally difierent diapers came
If you want to know more
The issue of CONSUMER REPORTS cited at the beginning of each report
gives more details.
out of nearly identical packages of K Mart
prefolded diapers in the "daytime super-
ahsorbent" size. The better samples (la-
beled "16-23 lbs.") tested out about on a
par with the toddler size of the same mod-
el; the worse samples (labeled "over 16
lbs. ") were far inferior. At any rate, the
confusion cause<f us to lose confidence in
extending our judgments for K Mart pre-
folded diapers to any sizes other than
toddler, a size that did prove consistent in
quality.
Consistent performance-good, had, or
indifferent-helps to explain why some dia-
pers rank high and some low. Not only
were the top-rated models relatively trou-
ble-free and sized to fit a wide range of
children, hut they gave every sign of being
subject to tight quality control that insured
uniformity from one package to the next.
Most of the bottom-rated models were
plagued by the same nagging faults; poor
fit on some children, no matter what size
was tried; poorly sticking tapes that pulled
loose; and excessive leakage.
RECOMMENDATIONS. In light of the clear
preferences of our panel of diaper chang-
ers, we can see very little reason for select-
ing any 'disposable diaper outside the
group of our five top-rated models. Pam-
pers and Huggics were slight favorites with
the panel, but Luvs and the Scars and
Wards elastic-leg models were liked al-
most as well.
Elastic-leg models would seem the most
elegant of the two styles available, and it's
tme that they dominate the top-rated
group. But there's nothing intrinsically
wrong with the simpler prefolded design-
witness the high preference for prefolded
Pampers which was also the cheapest of
the preferred diapers.
 DISPOSABLE DIAPERS 201
Ratings of disposable diapers
Listed, except as noted, in order of estimated overall quality, based on
judgments of a panel of day-care-center aides (see story). Except as
noted, differences between closely ranked models were slight. Only tested
models are specified, but, except as noted, judgments apply to all sizes
and absorbencies within brand types. Prices are ordinarily for the largest
quantity available at retail; except for mail-order brands, prices are the
average of those paid by CU shoppers. Approximate prices per diaper are
in parentheses; + indicates that shipping is extra.

PAMPERS. Prefolded. Extra-absorbent daytime, $8.82 for 60 (15¢); Toddler, $8. 18 for 48
(17¢).
HUGGIES. Elastic leg. Daytime, $3. 14 for 18 (17¢); Toddler, $3.09 for 12 (26¢).
LUVS. Elastic leg. Medium, $3.32 for 18 (18¢); Toddler, $3.48 for 12 (29¢).
SEARS ELASTIC LEG. Cat. No. 2243, medium. $34.99+ for 216 (16¢ + ); Cat. No. 2244, large,
$34.99 + for 144 (24¢ + ).
WARDS ELASTIC LEG. Cat. No. 894, medium, $13.88 + for 90 (15¢ + ); Cat. No. 895, large,
$13.88 + for 60 (23¢ + ).
The following 3 brands were judged lower In overall quality than those preceding.

J.C. PENNEY ELASTIC LEG. Cat. No. 17116, medium, $14.49 + tor 90 (16¢ + ); Cat. No. 1730,
large, $14.49 + for 60 (24¢ + ).
SEARS PREFOLDED. Cat. No. 2225, daytime extra absorbent, $13.79 + for 120 (11¢ + ); Cat.
No. 2224, toddler, $13.79 + for 96 (14¢+).
KMART. Prefolded. Toddler, $5.10 for 40 (13¢). Comments: This Rating Is for toddler size only;
tests of K Mart prefolded daytime super-absorbent models revealed two types of diaper con-
struction. one significantly Inferior to the other (see story).

The following 6 brands were judged much lower in overall quality than those preceding. Listed
in alphabetical order.

A&P. Prefolded. Daytime extra absorbent, $5.74 for 48 (12¢); toddler, $5.79 for 40 (14¢).
J.C. PENNEY PREFOLDED. Cat. No. 1979, daytime extra absorbent, $13.69 + for 120 (11¢+ );
Cat. No. 1961, super toddler, $13.69 + for 96 (14¢ + ). Comments: Highly rated by some test
panelists, but downrated by the majority because padding was judged more likely than most to
shift when wet.
KMART ELASTIC AT LEG. Medium, $5.90 for 36 (16¢); large, $5.70 for 24 (24¢). Comments:
Highly rated by some test panelists, but downrated by the majority because padding was
judged more likely than most to shift when wet.
PATA-CAKE. Prefolded. Daytime extra absorbent. $5.61 for 48 (12¢); toddler, $5.67 for 36
(16¢).
TRULY FINE. Prefolded. Daytime extra absorbent, $5.59 for 48 (12¢); toddler, $5.82 for 40
(15¢).
WARDS PREFOLDED. Cat. No. 871, daytime extra absorbent, $13.88 + for 120 (12¢ + ); Cat.
No. 870, toddler, $13.88 + for 96 (14¢ + ).
202 LIFE JACKETS

Life jackets
Condensed from Consumer Reports, August 1982
There are three main types of life jacket other adult Type TIT models turned most
(or, in official terminology, "personal flo- testers face down and forced them to make
tation devices"). an effort to keep their faces out of the
Type I devices are bulky, confining, water. We judged those vests Not Accept-
uncomfortable vests or "horse collar" bibs able.
that offer the most protection to persons in Of the 10 Type III vests for children we
danger of drowning. They're supposed to tested, only the Kent 4350-J.5 kept wearers
tum most unconscious wearers vertical or face up. The others tended to tum most
slightly backward in the water, with face wearers face down and were therefore
up so that breathing is unimpaired. judged Not Acceptable.
Type II devices are also bulky bibs, but TESTING 1YPE Il"s. We also tested a sampling
less bulky than Type J's because they of Type II devices, in search of the combi-
aren't required to provide as much buoy- nation of safety and comfort that the Type
ancy. They too should tum unconscious JJJ 's failed to provide. All the Type II's did
wearers face up, although they're not what a Type JJJ is supposed to do-they
expected to do so as positively or as force- kept the wearer's head out of the water.
fully. But we downrated 19 models because they
Type III devices are generally foam- failed to perform adequately as a Type II
filled, form-fitting, vests that zip up the device-that is, to bring the tester's head
front and have straps or ties to keep them out of the water.
comfortably snug. These life vests must The Apco 51300 was the best of the
merely allow a conscious person to move adult Type JI bibs. The Scars 63165 and
to a face-up position and to maintain it 63116 and the Steams Heads-Up PW002
without effort. were the best Type II's for children. Those
Accor<!ing to laws, recreational boats four consistently brought up the head of
longer than 16 feet must carry one life most testers. Most of the other Type H's,
jacket for each person on board, but the whether for adults or children, failed to do
law doesn't require them to be worn. And, so more often than not.
statistics show, most drownings associated RECOMMENDATIONS. Of all the life jackets
with recreational boating occur when life we tested, only a few models for adults
jackets are not worn. offer what we consider a suitable degree of
TESTING 1YPE m·s. Only two of the 31 Type safety for able-bodied, athletic boaters
III devices we tested-one for adults and willing to assume that they'll remain con-
one for children-were judged Accepta- scious after going overboard. Only one of
ble. these devices is a Type III, which offers
CU testers (or their children), wearing safety plus the comfort that should encour-
properly adjusted vests, would assume a age boaters to wear it. The pmdent choice,
nearly vertical, slightly backward position then, is among the Scars Helmsman 63146
in the water, let their arms and legs go or an uncomfortable Type II bib. But not
limp, and keep their head up. Only the all those models are suitable for nonswim-
Scars Helmsman 63146, which has most of mers. For them, only the best will do: the
its buoyant material up front, kept adult Apco 51300 Type II bib.
wearers nearly vertical or face up. All the Children, even if able-bodied and atblet-

ic, may not fully understand the risks asso-
ciated with boating. So they need a life
jacket that offers a high degree of safety.
On that basis, our first choice would be
LIFE JACKETS 203
either the Sears or Stearns Type II vest.
We've check-rated those two because we
judged £hem both safer and more comfort-
able '.ban the Type II bibs we tested.
/

Ratings of llfe jackets

Listed by types; within types, listed as noted. Sizes given are those CU
tested; other sizes available would be expected to perform similarly. In
CU's judgment, all Type II devicr.:is would perform adequately as Type Ill
devices (see story). All Type II b'. bs were judged very uncomfortable out of
the water, but easy to put on and adjust in the water. All Type II bibs for
children are medium-sized and were judged much less comfortable than
Type II vests. Except for mail-order models, prices are approximate retail,
rounded to nearest dollar; + indicates shipping is extra.

Type Ill, adult

The following vest was the only one of this type that held wearers In a vertical, sl/ghtly backward
position In the water. Even so, in CU's view, It should be used only by swimmers.
SEARS HELMSMAN Cat. No. 83148, $27 +. Small, medium, large. Difficult to adjust In water.

Not Acceptable
The following 20 vests were judged Not Acceptable because they tended to turn the majority of
wearers face down in CU's tests. Listed In alphabet/ca/ order.
AMERICA'S CUP MARINER 909, $21 . Small/medium, large/extra-large. AMERICA'S CUP PRO
CLASSIC 801, $35. Medium, large. BLACK SHEEP 842C, $15. " Universal" size. EVINRUDE
506199, $33. Small, medium (506200), large (506201). According to the manufacturer, also
available as Johnson 506192, 506193, or 506194. EVINRUDE 506208, $38. Small, medium
(506209), large (506210). According to the manufacturer, also available as Johnson 506204,
506205, or 506208. GLADDING FV11 SUNBURST, $24. Small/medium, large/extra-large.
GLADDING FV12 CLASSIC, $23. Small/medium, large/extra-large. GRUMMAN CANOE VEST
943, $40. Small, medium (944), large (945). KENT 4370-55, $15. " Universal" size. MEDALIST
CUT 'N JUMP 1010, $30. Medium, large. MEDALIST CUT 'N JUMP 1042,' $40. Small, medium,
large. O'BRIEN 3002, $40. Medium, large. OMC 506188. $27. Small, medium (506187), large
(506188). OMEGA HIGH PERFORMANCE HPSO, $45. Medium, large (HP80). OMEGA PRO
SPORTSMAN PSASO, $46. Medium. SEARS Cat. No. 83123, $16+ . " Universal" size. STEARNS
SANS-SOUCI SSV10, $38. Men's small , medium, large. STEARNS SAN; SOUCI SSV21, $38.
Ladies' small. STEARNS BEL TED RACING VEST SSV36, $43. Ladles' small. STEARNS
BELTED RACING VEST SSV78, $43. Men's medium, large.

Type Ill, chlldren

The following was the only one of this type that held wearers In a vertical, slightly backward
position In the water. Even so, In CU's judgment, It should be used only by swimmers.
KENT 4350-35, $13. Medium. Continued
204 LIFE JACKETS
Not Acceptable

The following 9 models were judged Not Acceptable because they tended to turn the majority of
wearers face down In CU's tests. Except as noted, medium size was tested. Listed In alphabet/-
cal order.
AMERICA'S CUP MARINER 909Y, $20. EVINRUDE 506198, $28. According to the manufactur-
er, also available as Johnson 506191. GLADDING LITTLE DIPPER LD200, $22. GRUMMAN
CANOE VEST 942, $40. OMC 506185, $24. OMEGA MATE MY30, $30. OMEGA HIGH PER-
FORMANCE HP30, $45. SEARS Cat. No. 83126, $16+ . Small, medium (83124). STEARNS
PEE-WEE SANS-SOUCI PW507, $29. Small, medium (PW709).

Type II, adult

The following model turned most wearers face up In both of CU's tests.
APCO 51300, $9.
The following 3 models were downrated because they turned most wearers face up in only one
of CU's tests. Listed alphabetically.
APCO 50300, $9. BLACK SHEEP 6721, $6. SEARS Cat. No. 83115, $6+ .

The following 7 models were downrated because they faHed to turn most wearers face up In
either of CU's tests. In CU's judgment, they should be used only by swimmers. Listed In
alphabetical order.
APCO 62300, $14. GLADDING GL300, $10. KENT 4270, $7. KENT 8718, $10. RED HEAD 1-6745,
$7. SAFEGARD BKA1, $9. SAFEGARD 390, $17.

Type II vests, chlldren

The following 2 models turned all wearers face up In both of CU's tests. Listed in alphabet/cal
order.
9 SEARS Cat No. 83165, $23 +. Small, medium (83166). Judged reasonably comfortable both
In and out of the water. 9 STEARNS HEADS-UP PW002, $33. Small. Judged reasonably
comfortable both in and out of the water.

Type II bibs, children

The following model turned all testers face up In both of CU's tests.
SEARS Cat. No. 83118, $6 + .

The following 2 models were downrated because they turned all wearers face up In only one of
CU's tests. Listed in alphabetical order.

APCO 51200, $9. BLACK SHEEP 6722, $6.

The following 7 models were downrated because they failed to turn all wearers face up In either
of CU's tests. In CU's view, they should be used only by swimmers. Listed In alphabet/cal
order.
 LIFE JACKETS, LOW-COST CALCULATORS 205
APCO 62200, $12. GLADDING GL320, $9. KENT 4250, $7 . KENT 8618, $10. RED HEAD 1-8748,
$6. SAFEGARD CKM1, $6. SAFEGARD 391, $16.
Low-cost calculators
Condensed from Consumer
Not long ago, the basic electronic calcula-
tor was regarded as a full-fledged business
machine. Today, it's treated more like a
disposable flashlight. You should be able to
buy a good one for less than $15.
Standard on low-priced calculators are a
single memory, the ability to use a number
again and again as a constant in a calcula-
tion, and automatic shutoff to conserve the
battery. In addition to the keys for the four
basic functions of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division, keys for per-
cent and square root are common.
Less common on basic calculators is a
change-sign key ( + /-), which makes it
easy to enter a negative number or to add
up a series of numbers and then subtract
the total from another number. Some low-
priced calculators have more function
keys-keys usually found on more ad-
vanced calculators: the reciprocal key (1 I
x), for example, and the key for the con-
stant pi (... ).
MEMORY, Basic calculators have only one
eight-digit memory-room for one number
up to eight digits long. Typically you can
add to it, subtract from it, or recall it for
use.
An example of memory's use is keeping
a mnning tab on the groceries in your
shopping cart. After figuring the price per
ounce of various brands of tuna to see
which is the best buy, you calculate the
price of the six cans you choose and add it
to' the calculator's memory with the M +
key. You change your mind and put back
Reports. September 1982
two cans, subtracting their cost with the
M- key. When you wonder if you can
aHord a can of olive oil this week, you
recall (without erasing) the total that's in
memory with the RM key. And when you
go to the supermarket the next time, you
start fresh by clearing the calculator's
memory with the CM key.
Such a calculator has what's called a
four key memory: M +, M-, RM, and CM.
Many calculators have a three-key memo-
ry instead. A three-key memory ~ombines
the RM and CM functions on one key (one
press for RM, two for CM). Three-key
memories are somewhat Jess useful than
four-key memories because you have to
recall the number in memory-replacing
and losing the number you had on dis-
play-before you can clear the memory.
Some calculators have the useful feature
of continuous memory. With those mod-
els, what's in memory remains in the calcu-
lator even when it's turned off.
KEY IMPRESSIONS. A calculator can be used
quickly without fear of miskeying if you
get some sort of positive indication that
you've made an entry when you've pressed
a key. (Continually glancing at the display
can be tiring when you're going fast.) The
keys on many calculators provide tactile
feedback; before a key is pushed all the
way to the bottom, you feel a little bump,
sometimes with a faint clicking sound that
signals that an entry has been made. Some
calculators, particularly the very small,
credit-card-sized ones, give a little beep
206 LOW-COST CALCULATORS, INSECT REPELLENTS
when an entry has been made. A few calcu-
lators provide both kinds of feedback.
We consider key feedback an important
advantage in a calculator; it tells you by
tactile sensation whether a key has been
pressed hard enough to register. Tone feed-
back is a strong indication that a key has
been pressed, but most models that beep
provide no feedback when the tone is
turned off. Touch feedback can be quite
strong, or it can be almost imperceptible.
Keys on different calculators can feel
very different from one another. But, un-
like key feedback, key feel is a matter of
personal preference. Some models have
palpably stiff keys that require a real
punch with a finger, or a heavy key feel.
Others have keys that press down easily
enough but definitely do have to be
pressed down, a medium key feel. Still oth-
ers have keys that require only the lightest
press to make an entry.

Insect repellents
Condensed from Consumer Reports, June 1982
The most effective chemical for repelling PLASTIC SQUEEZE BOTILES
insects is known as "deet," the mercifully
short nickname for N,N-diethyl-meta-tolu- Muskol, 95% deet.
amide. Deet is the main active ingredient Repel, 52% deet.
of all the major repellents except for the Evergreen Scent Cutter, 33% deet.
6-12 Plus group. Even 6-12 Plus products
Cutter, 29% deet.
have some deet (hence the "plus"), but
Deep Woods Off!, 29% deet.
their main active ingredient is still ethyl
hexanediol, which protects against fewer 6-12 Plus, 10% deet, 80% ethyl hexanedlol.
types of insects and doesn't last as long.
There is no need to test the effectiveness SPRA y CONTAINERS
of deet; it has been tested exhaustively by
Government agencies and the military. Repel, 52% deet, finger-pump spray.
What's necessary to determine is how Deep Woods Off!, 19% deet, pressurized
much protection you need. The most con- can.
centrated deet preparation we found, Cutter, 17% deet, pressurized can.
Muskol, may indeed protect "up to 10
Off!, 14% deet,pressurized can.
hours," if not washed away by swimming,
rain, or sweat. On the other hand, if the 8/12 Plua, 5% deet, 25% ethyl hexanedlol,
pressurized can.
bugs aren't swarming and you won't be out
for 10 hours, you don't need such ironclad STICKS
protection. You would probably be hap-
pier with a repellent that's easier to apply
or is more cosmetically pleasant. Cutter, 31% deet.
Only five companies make the 15 prod- 6-12 Plus, 9% deet, 56% ethyl hexanediol.
ucts bought for this report. Most sell a
variety of formulations with different ways FOIL· WRAPPED TOWELETIES
of applying the product. The ones we
found included: Offl, 31% deet.
 INSECT REPELLENTS, EXERCISE BIKES 207
Deet is a somewhat oily liquid whose
feel is more noticeable in products with
the highest concentrations. Two of the
squeeze-bottle products, Evergreen Scent
Cutter and Deep Woods Off!, have been
formulated into creamy lotions that may
feel better to you.
Spray containers are quick and easy to
use, especially if you have to cover cloth-
ing. But they are bulky and shouldn't be
given to children, who might spray into
eyes or onto sensitive skin areas.
Sticks are easy to pack and carry, but it
takes a bit of persistence to apply over a
large area.
Towelettes are well suited for applica-
tion to wriggling children. But one towel-
ette is recommended for covering an area
Exercise bikes
Condensed from Consumer Reports, January 1982
With a fairly rigorous exercise program,
your body will evenh1ally util'.ze oxygen
better, and your heart will pump more
blood per beat with longer rests in be-
tween. But you won't get much of that
"training effect" with stop-and-go activi-
ties, like golf or softball. It comes more
from sustained activity, like bicycling.
An exercise bike can give you enough of
a workout to enhance your cardiovascular
system. The big difference among exercise
bikes is that some make it more pleasur-
able than others to achieve the training
effect.
We tested 18 machines, priced from
nearly $100 to almost $400. All are single-
action models, meaning that the handle-
bars and seat remain stationary during ped-
aling. (Jn past tests, triple-action bikes,
which shift your arms and body back and
forth as you pedal, didn't give a hard
that's only the size of an adult's face and
arms. With only 10 towelettes to a pack-
age, you could nm out quickly.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Pick the type of appli-
cation you prefer, based on the advantages
and disadvantages just given. Then pick a
product with a concentration of deet suit-
able to your needs. Campers in infested
areas would want the strong concentra-
tions in Muskol or Repel. Picnickers or sun-
set-watchers might be amply protected by
any of the sprays or the towelettes.
Be aware, though, that insect repellents
fend off only biting insects such as mosqui-
toes, chiggers, ticks, fleas and various bit-
ing flies. None of the repellents are effec-
tive against stinging insects, such as bees,
wasps, and hornets.
enough workout for cardiovascular condi-
tioning.) Each tested machine has a knob
or level to adjust the pedaling resistance.
And, as on any bike, each has a provision
for adjusting the seat and handlebars, or
both, to the proper height for efficient and
comfortable pedaling.
PERFORMANCE. The single wheel of an exer-
cise bike is a flywheel , which, to greater or
lesser degree, smooths out pedaling action.
It's perhaps the most important design and
performance feah1re. The five highest-
rated models have a heavy wheel that
developed relatively high momentum.
The rest of the models have a lighter
bicycle-type wheel, which developed less
momentum. With that kind of wheel, the
pedal tends to jerk at the top of its rotation
if the resistance setting is high.
Several models have solid wheels or
shields over the spokes. Most of the bikes
Text continued page 210
 Ratings of exercise bikes ~
00

Listed in groups in order of esti- ance; speedometer; odometer; el is not listed in current cata- !:.=>:l
mated overall quality. Within bell timer; protective wheel cov- log. ~
groups, quality differences be-
tween closely ranked models
were judged slight. All models
are single-action type. Except as
noted, all have: seat and handle-
ers; and a seat that can be
adjusted without tools. Prices
are suggested retail, rounded to
nearest dollar; + indicates that
shipping is extra. Except for
8
Better
e 0 ~
•
Wone
~
~
~
~
bars that can be adjusted; con-
trol for adjusting pedaling resist-
mail-order models, discounts are
often available. ~ indicates mod-
~
tJ'5

•• ••
""'~
""',,/$ .~
Brand and model / ·.Cl.. / ;.,($ / . ...+· /
~
~IS'
., ~
.~
Q.,~

9 TUNTURI HOME CYCLE $360 54 36 e e e 0 A,B,C,D,E,I

9 SCHWINN XR7 240 59 40 e e 0 0 A,D,E,F,G,H,I

9 VIT AMASTER SLENDERLINE SL710 315 41 35 e. e e 0 A,B,C ,D,E,F,I b,k

MONARK 872 385 56 38 0 e 0 e A ,B,C ,D,H

ROSS FUTURA 160 46 36 0 0 0 0 A ,E j,k
MCA10 120 27 36 0 0 0 e D,E,I a,c,j
SEARS Cat. No. 28890 150+ 38 36 0 0 0 e C,D,E,F b
HUFFY SUNSPIRIT 90100 99 32 33 0 0 ~ e D c,f,j

HUFFY MAGNUM 90421 150 34 33 0 0 ~ e D,F,G,I

IID WARDS Cat. No. 25721 90+ 28 36 0 0 ~ 0 - a,c,h,j
IIDSEARS Cat. No. 2873 130+ 36 32 0 0 ~ e D,E,F c,e,f
DP FITNESS EXPRESS 420 180 32 37 0 e ~ e H,I
IIDSEARS Cat. No. 2853 80+ 30 30 0 0 0 0 E a,c,f,i,j
WAL TON AMBASSADOR 424 220 39 33 0 0 0 0 F c,f
VITAMASTER CUSTOM
SLENDERCYCLE RC-PX26
180 33 33 ~ 0 0 e D a,c,f

AJAY SILENT CYCLE 2500

AMF WHITLEY TR1000
130
11 5
30
29
35
31
~
~
0
0 •
~
e
~
-
E
a,c,d
a,c,f,i,J
VIT AMASTER ROTOCYCLE RC-21 130 27 33 ~ 0 ~ e - a,c,d,f,g,j

KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A- Has high-momentum flywheel.
B - Drive mechanism allows wheel to
"coast."
C-Control for adjusting resistance has
graduations and indicator.
D- Handlebars can be adjusted without
tools.
E-Seat post has height graduations.
F - Pedals have straps for feet.
G - Pedals are counterweighted.
H - Especially suitable for people with e - Pedal straps may be too small for use
long legs. with shoes.
I - Has wide, flat pedals judged comfort- I-Suitable only for people with short
able to use without shoes. legs.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a -Control for adjusting resistance is low
g -Seat judged least comfortable.
h-Judged among noisiest models ~
in bike's frame.
b - Control for adjusting resistance
tested.
i - Tools needed to adjust seat. ~
judged overly sensitive. j - Lacks bell timer. ~
c - Wheel has exposed spokes.
d - Handlebars not adjustable.
k - Adjustment for wear judged difficult.
~
~
~
~

~
0
<.O
210 EXERCISE BIKES, HEATING PADS
have WlCOvered spokes, which can be dan-
gerous.
On some models, the pedals and the
wheel are Unked together so you can't hold
the pedals stationary while the wheel is
spinning-in other words, you can't
"coast." Other models do coast. One ad-
vantage of coasting is that you can stop
pedaling and rest a while without taking
your feet off the pedals. Another advan-
tage is that you can easily recover if your
foot slips off the pedal.
The more rigid the bike's frame is, the
more smoothly the bike should work. The
less rigid machines flexed a lot, especially
when a heavy rider was pedaling hard.
Such flexing tended to throw riders off
rhythm. It could become so pronounced as
to cause the feet on some machines to
move slightly across the floor with each
pedal stroke.
The top bikes combined a rigid frame
with an effective flywheel. As a result, they
worked very smoothly, allowing the rider
to establish a steady rhythm even when the
Heating pads
Condensed from Consumer Reports, March 1981
A heating pad may be a comfort, but it has
its hazards. Even the mild heat a pad usu-
ally provides can slow-cook the skin if the
pad is trapped between the mattress and
one place on the body for too long. The
bum hazard is even greater for infants and
others with sensitive skin. But used pm-
dently, a heating pad in good condition
may safely relieve superficial muscular
aches and pains, treat certain skin ailments,
even comfort cold feet.
All the tested models have a sealed plas-
tic inner cover and are claimed to he
"moisture resistant" or "wet pads"; some
machine was set for high resistance and
hard pedaling.
RECOMMENDATIONS. H you plan to follow a
regular exercise program, it's important to
have a machine that's comfortable and
works smoothly. So it will probably pay to
pick a model from the top of the list-the
$360 Tunturi Home Cycle, the $240
Schwinn XR7, or the $315 Vitamoster
Slenderline SL710.
You might also consider the Tunturi
Ergometer or the similar Sears Flywheel
Ergometer Cat. No. 2911. (The Tunturi
Ergometer was top-rated in our last tests of
exercise bikes but, listing at more than
$500, was outside the scope of this project;
the Sears, at $350 plus shipping, is new to
the market.) Both Ergometers have, in
addition to the speedometer-odometer
common to all the tested bikes, one out-
standing feature-an indicator for measur-
ing the amount of force you're exerting.
That's useful for ensuring precision in your
exercise program. You can apply a known
amount of force at every session.
provide a pad-sized flat sponge to help you
apply moist heat. All the heating pads we
tested met Underwriters Laboratories re-
quirements for safety in the presence of
moisture, but we rated the wraparound
Kaz 44MH Not Acceptable because the
insulation on its heating wires is not water-
proof.
All the pads have safety thermostats that
will shut them off if they sense overheating
in their immediate vicinity. But a thermo-
stat can't react to localized overheating if
it's not close by, so the more thermostats in
a pad, the better.

RECOMME NDATIONS. If you have an aching
muscle now and then, you don't necessari-
ly need a heating pad. Consider an old-
fashioned hot water bottle. If that's too
inconvenient, a standard-sized heating pad
will probably do for most purposes, but we
think the oversized models are more versa-
tile. If you often need specific relief for
HEA TINGPADS 211
aches in the joints, limbs, shoulders, or
neck, .consider one of the wraparound
models.
If you already own a heating pad, check
its inner cover and line cord closely, par-
ticularly where the cord joins the pad. If
you find cracks or other damage, replace
the pad.

Ratings of heating pads

Listed by size groups; within groups, except as noted, listed in order of
estimated overall quality based mainly on control design. All models are
moisture-resistant but must be used according to manufacturer's instruc-
tions. Except as noted, all have 3 heat settings and "off" position. Except
for mail-order models, discounts are generally available. [fil indicates
model is not listed in current catalog.

Standard-sized pads. The following models measure 11 x 14 In. All have 2 safety
thermostats.

ESSEX FORTUNE H1033, $10. Control markings well-Illuminated for night use. Raised mark-
ings on control, judged more effective than others.
GENERAL ELECTRIC PSS, $15. Especially convenient push-button control.
ESSEX CASCO HPA34, $17. Raised markings on control, judged more effective than others,
but slide control was judged less positive than most.
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 0819, $8 plus shipping. Control markings well-Illuminated for night use.
DAVOL 320, $20. Raised markings on control, judged more effective than others.
The following models were j udged approximately equal In overall quality. Control on some or Bil
samples of each model has pointed lever that can stab finger. Listed alphabetically.
DAVOL 312, $14. Cover has no closure; judged more likely to slip off than most. NORTHERN
812, $11 . Cover has no closure; judged more likely to slip off than most. NORTHERN 827, $16.
OSTER 78001, $12. OSTER 78101, $18. J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 2898, $9 plus shipping. REXALL
X327, $11 . REXALL X309, $18. lfil WARDS SIGNATURE Cat. No. 21143, $7.49 plus shipping.

Oversized pads. The following models measure 11 x 24 In. Except as noted, all have 4
safety thermostats.

SEARS Cal. No. 2241, $15 plus shipping.

DAVOL 318, $22. Control markings well-Illuminated for night use. Has continuous control.
ESSEX CASCO H2045, $20. Raised markings on control, judged more effective than others, but
slide control judged less positive than most. Has only 3 safety thermostats.
The following models were judged approximately equal In overall quality. Control on some or all
samples of each model has pointed lever that can stab finger. Listed s/phsbetlcslly.
NORTHERN 7686, $18. OSTER 78201 , $20. J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 2906, $11 plus shipping.
REXALL X315, $20. Ratings continued next page
212 HEATING PADS, CLEANSING CREAMS
Wraparound pads. The following models measure 6 x 20 In. All have 2 safety thermo-
stats.

GILLETTE 2820, $20. Control markings well-illuminated for night use. Particularly flexible; fits
more easily around joints than others of Its type.
The following models were judged approximately equal in overall quality. Control on some or all
samples of each model has pointed lever that can stab finger. Listed alphabetically.
NORTHERN 588, $20. REXALL X316, $23.

Wraparound pads-Not Acceptable. The fol/owing was judged Not Accepta-

ble because the water-permeable insulation on Its heating wires presents a potential minor
shock hazard if moisture seal Is broken.
KAZ 44MH, $15.

Cleansing creams and lotions

Condensed from Consumer Reports, July 1979
For our tests, we used a panel of 147 pro-
fessional actors and actresses, all of whom
use makeup regularly. We felt that any
product that can effectively remove the
heavy makeup used on stage would cer-
tainly do the job on everyday grime and
street makeup. Our panel concluded that
no one type of face cleanser-lotion or
cream, wipe-on or rinse-off-was superior
to any other in our tests.
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS in most products
do not vary much. Various oils-avocado,
lanolin, and wheat germ-are sometimes
added, probably to lend the ingredients list
a touch of wholesomeness. Perfumes and
dyes enhance the product's sales appeal.
OVERALL PREFERENCES of our panelists de-
termined the Ratings order. But our use-
testers also evaluated specific properties,
among which "feel of skin after use"
appeared to be the most important. Prod-
ucts that felt greasy during use or that left
a greasy feeling on the skin afterwards
were among the least-preferred cleansers;
so were products that left the skin too dry.
Our panelists noted that most products
cleaned well enough but, in some cases,
they had to use a lot of a product, or even
two applications, to get their faces clean. A
number of panelists complained that many

How to use the Buying Guide

• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
1• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
 CLEANSING CREAMS, CHILDREN'S BOOKPACKS 213
of the products didn't remove mascara. water because they can often do the job
CLAIMS. No product claimed to make dras- with less scmbbing.
tic, calendar-defying changes in anyone's Some tested products claim they soften
face. Some products suggest they are deep- skin. They may, but the effect is fleeting.
cleaning. But, in fact, the dirt and makeup Some suggest they have a medicinal effect.
these products help remove are on the sur- Their ingredients may or may not have a
face of the skin. Face cleansers may appear cooling, soothing effect on the skin- no
to clean more thoroughly than soap and one really knows for sure.

Ratings of cleansing creams and lotions

Listed in order of overall preference of use-test panelists. Differences
between closely ranked brands were slight.
Pond'• Light GreaaeleH Whipped Cold Cream. Revlon Clean & Clear Face Bath (Normal to
Oily Skin). Helena Rubinetein Ultra Feminine Cleanelng Cream. Elizabeth Arden Skin Deep
Milky Cleanaer. Ultima 11 Milky Facial Bath. Happy Face Facial Waehing Cream. Faehion Fair
Deep Cleaneing Lotion. Jergen• All Purpoee Face Cream. Revlon Reeearch Group Formula 2
Cleanaer B. Ultlma II Creamy Cleaneing Concentrate. Germaine Monteil Super-3 Liquid
Cleanaer. Helena Rubinetein Skin Life Moleturizing Cream Cleanser. Clinique Cleansing
Cream. Max Factor Moiaturizing Cleansing Cream. Lady Esther 4 Purpoae Face Cream.
The following were less preferred, overall, than the above.
Revlon Milk Plue 6. Eatee Lauder Creamy Milk Cleaneer. Deep Magic Facial Cleaneing
Lotion. Pond'• Cold Cream. Helena Rubinetein Deep Cleanaer (Lotion). Max Factor Moietu-
rizing Liquid Cleanaer. Eetee Lauder Whipped Cleaneing Creme. Germaine Monteil Non-
Liquefying Cleaneing Cream. Noxzema Skin Cream Medicated. Dorothy Gray Satura
Cleaneing Lotion. Faehion Fair Cleansing Creme Concentrate. Hollywood Extra Theatrical
Cold Cream. Albolene Liquefying Cleanaer. Flori Roberta Kind-Cleans. Avon Cold Cream.
Dorothy Gray Satura Rinse-Off Cleaneing Cream. Elizabeth Arden Cleaneing Cream (Nor-
mal to Dry Skin).

Children's bookpacks
Condensed from Consumer
Kids carry a lot of things to school. Candy,
spare shoes, toys, a rabbit's foot, and "im-
portant things" were ·among the many
items of school-bound cargo-also includ-
ing books-listed by a CU test panel of 30
boys and girls. A popular way to haul that
cargo is in a bookpack, a soft-sided bag
worn over the shoulders like a knapsack.
Bookpacks tend to fall into two basic
categories. One type- fa irly small, brightly
Reports. Sept ember 1982
colored, and perhaps decorated with car-
toon characters-is intended to appeal to
children in the early grades. The other-
generally larger and more conservat ively
designed along the lines of a hiker's day-
pack-is aimed at older children.
DURABILITY. To determine how well the
packs resisted wear and tear, we tested
their fabrics for resistance to abrasion and
fo r bursting strength. We also tested the
Text continued page 217
 !:-:>
Ratings of children's bookpacks ......
Listed by types. Within types, Medium-capacity and larger indicates model is not listed in
""'
()
listed in groups in order of esti- models may be too big for small current catalog. :t:
mated durability. Models within or slight children. Except as not- t::
groups were judged approxi-
mately equal and are listed in
order of increasing price. All
have adjustable shoulder straps
and were judged at least ade-
ed, all could hold a 1Ox111hx 11'2-
in. loose-leaf binder and close
fully ..Prices are suggested retail,
rounded to nearest dollar; * indi-
cates price is approximate; +
•e
Better
0 ~
•
· -
~
~
CJ5
b:l
quately comfortable to wear. indicates shipping is extra; 121
~
~
~
(F.i

,fl••
~
i'
Brand and model
( ~~,~· ( ~·4" ~«'({{/ ,.l>

Large models
SEARS Cat. No. 4508 $11+ Large e oe B,C,D,E,F,J,K,L,O - A
WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE BIKE PACK 17 Medium Q e €) A,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,O - A,H

COLEMAN PEAK 1 MODEL 710 15 Large eoe B,C,E,J,K p

CANNONDALE C849 STACK 15 Large e e 0 A,C,D,E,F,J,L,P - A,F,J
EMS BOOK BAG 5080 16+ Medium e e 0 A,C,D,E,F,J,L - A,J
EDDIE BAUER 4218 RUSE PACK 18 Very large e e 8 A ,C,D,l,J,L f c
EDDIE BAUER 3978 BOOK PACK 25 Large 8 Q Q B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,L - A
 HINE/ SNOWBRIDOE H/S BASIC
J.C. PENNEY 2334-. TEARDROP BAO
WARDS 71538 DAY PACK/ BOOK BAO
LL BEAN Cat. No. 5145 CHILDS PACK II
CLASS-5 BUCKSHEE
ALPENLITE CAMPUS DAY/ NITE PACK
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A- Has wide, unpadded shoulder straps.
B - Has wide, padded shoulder straps.
C - Shoulder straps relatively close to-
gether; judged unlikely to slip off
shoulders.
D - Has loop for one-handed carrying.
E- Has plastic zipper with two pull tabs.
F - Zipper has rain guard.
G - Has waist belt.
H -Has quick-release buckle on waist
belt.
I -Much better than most in resisting
rain.
::0 J - Relatively high fabric-burst strength.
~ K - Relatively high seam strength.
cS. L-Relatively high strength at shoulder-
111 strap attachments.
o
g
M - Relatively high resistance to a bra-
sion.
::!:
~
N - Uses reflective fabric.
0-Provision for attaching extra gear.
g_ P - Has metal rings or small fabric loops
::i for attaching waist belt, etc.
~ KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
-t; a - Narrow straps tended to twist.
lb b-Child's arm may get tangled In
cg shotilder-strap adjustment loop.
28+ Large e e e A,C,D,l,J,L,N,P f A,K
9 Large Q Q 8 B,C,D,F,J,L,O - A,G
9 Large Q Q 8 B,C,F,J,L,O - A.G
12 Medium Q 8 Q A,C,D,E,F,J - A,L
26 Large Q Q Q B,C,E,F,G,J I A,M
27+ Large Q Q Q B,C,D,E,F,J.N - A,N
KEY TO COMMENTS
c -Shoulder straps are relatively far A-Has at least one medium-sized outer
apart; could slip off some shoulders. pocket.
d - Design of shoulder straps may allow 8- Has at least two small outer pockets.
pack to shift. C- Has one large and two medium-sized
e-Worse than most in resisting rain. outer pockets.
f - Drawstring closure; judged less con- 0- Has one very small outer pocket.
venient than zipper with two pull E- Has three Interior compartments.
tabs. F- Has foam liner Inside.
g-Fastens with metal snaps that pulled
out of material relatively easily.
G-Avallable only in retail stores.
H- From Wiiderness Experience, 20675 ~
h - Metal corner guards on seams pulled Nordhoff St., Chatsworth, Calif. t::
~
out of material relatively easily. 91331 .
i - Rough edges on metal hardware. /-From Cannondale Corp., 9 Brookside
~
j - Metal zipper may be rough on hands. Pl., Georgetown, Conn. 06829.
k-Spring-loaded metal closure may be J- From Eastern Mountain Sports Inc.• 2
difficult to operate for some children.
I - Became Inconveniently stiff In cold.
Vose Farm Rd., Peterborough, N.H.
03458.
t'3
m - Pack didn't close fully with 10x 11 1'2
x 11/i-in. loose-leaf binder inside.
K-Accordlng to manufacturer, current
designation of this model Is Kirtland/ ~
n - When closed, pack bent corners of
8x10-in. notebook.
Tourp8k Cycle Sack; available from
American Youth Hostels, 132 Spring ~
o - Relatively low strength at shoulder-
strap attachment.
St., N.Y.C. 10012. .
L-From L.L. Bean Inc., Freeport, Me.
~
~
p - Wet straps less color-fast than most. 04033.
q - Straps lack buckles for disengage- M-From Class-5 Inc., 1480 66th St., tJ.i
ment. Emeryville, Calif. 94608.
N- From Wilderness Group Inc., 39 W. N>
......
Main St., Ventura, Calif. 93001 . 01
Ratings of children 's bookpacks continued / / / ...~ / // / N)
......
O">

e•
£
.......
e•
"'(:-~· t-<
~·o;
~·o; .(:- t:l
b~
•" ~f ~
~..oe
.., cl~ «,•%J'ut:-~"'
c,0 c,O ,.
b~
.(:-

<l''li c,O ~
ti.i
Small models b::i
IQJ SEARS Cat. No. 95372 $ 7+ Small 0 e0 A,C,J,L,M e -
0
~
ACME BRIEF CASE 179 9 Large 0 e0 A,C,l,J h,i 8
~
ACME BRIEF CASE 140 4 Verysmall ~ 00 - b,c,i,m,p D
SEARS Cat. No. 92524 4+ Small ~o ~ - b,c, g,i - ~
CF.)
J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 6672
SEARS 4939
5+
5
Small
Small
~ 0
~ e
-
0 A • b,c, d,i,j,k
b,i
8
D,E.G
ADI CRAYOLA 5 Very small ~ 0 0 - b,c,i,m
ADI CRAYOLA 64 7* Small ~ 00 - b,c,h,i
PADDINGTON BEAR ESSENTIALS 10* Small ~ 0 0 - b,c,i,j 8

PADDINGTON 10* Small eo • c a,b,e,j, l,m,n,o,q A,B

Ul Very large, 1025 cu. in. and up; large, 850-975 cu. in.; medium, 700-725 cu. in. ; small, 425-600 cu. in. ; very small, approx. 325 cu. in.
 CHILDREN'S BOOKPACKS, CARRY-ON LUGGAGE 217
seams to see whether the stitching would
break before the surrounding fabric would.
The straps on some models have lots of
reinforcing stitching, while the straps on
others have only one row.
Overall, as the Ratings show, the small
packs fared the worst. The hardiest among
them were only as durable as the weakest
of the large packs.
To see how closely our destructive labo-
ratory tests correlated with actual use, we
asked each of our young panelists to select
a pack and use it for about three months.
The models that survived our lab tests best
were the ones that best endured their
schoolyard trials. The lower-rated small
models deteriorated to the point where
they were no longer useful.
COMFORT, CONVENIENCE. The weight of the
loaded bookpack should be distributed
evenly. Wide shoulder straps are prefera-
ble; narrow straps tend to dig in, and
they're more likely to twist. Padding on
the straps helps.
The straps on all the packs we tested
could be shortened or lengthened for a
proper fit, but some were much easier to
adjust than others. On some models, the
straps are so far apart that they could slip
off the shoulders of a small or slightly built
child. On other models, the straps could
chafe a child's neck.
Many of the large packs have a heavy-
duty plastic zipper with two pull tabs.
Those bags open wide from either side and
were easy to load. Models with a flap clo-
sure were also easy to load. Some flaps are
held closed by straps that have either a
quick-release plastic buckle or a thread-
through buckle. The thread-through buck-
les proved to be more time-consuming.
When we sprayed water against the
packs to simulate rain, all allowed some
water to leak in. Three models with a top
flap and a drawstring closure were best at
keeping contents dry. Zippered closures
with a rain guard-a narrow strip of mate-
rial covering the zipper-helped, but they
allowed some water to enter around the
ends of the zipper.
RECOMMENDATIONS. A detached shoulder
strap, a split seam, or a hole would end the
usefulness of a bookpack. That's why dura-
bility was our only consideration in rating
these packs. Other factors-comfort, con-
venience, capacity, type of closure, design
of the straps-are noted in the Ratings.
The most durable of the large models,
according to our tests, were the Sears Cat.
No. 4506 and the Wilderness Erperience
Bike Pack. Prices are $11 plus shipping and
$17, respectively. The most durable of the
small models were the Sears Cat. No.
95372 (was $7 plus shipping but is no long-
er listed in the Sears catalog) and the $9
Acme Brief Case 179.

Carry-on luggage
Condensed from Consumer Reports, August 1981
airplane seat qualifies as carry-on luggage.
Traveling with only what you can carry
A garment bag is usually stowed in the
onto a plane has advantages: You don't
have to wait for your luggage to be plane's closets. On some planes, you can
put either type of bag (so long as it's soft)
unloaded, and the airline won't misplace or
in the overhead bins. Accommodations
mishandle it. We tested underseat suit-
cases and garment bags. vary, so check with your airline.
WHAT WE TESTED. Since luggage comes in a
Practically anything that fits under an
218 CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
multitude of different models, we had to
be selective, particularly with the under-
seat bags. We decided not to test "design-
er" luggage; hard, molded cases; duffel-
like frameless bags; or bags made by out-
door-equipment manufacturers. We did
buy a representative group of "carry-on
underseaters" made by the major luggage
companies. The tested bags were about 21
inches long and big enough to hold at least
one suit or two dresses. Although their
frames.ranged from minimal to nearly rig-
id, all had enough body to keep clothes
fairly neat. Prices for the underseaters
ranged from about $27 to $195.
The garment bags we tested could hold
at least two suits or four dresses; all had at
least one pocket for shirts or underwear.
Their prices ranged from about $45 to
$195.
We judged the bags for constmction and
convenience. Here, drawn from our experi-
ence, is a rundown of what to look for in
materials and design when you shop.
MATERlALs. Frames are often metal or plas-
tic. Wood or pressboard are generally used
only as stiffeners. Frames in the soft-sided
underseat cases we tested are confined to
the perimeter of the bag; the more rigid
types have a wider frame than the softer
bags. Garment bags typically have frames
at the top (sometimes extending down the
shoulders) and at the center, where the
handle is attached to carry the bag folded.
Frames are often encased in fabric or hid-
den between the lining and the shell; that
decreases the chance of snagging clothes.
Bags that are shaped with welting rather
than a true frame are probably the most
flexible.
Plastics, such as vinyls and polyure-
thanes, are common shell materials, espe-
cially in lower-priced luggage. Vinyls are
easy to clean and some of them are very-
durable, but they can warp or crack in ex-
treme temperah1res and they're vulnerable
to scratches, punctures, and tears. "Ex-
panded" vinyl is especially weak.
Nylon, lightweight and strong, is also a
popular shell material. It is often treated
with a water-resistant coating. sometimes
with a stain repellent as well. Cordura, a
type of nylon made by DuPont, is heavier
than most other nylons; it resembles cot-
ton canvas. Cordura luggage is available
from most major manufacturers.
Handles and shoulder straps range from
molded plastic suitcase handles to simple
straps of nylon webbing. Be sure all are
comfortable before you buy. Two-part
strap handles, one part fastened to each
side of the case, are the norm in softer
underseat cases. A wraparound flap se-
cured by snaps is often provided to join the
straps for easier carrying. Look for a flap
that is wider than your palm (so the edges
won't dig into your hand), and make sure it
wraps around the handles.
The better garment bags provide a han-
dle or strap at the top of the bag for carry-
ing it full-length. For carrying the hag
folded, the better models have both a han-
dle and an adjustable shoulder strap that
can be removed or secured flat against the
bag. With women's garment bags, typi-
cally 8 to 10 inches longer than men's ver-
sions, a shoulder strap may be the only way
to carry the bag without dragging it on the
ground. A nonskid pad can help keep the
strap on your shoulder.
Zippers are the main closure on all of
the garment bags and most softer under-
seat cases; they're also common on pock-
ets. Try out all zippers; they should he nei-
ther too hard nor too easy to open and
close. Look for an extra row of stitching
securing the zipper tape to the bag, espe-
cially on the softer suitcases. (That type of
luggage can be over-stuffed, straining zip-
per seams.) Other things that make zippers
easier to operate: two pulls; pulls large
enough to grasp comfortably, even with
gloves; and a tab at the ends of the zipper
track to hold while pulling.
The more rigid cases typically close
with latches and hinges. Open and shut the

bag. Look for latches that open smoothly
and hinges that don't wiggle.
Locks on luggage serve more to keep
the bag from opening accidentally than to
prevent theft. Combination locks, more
common on higher-priced luggage, are
preferable to key locks.
Examine all the hardware. Cast hard-
ware is generally stronger than stamped
hardware-look for the ridge left when the
casting mold was removed. Malce sure
snaps are easy to undo; buckles placed
where they won't catch on clothes as you
walk; spring-loaded clips easily operated;
and D-rings soldered shut. Skids on the
bottom of a bag help keep the bottom
from scuffing and raise the bag of£ wet or
dirty pavement.
DESIGN. While multiple compartments and
pockets malce an underseat case or a gar-
ment bag more convenient to use, it's hard
to fit anything bulky into a bag with a lot
of little compartments and no big com-
partment. Look for pockets with gimets
(extra pieces of material at the sides) and
zippers. An open outer pocket on an
underseat bag is handy. The more-rigid,
single-compartment cases, especially those
designed as "men's" cases, often have par-
titions to divide up the compartment.
Look for flexible partitions that can be
packed out of the way.
The rack-and-hanger assembly often
found in underseat cases of the size we
tested is usually removable, though some-
times part of the rack is not. The rack in
framed garment bags is built in. Some gar-
ment bags have two racks, which distrib-
utes the load more evenly than a single
rack. Look for hangers that have some way
of keeping slacks from. slipping of£ and a
way of hanging skirts. In garment bags,
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE 219
check for a hanger that still hangs on the
rack even if the latch is partly undone, or
for a hanger latch that takes positive effort
to undo. We found a few hangers that slip-
ped of£ too easily, dumping clothes to the
bottom of the bag.
Tie or buckle tapes are often provided in
both garment bags and underseat cases.
Look for tapes that are long enough to go
around the clothes, and in underseat cases,
long enough to be draped out of the case
while you're packing.
The better garment bags provide some
way of storing the swiveling hook that's
mounted at the top- otherwise the hook
could drag on the floor as you walk. Some
have a pocket; some have a snap-down
strap to hold the hook against the top of
the bag.
Look at handle attachments to see how
the weight of the load will be distributed
on the bag. The wider the area bearing the
load, the better. On a case with a two-part
strap handle, straps that continue several
inches down the side of the bag (or all
around) are less likely to rip of£ than straps
sewn _<J only a bit of the bag. A top-
mounted handle that is riveted or screwed
twi~t on each side spreads the load better
th tone that's fastened just once on each
side. A handle fastened to a major part of
the frame is better designed than one
attached to a stiffener under the handle.
And a shoulder strap that's fastened to its
D-ring with an X-ed box of stitching is apt
to be more secure than a shoulder strap
held with only a rivet.
We found plenty of examples of poor
workmanship and defective components
among the bags we tested. Try to buy from
a store that will allow exchanges if there's
a problem.
 Photography
Color-print film processing
Condensed from Consumer Reports, July 1982
Color-print processing is largely an auto-
mated procedure. But tolerances are small.
The slightest change in temperature,
chemicals, photographic paper, the setup
of the equipment, and other elements of
processing can affect the quality of the
prints. How well a lab makes prints
depends on how strictly all those elements
are controlled, day after day.
They are not controlled very well, we
found, when we sent nearly 200 rolls of
exposed film to processors around the
country. Only about half of the more than
4000 prints that came back were judged
good or better. Most of the others were
tolerable, but definitely second-rate. And
10 percent were so bad that even the most
casual snapshooter might ask that they be
made over-or assume that the fault lay in
the camera work, not the processing, and
throw them away.
If you don't recognize most of the pro-
cessors in our Ratings, that's because many
do only wholesale business or do retail
work under the names of store chains and
mail-order operations. In a list on pages
222 and 223, we link the parent companies
with scores of outlets that deal directly
with the public. You may find the outlet
you deal with on that list.
We also had prints made at several of
the one-hour services popping up around
the country and through some mail-order
and supermarket processors who promote
themselves as being particularly cheap.
W e call them " one-hour labs" and "cheap
labs" in the Ratings.
WHAT GOES WRONG. In the highly automat-
ed systems used by color labs, nearly all
our negatives were reasonably well devel-
oped and could · have been used to make
acceptable prints. The problems arose in
the print-making equipment. The most
common errors were in exposure and color
balance, often occurring in the same
print.
Exposure. One-third of our prints-at
least some from each company- were ex-
posed incorrectly in printing. Most of
these were underexposed-that is, printed
too light.
Color balance. One in three prints had
poor color balance. Hard shots for the
equipment to handle were ones dominated
by a single color. One of the test shots we
took was of a hand at the top of a red car
door. One hapless printer tried, errone-
ously, to balance the colors by toning
down the red into a muddy coral color and
pushing the pale flesh-tone of the hand
into cyanotic blue.
Even with the most difficult shots, at
 COLOR-PRINT FILM PROCESSING 221
least one processor or another managed to
get the color balance right. That may be to
the credit of a company's equipment or to
the sharp eyes of its inspectors. But no pro-
cessor got color balance right all the time.
Even common, simple pictures-trees and
blue sky, for instance-varied considerably
in hue from one processor to another.
Chromatic aberration. Every roll of BO
film printed at four different one-hour labs
showed a lens-induced flaw called "chro-
matic aberration." It blurred the edges of
objects in the comers of prints, tingeing
them either blue or orange. We knew it
hadn't been caused by our cameras. Fur-
ther checking revealed that those four one-
hour labs all happen to use the same brand
of equipment, the Noritsu "QSS" or
"Quick Service System" printer. Prints
from BO film sent to other labs using the
Noritsu equipment also showed chromatic
aberration. That flaw is the main reason
one-hour labs were rated lower for 110
film than they were for 35mm film. (The
QSS printer lens for 35mm prints was
okay-no 35mm prints showed chromatic
aberration.) Until labs using the QSS print-
er correct the problem, we would avoid
submitting 110 film to them.
Uneven color and exposure. Each pro-
cessor sent us at least some prints that were
printed unevenly. Often, the unevenness
was so subtle it was noticed only because
the pictured scene had a large area of a
uniform color, such as a blue sky. Other
prints were so blotchy they were essential-
ly mined.
Framing and trimming. Scattered
throughout our prints were a few in which
the negative had been improperly aligned
when the print was exposed. Apparently
the machinery got out of sync for a
moment. More frequent was an erratic
trimming machine. We got about 40 prints
altogether that had a thin extraneous stripe
on one end.
Focus. Most processors produced cor-
rectly focused prints. Union Photo, how-
ever, sent us a total of 36 out-of-focus
prints, from both BO and 35mm film.
Blur. This was a rare problem. Nine of
our prints were blurred from the negat,ive
or the paper moving during exposure.
Damaged prints. We received 10 prints
that were spoiled after they had been
printed. Some were stained from the ink
used to stamp a date on the back of anoth-
er print. Three in one order had a tarlike
substance on them.
Scratches, dirt, and water spots. About
one print in eight showed one of these
flaws. Faint streaks or amoebalike marks
were due to water spots on the negative,
which ordinarily can be cleaned and satis-
factorily reprinted. More obvious were
white flecks caused by dirt on the negative
(also fixable) or lines caused by badly
scratched negatives (not easily fixable).
Negative handling. Some of the damage
to negatives didn't show up in the prints
because it occurred after printing. A few
negatives were so dirty and scratched that
they looked as though they'd been dropped
on the floor. Others had fingerprints on
them. We got one folded negative and one
that had been cut in two. Another negative
came hack spliced together-hut with a
note of apology.
Ruining the negative is, of course, the
worst thing a processor can do aside from
losing the film altogether. It didn't happen
often enough for us to point to a particu-
larly risky processor.
To keep costs low, processors seem to
leave it up to you to inspect the prints and
ask for new prints if they're necessary.
Some companies even describe this as a
virtue-"Love 'em or leave 'em," as the
slogan goes. Such a policy is not unreason-
able, for it may bring you prints at a lower
cost than otherwise possible. But it means
you shouldn't hesitate to refuse to pay for
poor prints, or to return them for another
try. You may he the first human being to
look at them critically.
RECOMMENDATIONS. In printing 35mm
Text continued page 224
 Fiim processors: guises and disguises ~
Here are names under which the companies we tested do business. ("'.)
The Ratings on page 224 are based on film we submitted to firms marked with an asterisk. g
Parent company .._ Mal order ~
llACON PHOTO Beacon Photo Store (New York City area) *Beacon Professional (482 Sunrise Highway, Rockville ~
Sl!RYICE Centre, N.Y. 11570)
Deal Direct Photo (same address)
~
"-3
*Finest Foto (same address)
~
~
ll!RKEY PHOTO Direct Photo (N.J. area) Economy (National Headquarters, P.O. Box 2062, Boston,
Kelly Film Express (New York City area) Mass. 02106)
Mastercolor (name used for wholesale
work)
•J.C. Penney Fiim Club {through Penneys catalog)
Mallaway (same address as Economy)
;g
~
Photo Drive-Thru (Northeast) Pictures U.S.A. (same address as Economy)
*Prepaid mailers {sold without brand *Sears Home Photo Service (through Sears catalog)

~
name) Wards Auto Club (through membership)

CLARK COLOR
LAIORATORIH
District Photo (Washington, D.C., area) *Clark Color Laboratories (P.O. Box 1018, Washington, D.C.
20013)
~
G'.l
COLORCRAFT *Fiim & Photo (South) Family Fiim (P.O. Box 3454, Evansville, Ind. 47733)
Foto Express (South) Mickey's Film Express (P.O. Box 7595, Orlando, Fla. 32804)
Handl Photo (South) Pictures (same address as Family Film)
•snappy's (South) Star Studios (P.O. Box 628, Evansville, Ind. 47704)
Sun Photo Country (P.O. Box 191, Evansville, Ind. 47702)
*Triple Print (same address as Family Film)
*Viking (same address as Family Fiim)

(Not Identified) *CUSTOM QUALITY STUDIO (P.O. Box 4838, Chicago, Ill.
60680)

EASTMAN KODAK *Kodak (nationwide, through dealers and

prepaid mailers)

FILM PACTORY Fiim Factory (New York City area) *Fiim Factory (450 Targee St., Staten Island, N.Y. 10304)
FOTOMAT • Fotomat (nationwide)

FOX·ITANLEY •Fox Photo (most parts of U.S.) Ball Photo (P.O. Box A, San Antonio, Tex. 78297)
PHOTO PRODUCTS Film-Way (same address as Ball Photo)
Focus 35 (P.O. Box F, San Antonio, Tex. 78297)
Fox Photo (same address as Ball Photo)
•Fox Professional Color Labs (same address as Focus 35)
•0w1 Photo (same address as Ball Photo)
Pie Parade (same address as Ball Photo)
35 Unlimited (same address as Focus 35)

(Not Identified) •GLO COLOR LABS (G.P.O. Box 9, Newark, N.J. 07101)
• Master Color Labs (G .P.O. Box 30, Newark, N.J. 07101)

CHARDIAN PHOTO *(Wholesale only) Exxon Travel Club (through membership)

Wardway (through Wards catalog) (°':)
*SUN PHOTO COUNTRY (Tested separately but now part of Colorcraft) g
JM Dynacolor (wholesale only) AAA (P.O. Box 4, Springfield, Mass. 01101) g
~
Focal (prepaid mailers available through Jack Rabbit (same address)
K Mart Stores) S & H (same address)
Photo Depot (New England and S.C.)
•3M prepaid mailers
3M (same address)
~
"'-3
UNION PHOTO Photo Plaza (N .J. area) • compu-Color (P.O. Box 288, Clifton, N.J. 07011)
~
~
First Class Photo (P.O. Box C400, Clifton, N.J. 07011)
• Total-Vue (P.O. Box 109, Clifton, N.J. 07011)
United States Fiim Club (same address as Compu-Color)
•rhe World of 35mm (P.O. Box 2945, Paterson , N.J. 07509) ;g
0
•wAL9REEN (National drugstore chain that does most
of its own processing) &5
~
~
0

~
224 COLOR-PRINT FILM PROCESSING
film, two laboratories were clearly superi-
or in our tests. One was Clark Color Labo-
ratories in Washington, D.C.; the other
was Custom Quality Studio in Chicago.
Both are mail-order labs (for addresses, see
page 222) and both were among the least
expensive labs we tested. We've check-
rated them and judged them Best Buys.
In a survey we conducted with 15,000
readers who volunteered to fill out ques-
tionnaires, two other labs won praise for
high quality and low prices: Mystic Color
Lab (P.O. Box 144, Mystic, Conn. 06355);
and Skrudland Photo Service (Hebron, Ill.
60034). Mystic charges $5.50 to process a
24-exposure roll of either 35mm or 110
film. Skrudland charges $4 for a 24-expo-
sure roll of 35mm film and $3 for 110 film.
By the time the reader-survey results were
in, we couldn't add these labs to our tests.
Ratings of color-print film processors
Listed in order of estimated overall
quality of prints made from 35mm
film. Except as noted, all compa-
nies made 110 prints that were
judged good . Company names
listed are corporate names; see
page 222 for other names used by
Company
$CLARK COLOR
LABORATORIES, $4.70 + OJ
A Beat Buy
$ CUSTOM QUALITY 4.14
STUDIO, A Beat Buy
Our readers also thought very highly of
the work done by Kodak, which ranks near
the top of a large middle group in our Rat-
ings. Based on our experience and theirs,
we'd call Kodak a fairly safe bet but an
expensive one. Kodak's prices are about
double those charged by the four mail-
order firms mentioned above.
The group of one-hour labs we tested
and Fox-Stanley are also rated at the top of
the middle group for prints from 35mm
film. With the one-hour labs, you pay a
premium for speed, and the quality of a lab
depends on who's running the automated
machinery. Processing at Fox Photo kiosks
was expensive; the company's mail-order
services cost about $2 or $3 less.
Prints from the top companies in that
large middle group-the one-hour labs,
Continued on page 226
same processor. Prices are those
paid by CU during test, from Octo-
ber 1981 to January 1982. Unless
otherwise noted, prices for 35mm
and 110 film were the same; + indi-
cates postage (37¢ for 35mm; 29¢
for 110) was extra.
If mail-order
negative
not printed
 COLOR-PRINT FILM PROCESSING 225
If mail-orde~
negative
not printed

• Prints from closely ranked processors below differed little in overall quality.
"One-hour labs" $8. 38 average ..... I]) c
FOX-STANLEY
PHOTO 6.25+ to 9.53rn """ """ """ """ """ ..... A
PRODUCTS
EASTMAN KODAK 9.00+ B
FILM FACTORY 4.29+
SUN PHOTO
COUNTRY
4.79

BERKEY PHOTO 5.79+ to 9.081Il """ """ """ ffil

BEACON PHOTO ..... A
SERVICE
5.55+ average

WALGREEN 3.39 to 5.15rfil """ C,D

UNION PHOTO 4.80+ average c
"Cheap labs" 3.76 average
FOTOMAT 7.53 average A
COLORCRAFT 5.99+ to 9.88CTJ c
GUARDIAN
PHOTO
5.50 average

3M 7.99+
• Prints from the following were significantly lower in overall quality than from those above.
GLO COLOR 4.75+
OJ Price for 35mm film; 110 cost $4.30+.
rn Price varied depending on part of company
that film was sent to: Owl Photo, $6.25+;
Fox Professional Color Labs and 35 Unlim-
ited, $7.20+; Fox Photo, $9.53.
I]) Varied.
III Price varied depending on part of company
that film was sent to: Sears Home Photo
Service, $5.79+ ; J.C. Penney Film Club,
$5.84 +;prepaid mailer, $6.49+; Kelly Film
..... """ ..... E
Express store. $9. 08.
ffil Glossy prints not available by mail.
[fil Price varied by location of store.
CTl Price varied depending on part of company
that film was sent to: Triple Print, $6.59+
for 35mm ($5.99+ for 110) ; Viking,
$6.60+; Film & Photo kiosk, $8.65; $nap-
py's kiosk, $9.88.
[ID Information not available.

KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Readers considered quality of prints CU's test.
average. D- Readers considered quality of prints
B- Readers considered quality of prints bet- worse than average.
ter than average. E-Prints from 110 film were judged poor in
C- Prints from 110 film were judged fair in CU's test.
226 FILM PROCESSING, SLR CAMERAS
Fox-Stanley, and Kodak-were judged
about equal, overall. From our data, we
can say that those companies are better
than the ones at the bottom of the group,
but finer distinctions aren't possible.
There's another piece of information we
feel bound to pass along. Only a small per-
centage of our respondents who had used
Clarie Color Laboratories, one of our
check-rated labs, have stopped using them
in the last two years. That's a good sign.
But of those who did stop, one-third gave
" lost film" as the reason. We offer that
observation cautiously. It may not mean
Clarie is more likely to lose film than
another processor. It may mean that many
of its customers find little reason to leave
until film is lost. (Sometimes it's not the
film that gets lost; it's the return address.
This can happen when you use stickers
with your return address instead of writing
directly on the return shipping label. Pro-
cessors keep urueturnable film for a while
in a " lost and found" office. To query that
of&ce, give the date the film was submitted
and detailed descriptions of pictures on the
roll.)
Our survey also showed that with some
companies, the ratio of ex-<:Ustomers to
current customers was quite high. More
readers have quit using Berkey than pres-
ently say they use it (though they still may
be using it without knowing it), mainly
because of poor-quality prints. Nearly as
many people have stopped using Fotomat
and Fox-Stanley as currently use them;
high prices and poor quality were the rea-
sons mentioned most often. Again, we offer
that information cautiously; those compa-
nies are among the largest in the business,
and our readers simply may have been
more lilcely to try them once or twice.
While our Ratings should improve your
chances of getting good prints, they can't
guarantee them. Also, our Ratings apply
only to the original processing of color-
print film, not to other types of processing.
such as getting slides made. Many compa-
nies are equipped to do only color prints.
When you send them slide film, another
company may actually do the work. Ko-
dachrome slide film, for instance, is very
complicated to process. According to one
industry analyst we spoke with, the only
major companies that process Kodachrome
are Kodak and 3M's Dynacolor division.

SLR cameras
Condensed from Consumer Reports. November 1981
with cheap, handy no cameras, SLR's do
While other prices have more than dou-
bled in the past decade, single-lens reflex
have strong advantages. A larger choice of
camera prices have stayed about the same.
print and slide film is available in the
Meanwhile, advances in camera design35mm format, and the large negative size
have made 35mm SLR's much easier to combined with generally superior lenses
use. Thus SLR cameras have emerged from
result in sharper, less grainy photographs
the world of the photo hobbyist and pro-
more suitable for enlarging. SLR's can take
fessional photographer and moved into the
pictures over a wider range of light levels.
hands of millions of more casual snap-
Their interchangeable lenses give creative
shooters. opportunities and make it possible to take
pictures that you can't get with no cam-
Although nice snapshots can be made

eras. And nowadays SLR cameras are light-
weight and compact.
The overall quality of most of the mod-
erately priced, automatic-exposure-control
SLR's we tested was quite high. So you can
safely choose any model from among the
top dozen or so in the Ratings on the basis
of price or some secondary feature that
you may want.
PICTURE QUALITY. The lens is crucial to pic-
ture quality, and the choice of lens at ini-
tial purchase is an important one. Though
a great variety of lenses are available,
SLR's are usually sold with a lens of 50mm
or 55mm focal length, commonly called a
"normal" lens because it gives you about
the same natural perspective that your
eyes give you. Typically, a brand line gives
you a choice among two or three normal
lenses with different maximum apertures.
The larger apertures cost more, but are not
required if you plan to take mainly out-
door daylight and indoor flash pictures.
We tested one to three normal lenses avail-
able for each camera and based our Ratings
on performance with whichever lens
worked best.
CONVENIENCE. A convenient camera can be
quickly and easily adjusted to meet the pic-
ture-taking situation at hand. A panel of
experienced camera hands put each model
through a timed sequence of situations that
required changing lenses, and using all the
controls. Models that went through the
routine the quickest received high scores
in the column headed "Convenience in
use." Those that could be used without
errors induced by traps in the camera's
design also scored well in the column
headed "Convenience in design."
EXPOSURE CONTROL All the tested models
can control the exposure automatically.
Typically, you set the aperture and the
camera meters the light and automatically
sets the shutter speed for a correct expo-
sure. The Canon AE-1 Program and AE-1
and the Konica reverse that procedure;
you set the shutter speed and the camera
SLR CAMERAS 227
sets the correct aperture. Either method is
equally convenient once you get used to it,
and both produced correct exposures con-
sistently.
You don't have to set either exposure
control with the Canon AE-1 Progmm; the
camera can automatically set both the
aperture and shutter speed.
All the cameras allow you to modify the
exposure selected by the meter, usually
with an exposure-compensation control
that lets you over- or underexpose by a
stop or two.
Most models have an indicator in the
viewfinder that shows the exposure setting
being selected automatically. A few mod-
els show both aperture and shutter-speed
settings.
FLASH UNITS. Most makers now offer a
"dedicated" electronic flash designed ex-
pressly for use with the maker's own cam-
eras. Typically, these flashes interact with
the automatic exposure control to set the
camera to the fastest appropriate shutter
speed. Some also control the aperture set-
ting. Dedicated flashes usually aren't inter-
changeable between brands, although in-
dependent manufacturers make some that
will work with more than one brand. How-
ever, regular electronic flash units can be
used so long as they have no contacts that
interfere with the camera's contacts for the
dedicated flash.
We checked each camera with the
cheapest dedicated flash system offered,
and found that they all performed ably.
There's no need to select a camera based
on the flash system offered.
RECOMMENDATIONS. The list prices of
SLR cameras are one of the great fictions
of modem marketing. We paid nowhere
near the list price for any of our samples;
in fact, discounts of 40 to 50 percent or
more were the norm. The Ratings give the
makers' suggested retail prices, but you
should pay more attention to the range of
discounted prices that were quoted to us
by New York City camera dealers.
Ratings start on next page
 Ratings of 35mm SLR cameras ~
Listed in order of estimated normal lenses tested for each publication.
overall quality as indicated by brand. Prices are both manufac-
Overall Ratings Score; differ-
ences of less than 15 points
turers' suggested retail and the
range of prices quoted to CU a
~
a
0
0 n
-
e
were judged not very significant. shoppers. [QI indicates model was Better ......
Lenses are the highest-rated discontinued at time of original
Viewfinder Con-
·Meter modee •how• venience
_____.....,

Brend Md model
(with len•)
('<>( ~~~
PENTAX ME Super (w/ 70 $490 $280- 25 12- 4-
- - 16 o e B,G,I b,k 8,0,F
PENTAX SMC M f/U) 319 1600 1/2000
""' ""' ""'
[QI MINOLTA XG-9 (w/
281- 27 25- 1-
ROKKOR-XMD 67 533 - - 17 Q Q G,I - G
f/1.4)
--
316 1600 1/1000
""' ""' ""'
[QI RICOH XR-28 (w/
67 413
223-
29
12- 8- - 15 o e E d,m 8,F,I
RIKENON XR f/1.7) 243 3200 1/1000
""' ""' ""' ""'
NIKON FE (w/NIKKOR 8-
66 634 395- 30 12-
- 16 G) 8 I d,o A.8,J
f/U) 419 4000 1/1000
""' ""' ""' ""'
CHINON CE-4 (wl
CHINON f/2.8) 65 455
229-
275
23
25-
3200
8-
1/1000 - .,, .,, - .,, 13 0 e l,J f 8 ,F,G

121 VIVITAR XV-3 (wl

VIVITAR VllC f/1.4) 65 460 - 26 25-
3200
8-
1/ 1000 - .,, .,, - .,, 13 e e l,J k,n F,G

CANON AE-1 Progr•m

(w/CANON FD f/1.4) 63 583 322- 30
343
12-
3200
2-
1/1000
.,, - - .,, - 16 0 0 A,C,l,J j,m
A,E,G,
H

NIKON EM (w/NIKKOR
f/1.4) 62 485 290 26
25-
1600
1-
1/1000 - .,, - - .,, 16 0 e I
f,g,j,
k,l ,o
C,1,K

RICOH KR-10 (w/

RIKENON XR f/1 .7) 61 369 221- 28
222
12-
3200
8-
1/1 000 - .,, .,, - .,, 10 e e - d,k,l,m F,I

MINOLTA XG- 1 (w/

ROKKOR-X MD f/1.4)
61 498 259- 26
270
25-
1600
1-
1/1000 - .,, - - .,, 17 e 0 G k G

MAlllYA ZE (w/SEKOR
E f/1.7), A S..t Buy 61 310
150-
189 23
12-
3200
1-
1/1000 - .,, - - .,, 16 e 0 l,J g,k G,K

KONICA FC- 1 (wl

HEXANON AR f/1.8) 60 414
220-
249 25
25-
1600
2-
1/ 1000
.,, - - .,, - 15 Q 8 C,F,
G,I e,j ,k K,M

121 VIVITAR XV-2 (wl

58 390 - 24
25- 8-
- .,, - - .,, 13 0 e I
f,g,
F,G,L
VIVITAR VMC f/1.4) 1600 1 /1000 j,k,n
~
ROLLEI SL35E (w/ 331 - 32 25- 16- .,, .,, .,, .,, 0 0
~

~
ROLLEINAR-MC f/1.4) 58 547 369 6400 1/1 000 - 16 D,l,J b,n,o 8

.,, - - .,, - e e ~
CANON AE-1 (w/ 282- 30 25- 2-
CANON FD f/1.4) 57 550 16 C,I h,j,m G
303 3200 1/1000

FUJICA AX-3 (w/

FUJINON-X f/2.2) 57 410 235- 24
290
12-
3200
2-
1/1 000 - .,, .,, .,, .,, 15 0 e E,H,J - 8 ,G, H
l:J:l
~

ts
Ratings continued next page
Ratings of SLR cameras
continued
Viewfinder Con-
Meter mode8 show• venience

Brand and model

(with len•) 4~
;:,,.
~o.• ~%~~
~
,p
.:><' ~~ •<'
. ;$' ...." i:!-• ~~~~~%~~~~/
"•
.o·
•
_.,.
JI' ·.$'
.<fl'
~· "• •• ·,.'$
.JS ~ii'~ ~·
!Oil
-~ ~· .... ..e• -•• -••<'
~·<' e<'

cl'
CHINON CA-4 (w/
CHINON f/2.8)
55 350
$190-
225
22
25-
3200
1-
1/1000 - v - - v 16 0 e I f,g,k,I F,J,K,L

!ID YASHICA FR-I (w/

YASHICA ML f/1.4)
52 585
270-
299
35
12-
3200
4-
1/1000
- v -
""' v 16 e e I d,f,n
8,G,
K,H,M

PENT.AX MV (w/
PENT.AX SMC M f/1.4)
52 385
220-
239
24
25-
1600
1-
1/1000
- v - - - 18 Q e - b,f,g,
i,k,I
8 ,F,J,
K,L

CANON AV-1 (w/CAN- 25- 2- a,b,g,j,

ON FD f/1.4) 50 463 212- 26
243 1600 1/1000 - v - - v 16 0 0 - k,l,m G

OLYMPUS OM-10 (w/

ZUIKO S MC f/1.4)
48 480 270- 25
275
25-
1600
2-
1/1000 - v - - v 15 0 e - a,f,g,I
E,H,
/,K

FUJICA AX-1 (w/

FUJINON-X f/2.2)
45 340 195- 24
199
25-
3200
1/-z-
1/1000
- v - - v 17 0 e H,J
a,c,
g,I
8,H

(Q] YASHICA FR-11 (w/ 12- 4-

YASHICA ML f/1.4)
40 480 225- 35
255 3200 1/1000 - v - - v 16 Q 0 I a,d,f,g,
k,l,n
G KM
' '
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: 3 focusing aids: split-image rang-
efinder, mlcroprism, and ground glass;
full-aperture, center-weighted metering;
bulb (B) shutter setting; bayonet lens
mou11t; tripod socket; provision for cable
release; hot-shoe provision for flash; bat-
tery-testing capability; hinged camera
back.
Except as noted, all have: exposure-com-
pensation dial for departing, either by
overexposure or by underexposure, from
meter reading; depth-of-field preview
feature; standard (PC) flash connector;
self-timer; shutter lock; provision for auto-
winder or motor drive; provisions for dedi-
cated flash that automatically sets shutter
speed to flash sync and has flash-ready
indicator.
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
A-Automatically adjusts both shutter
speed and aperture when set in pro-
gram mode.
B - Viewfinder indicates whether expo-
sure compensation is set on normal.
C - Dedicated flash automatically sets
correct aperture.
D- X-sync Interlock prevents too-fast
shutter speed with flash.
E-Eyeplece shutter (built-in) helps pre-
vent stray light from affecting expo-
sure readings.
F -Automatic film loading.
G- Film-advance Indicator.
H- Film-confirmation window shows
back of loaded film cartridge.
I - Memo holder on back of camera.
J-Exposure lock holds meter reading
when desired.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a - Lacks viewfinder indication that expo-
sure meter is not In automatic mode.
b-Viewfinder shows between 5 and 10
percent less area than slide mount.
c - Metering judged relatively inconve-
nient; may require repeated checks in
changing light.
d -Combined film-advance lever and me-
ter switch judged inconvenient for
left-eyed user.
e - No explicit warning when aperture
setting selected by meter is beyond
maximum aperture of lens.
f - Lacks lock to prevent inadvertent
change to manual exposure control.
g - Only one shutter speed available for
manual mode and for electronic flash;
for Olympua OM-10, an optional man-
ual adapter ($36) provides 11 shutter
speeds.
h - Position of shutter-speed dial may be
accidentally changed when using film
advance.
i - Film rewind crank is lifted to use
exposure compensation dial; if it Is
lifted too far camera back will open .
j - Lacks exposure-compensation con-
trol.
k - Lacks depth-of-field preview feature.
I - Lacks standard (PC) flash connector
for off-camera flash.
m - Instructions warn that using flash
units of other makes may damage
camera.
n - Dedicated flash not available.
o-Camera vibration slightly higher than
most.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Focusing screen can be changed by
user.
8-Permlts double exposures when de-
sired.
C-Camera beeps when shutter speed
required is faster than fastest availa-
ble or slower than 1/30 sec.
D- A different-colored LED turns on
when shutter speed is slower than 1/
30 sec.
£-Audible battery check.
F-Accepts K mount lenses.
G-Self-timer can be cancelled without
taking picture.
H-Camera beeps while self-timer Is be-
ing used.
I- When self-timer is started. mirror flips
up and lens stops down to reduce
vibration when picture is taken.
J - Lacks self-timer. ~
K- Lacks shutter lock. I:""
L- Does not accept motor drive or auto- ::ti
winder. ()
M- Uses nonstandard cable release, not ;i,;:
always readily available. Fi::
~
ti)
~
.....
232 POCKET 110 CAMERAS

Pocket 110 cameras

Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1981
Inexpensive point-and-shoot 110 cameras If you just want to take nice snapshots
can take reasonably good pictures, and, without any fuss or bother, an inexpensive,
within the limitations of the 110-film for- simple, point-and-shoot 110 would be the
mat, they make much more sense for casu- more appropriate choice. Among the high-
al snapshooters than fancy models that er-rated point-and-shoot models still avail-
cost far more. able when we last checked, the Kodak
For serious photographers, 110 cameras Ektralite 10 ($42) produced better-than-
have two major drawbacks. Their small average llO pictures and was very conve-
negatives cannot produce high-quality en- nient to use, but its ability to take pictures
largements, and the limited choice of film under low light conditions without ftash
speeds available in the 110 format, though was severely limited; you'd need at least
suitable for most purposes, curtails what hazy sunlight. The Kodalc Ektralite 500
you can do with such a camera. However, ($62) had the same limitation, though its
if you're only looking for reasonably clear ftash switches on automatically at low
snapshots, a 110 camera should be ade- light levels when you touch the shutter
quate. And 110 film comes in convenient release. Overall picture quality was below
cartridges, making film loading simple. average, and the Ektralitc 500 is not as
The more complicated adjustable-focus pocketable as the Ektralitc 10. The $28
llO's have a wide range of exposure set- Kodak Ektra 200 took average pictures and
tings and various other features that bring was quite convenient and pocketable (once
their prices above $200. (But if you're will- you remove its add-on electronic ftash, the
ing to spend that much for a camera, you $28 Kodalur Model J ), but its viewfinder
would probably be happier with a good was not as bright or accurate as the others.
35mm model and the superior picture That model can also use ftipftash.
quality that comes with its larger film for- Those three cameras didn't differ signifi-
mat. ) Among the higher-rated adjustable- cantly in estimated overall quality, so you
focus llO's were the Canon 110 ED'20, the might want to choose by price. Substantial
Pentar Auto 110, and the Minolta 110 discounts on all but the cheapest llO's are
Zoom SLR Mark II. usually available.

Camera tripods
Condensed from Consumer Reports, November 1980
A tripod should be steady as a rock, easily byist might take on a trip, not professional
adjustable, lightweight, and compact when studio-type models. Some of the tripods
folded- goals that conftict in practice, so were steadier than others, though on
you must choose among the various com- pr~nts, you probably wouldn't notice blur
promises made by the manufacturers. For except with the least stable models.
this report, we chose tripods that a hob- DESIGN. Each tripod has a pan head (which

supports and aims the camera), an adjust-
able column (which supports the pan
head), and a leg assembly (whose telescop-
ing legs spread and extend to support
everything above).
Three-way vs. two-way pan heads. To
point a camera at any subject, you must be
able to pan (tum it from side to side), tilt
(point up and down), and side-tilt (tum the
camera between horizontal and vertical
format). Most tested models have a three-
way pan head; the three motions all have
separate controls. Models with a two-way
head have only pan and tilt controls;
they're less convenient to change to a ver-
tical format.
Separate vs. combined control locks.
On most of the tripods, there are separate
controls for pan and tilt; on others, those
controls are combined. A combined lock is
faster, but separate locks let you to keep
one motion fixed as you adjust the other.
Pan-head reversal. For copy or low-
angle work, it's convenient to be able to
put the pan head at the bottom of the col-
umn so you can shoot straight down or
forward between the tripod legs. Some tri-
pods lack that capability, but many pho-
tqgraphers would never miss it.
Lift vs. geared columns. The columns of
most tested models are adjusted by lifting
or lowering them by hand. If you have an
unusually heavy camera, though, or need
to make fine adjustments for close-up or
copy work, you may prefer a column that's
cranked up and down with a gear.
CAMERA TRIPODS 233
Collet vs. lever leg locks. Collets are
small rings around the legs of some tripods.
You twist them to lock or loosen the leg
sections. For convenience, the collets
should be actuated in the proper order (top
to bottom when tightening, bottom to top
when loosening). Lever locks can be oper-
ated faster and in any order, but the levers
protrude from the legs and add to the girth
of the folded tripod.
More vs. fewer sections. Models with
the fewest leg sections were generally the
fastest to set up and take down. Those with
the most leg sections were generally the
shortest when collapsed.
USE. With nearly half the tested tripods,
the legs droop together when the unit is
picked up-that's very annoying because
you have to spread the legs again each
time you move it.
Some models suffer from "collet con-
flict": Their collets touch each other as the
leg sections are collapsed, and one collet
can block the tightening action of the next.
As a result, leg sections may slide out after
you think you've secured the tripod in a
tight bundle. To prevent that, keep the col-
lets spaced slightly apart when you tighten
them.
With some models, we couldn't set the
camera precisely in a horizontal or vertical
position unless we arranged the legs so that
the column tilted a bit. In most such cases,
we judged the problem to be a sample
defect, which could be corrected by filing
down the appropriate part.
Tert continued page 236

CU's objectivity
CU accepts no advertising; it accepts no samples of products; It
does Its utmost to stop use of Its name or findings to promote any
product or service. Ask anyone who claims that a CU Rating has
been improperly Influenced to write down the assertion and sign It.
Then send the document to us. Consumers Union takes full respon-
sibility for the integrity of Its work.
 Ratings of camera tripods ~
Listed in order of estimated with separate pan and tilt locks, are available. Im indicates model
overall quality based on labora- was discontinued at original ""tl
a provision for reversing pan-
tory and use tests. Models with
Overall Ratings Scores within 10
head position for low-angle or
copy work, a manual lift, and a
publication.
~
points of each other differ.ed lit- single-section column. + indi- £1\~
\iii t::J or"\•
•
~
.....
tle in overall quality. Except as cates shi pping is extra. Except Better Worse
.....
<:::>
noted, all have a 3-way pan head for mail-ord er models, discounts
f;:
~
~
Ct:l

e•
!m SLIK S205 72 $95 4.3 63 20 4.5 5 0 e a A.8.E.G.J
!mSMITH-VICTOR KENLOCK
GL1500 70 53 3.5 52 19 4.5 4 e e d c .o

SOLIGOR APOLLO
QUADRALEG
69 57 2.7 55 19 4.3 4 0 0 0 - 8,0

GITZO 106-172
SOLIGOR APOLLO
CHANNEL Ill
69
67
130
77
3.5
4.9
57
60
17
23
4.5
5.5
4
3
0
e •e e
0
c

-
8,E.F

C,O,G,H

J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 0720 67 38+ 4.0 58 23 5.1 3 e 0 e d C,F.G

HOLLYWOOD ACME-LITE
ENSIGN SENIOR 66 55 4.4 56 23 4.9 3 e e e - c.o.G

VIVITAR 911 65 57 3.9 58 23 5.1 3 0 0 0 - C,G

J.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 4912 64 68+ 4.9 61 24 6.7 3 e 0 0 b,c 8,0,G,H
VELBONVS3 64 72 4.7 60 25 5.5 3 e e e d C.O.G
VELBON VE3 64 55 4.1 58 23 5.1 3 0 e e - C,F.G
DAVIS a SANFORD
REDITILT MINI 20 63 45 2.7 51 20 5.7 3 e 0 0 8 A.B,F

YIVITAR llM 63 82 4.5 58 23 5.1 3 e 0 e d C,F,G

SPIRATONE VERSATILE 63 45+ 4.7 60 25 5.5 3 e e e d C,D,G.I
121 SUIC U200 63 72 4.4 59 25 5.5 3 0 e 0 d C,G
HOLLYWOOD ACME-LITE
COMMODORE
62 75 4.9 55 23 4.9 3 e e e - C,G

SEARS Cat. No. 1483 62 24+ 2.3 57 21 4.3 3 e e 0 8,C A,B,H

WELT/SAFE-LOCK FLIP FL 61 60 3.7 58 27 6.1 2 0 0 e - A.C.F
SEARS Cat. No. 1485 59 50+ 5.0 60 23 5.1 3 e e e - C,D,G,H
COASTARTR3 58 40 2.4 51 21 3.9 3 e 0 0 8,C,d B,D,H
STAR D FALCON D-18 58 30 2.8 57 18 3.7 4 ~ ~ e 8,d A,B,E,F
WELT/SAFE-LOCK
ZOOMLEGTW
57 45 3.2 59 27 5.5 2 0 .o 0 - A,B,F

SUK 12000 57 58 2.7 54 23 4.3 3 e 0 0 8,d B,F

HOLLYWOOD
ACME-LITE PT3
57 35 2.2 51 20 4.4 3 0 0 ~ c A,B,D "'t:l
COASTARTR1 53 40 2.4 48 17 4.3 4 0 ~ 0 c,d B,D,H
~
DAVIS a SANFORD
REDITILT PRO RTP 53 60 3.6 66 33 7.1 2 e e e b A.B,F
t:r.:j
~

SUKIOOG
WARDS Cat. No. 2142
51
38
36
33 +
1.7
4.4
55
65
18
26
3.5
5.9
4
3
e
••
0
0 •e 8
c,d,e
B,F,H
A,B,D
......
......
<:::>

f;2
0 e
~
STANRITE TESTRITE 2700/3 37 41 4.4 65 26 5.9 3 c,d,e A,B,D

Not Acceptable
• The following was judged Not Acceptable because of very poor mechanics/ quality and a propensity for dirtying one's hands st
~
ti.)

•
every use.
STANRITE TESTRITE ~/3 - 31 3.1 57 22 4.5 3 0 ~ d A.B.F
~
See page 236 for keys to Disadvantages and Comments
236 TRIPODS, TELECONVERTER LENSES
Keys to tripod Ratings
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
a - Has 2-way pan head; lacks 90° tilt.
b- Long pan and tilt handles do not fold well
for carrying.
c - Leg locks suffered from "collet conflict, "
a nuisance when folding (see story) .
d- Legs did not remain spread when tripod
was lifted by column.
e - Mechanical quality judged worse than
with most other Acceptable models.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A-Has combined pan/tilt lock.
8 - Collet-type leg locks.
C- Lever-type leg looks.
On the V elbon VS3, Spiratone V ersatile,
and Slik 1200G, the column can be tilted.
The Slik's column can also be extended to
act as a fourth leg. We think tilting col-
umns have little value.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Consider the differ-
ences in design as well as in Overall Rat-
Teleconverter lenses
Condensed from Consumer Reports. July 1981
A teleconverter lens fits between the cam-
era body and a regular lens and magnifies
the image produced by the regular lens, as
if a lens with a longer focal length had
been used. The first such lenses (also called
tele-extenders) were cheaply made and
earned a reputation for poor optical quali-
ty. But some of the teleconverters for
35mm cameras that we tested for this
report were so good that photographs
taken using them were practically indistin-
guishable from those taken with a telepho-
to lens of equivalent focal length.
Some teleconverters have a lens mount
that fits only their brand of camera. Others
are sold in a variety of mounts. We tested
D- Has geared column.
E- Has telescoping 2-section column.
F-Caution should be exercised when un-
locking reversed column; unless held by
hand, column (with attached camera)
can fall out.
G- Rubber feet can be retracted to expose
spikes.
H-Column does not reverse.
/-Available by mail order from Spiratone,
135-06 Northern Blvd., Flushing, N.Y.
11354.
J-Subsequent model S502 ($66) is identi-
cal except for color.
ings Score when making your choice. Since
most of the tested tripods bad some small
Haws, you'll have to give and take your
way down the Ratings. If you are looking
for the lowest price for a reasonably good
tripod, consider the Sears 8463, at $20 plus
shipping.
2X teleconverters; l .5X and 3X models are
also available. We used a 135mm moder-
ate telephoto lens as our regular, or prime,
lens.
ADVANTAGES. Teleconverters are less ex-
pensive than the equivalent telephoto
lenses made by the same company. They
are smaller and lighter than the telephotos.
Teleconverters are versatile; if you have
two lenses that fit your teleconverter, you
have, in effect, four lenses. And, compared
with a typical telephoto of equivalent
focal length, teleconverters offer a closer
focusing distance (the same closest-focus
distance as the prime lens).
IMAGE QUALITY. The best teleconverters are
Text continued page 238
 TELECONVERTER LENSES 237
Ratings of teleconverter lenses
Listed in order of Overall Ratings substantial discounts are generally
Score; differences of less than 20 available.

•e •
points were judged not very signifi-
cant. All models are 2 X telecon- 0 ~
verters. + indicates shipping is ex-

.,
Better Wane
tra. Except on mail-order brands,
·{:-~
,Jo. ~~
qp ~ 0:

o"
...~ .,cf'
<l..
~
_,.fl-($
<l
•l'
•.fl~

CANON FD-2X-B 90 $240 9 0

NIKON TC·200 80 248 9 e
OLYMPUS 2X· A 73 230 8 e
MINOLTA MD 2X 300-S 69 246 8 e
SIGMA Tele-Macro 2X 65 125 8 e
SOLIGOR C/0 7 2X 63 119 5 e
FUJICA X 2X 61 85 7 e
KONICA Hexanon AR2X 59 130 9 e
KIRON 2X Match-Mate MC 59 95 7 e
TAMRON SP Flel Field 2X 58 134 9 e
PENTAX KT8-2X 56 197 6 0
YASHICA YUS 2X 50 46 6 0
VIVITAR MC Matched Multiplier 47 84 7 0
VIVITAR 2X 43 67 5 0
OSAWA 2X MC4 41 63 4 0
SPIRATONE 2X 41 30 4 0
TAMRON 2X 40 65 4 0
SOLIGOM 2X Multlpurpoee 37 85 4 0
ROKINA 2X 32 60 5 ~
J.C. PENNEY Cet. No. 47411Il 30 35+ 4 ~
KALIMAR 2X 30 60 4 ~
OMEGA2X 29 50 5 ~
MAKINONA-3 26 85 5 ~

••
SEARS Cel . No. 81131Il 15 39+ 5
ROKUNAR 2X MC7 9 64 5
OJ Cat. No. Is for Canon mount version.
238 TELECONVERTER LENSES, "NORMAL" LENSES
sufficiently free of image defects that you
can use the prime lens wide open, general-
ly with no penalty in lens speed compared
to using the equivalent telephoto. But even
the poorer teleconverters can talce present-
able photographs if you stop down
enough.
Differences in image quality among the
tested teleconverters were slight in the
center of the frame. But in the comers,
where defects are worst, there were obvi-
ous differences, especially when the prime
lens was wide open.
The teleconverters showed considerable
differences in sensitivity to ghost-image
flare. But you can usually avoid that flaw
in your photographs by not shooting into
the sun or bright lights or by shading the
lens with your hand or a lens hood.
''Normal'' lenses for SLR cameras
Condensed from Consumer
Although we tested 23 cameras for our
SLR report (see page 226), only 13 lenses
were represented in the Ratings. That's
because we tested two or more models of
most camera brands, but used the best
"normal" (about 50 mm) lens offered by
the maker for all cameras of any given
brand.
In every case, the more-expensive cam-
era from each maker scored higher than its
cheaper brandmate, but that didn't always
happen with the lenses. A few of the less-
expensive lenses scored higher pian their
costlier brandmates, and man)' were so
close that the difference is insignificant. So
you may prefer to buy a camera with other
than the normal lens we listed with it. Here
we rate all the normal lenses available for
the cameras we tested.
As a mle, you pay extra to get a " faster"
lens, that is, one that has a larger maximum
RECOMMENDATIONS. Among the better tele-
converters are those made by some of the
major camera companies. They're also the
most expensive, but deep discounts are
common. The Sigma and Soligor Cl D7 also
did fairly well in our tests; they're less cost-
ly than the camera-company lenses.
Don't be intimidated by manufacturers'
instructions to use their teleconverters
only with their l«:nses. We spot-checked
some of the teleconverters with 50mm
prime lenses. When the recommendations
didn't include 50mm lenses, either the
results were slightly inferior to those ob-
tained with a 135mm prime lens or the lens
wouldn't fit on the teleconverter. You
should check any teleconverter in the store
to malce sure it fits your lenses before you
buy it.
Reports, November 1981
aperture and can therefore talce pictures in
dimmer light. However, this added capa-
bility is not great-one or two stops at the
most. Nor is it often called upon. You'd
need it mainly for talcing pictures indoors
without a flash.
The differences we found in lens quality
were easy to detect and measure with labo-
ratory instruments, but they would not be
so apparent to the nalced eye examining
ordinary prints or projected slides. Except
for the differences in freedom from flare,
none of the lenses performed badly-and
you can help guard against flare effects by
using a lens hood.
Advertised camera bargains are usually
for a lens and camera body as a package.
Based on our tests, there's not much reason
to pass up a particularly good bargain
because it doesn't incorporate the same
lens that we tested the camera with.
 Ratings of •normal' lenses
Listed in order of estimated Prices are manufacturers' sug- tion.
overall quality as indicated by gested retail; substantial dis-
Overall Ratings Score; differ-
ences of less than 10 points
counts are generally available.
f2lindicates product was discon-
• e o
Bettw
~ •
Wone
were judged not very significant. tinued at time of original publica-

»~
ii'~ ~
~ ~
»~,..
Brand end model / ....... / ,.c.- / .r-" /
~~l-"
,~,'>~" ~
~
PENTAX SMC M[!] 70 $175 50 fl 1.4-22 8 9 0 0 e 0 ~
NIKKOR 68 235 50 fl1 .4-16 9 9 0 0 0 e ~
RIKENON XR[!] 67 107 50 fl1 .7-16 8 9 0 © e €> tJj
"'.:!
ZUIKOSMC 65 170 50 fl1 .4- 16 8 9 0 0 0 ® ~
YASHICAML 64 175 50 fl1 .4-16 11 11 0 0 0 0
CANON FD 62 200 50 fl1 .4-22 9 9 e 0 0 e ~
~
0 0 0 0
~
ROLLEINAR-MC 62 206 55 fl1.4-16 10 8
YASHICAML 62 95 50 fl2- 16 6 11 0 0 0 e
e
® 0 0
~
ZUH<O 8 MC 61 100 50 fl1 .8-16 6 9
CANON FD 60 131 50 fl 1.8-22 6 13 €> 0 0 e ti)
SEKORE 60 100 50 fl1 .7-16 5 9 e 0 0 0
[j] K-mount lens; fits all cameras with that mount. III The current designation of this model Is Minolta XMO. E:5
c.o
Ratings continued next page
Ratings of "normal" lenses
continued lo.~";\ ~
c.o~· ~~
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IIDVIVITAR VMC[i] 60 170 50 II 1.4-22 8 11 0 e 0 0 t-<
CHINON 59 111 45 112.8-22 5 15 0 0 0 e ~
ROKKOR-X MD[!J 59 196 50 111 .4-16 8 9 e 0 0 e ~
Cl:)
@ROKKOR-X MD 59 102 45 112- 16 5 15 0 0 0 0 ""':l
ROLLEI Plener-HFT 58 119 50 111 .8-16 7 9 0 0 0 0 ~
RIKENON XR[i]
PENTAX SMC M[i]
58
58
163
100
50
50
II 1.4-16
112-22
10
6
9
9
0
e
0
0 •
0
0
0 ~
::,,
NIKONE 58 114 50 II 1.8-22 5 13 e 0 e 0 ~
PENTAX SMC M[i] 57 115 40 112.8-22 4 17 e 0 0 0
~
HEXANON AR 57 110 40 111.8-22 5 12 e 0 0 0
HEXANON AR 56 180 50 111.4-22 10 9 e 0 0 0 ~
t/J
CHINON MC[!] 54 146 50 111 .4-22 9 9 e e 0 0
CHINON MC[!] 50 94 50 111 .7-22 7 9 e e 0 e
@VIVITAR VMC[i] 50 110 40 112.5-22 4 17 e 0 0 0
RIKENON XR L[i] 49 70 50 112-16 6 13 e 0 0 0
FUJINON-X 48 75 55 112.2-16 5 12 e e e e
lIDVIVIT AR III 41 80 50 112-16 6 11 0 0 e 0
FUJINON-X EBC OM 39 135 50 111 .6-16 6 · 13 0 0 0 e
[!] K-mount lens; fits all cameras with that mount. ill The current designation of this model is Minolta XMD.

Glossary of photo/ optical terms
ADJUSTABLE-FOCUS CAMERA. One whose lens
can be adjusted for distance to the subject
to get the sharpest possible picture.
AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM. Single-lens-reflex
cameras with this feature rermit focusing,
composing, and (usually exposure me-
tering with the aperture diaphragm wide-
open. The diaphragm "stops down" auto-
matically to the selected aperture size as
you press the shutter release.
BULB. On this setting, the shutter stays
open as long as you keep the shutter
release depressed. Allows long exposures.
CHROMATIC ABERRATION. Defect in which
lens doesn't position all colors identically
on the film image or projection screen,
causing unwanted color fringes along the
edges of photographed objects.
CURVATURE. In binoculars, the image of a
fiat surface such as a wall generally looks
slightly curved like a saucer.
DEPTH-OF-FIELD. The region of adequate
sharpness closer or further than the dis-
tance which is in precise focus. Depth-of-
field can be increased by decreasing the
size of the aperture ("stopping down" to a
higher f-number setting) or by using a
wide-angle lens.
DISTORTION. Lens aberration (defect) which
causes straight lines in an object being
viewed or photographed to come out
curved.
EXPOSURE. Total amount of light received
per unit area on film, determined by aper-
h1re size, shutter speed, and amount of
light coming from scene. Also used to refer
merely to the combination of shutter speed
and aperture used in taking a photo. Also,
the process of taking a pichue, and the
image on the film.
FILM SPEED. A measure of a film's sensitivi-
ty to light, expressed as an ISO (formerly
ASA) rating. The "faster" the film (higher
ISO number), the more sensitive it is, so
PHOTO/OPTICAL GLOSSARY, 241
less light is needed for satisfactory expo-
sure at a given setting of aperture and shut-
ter speed. ISO 400 film, for example, is
twice as sensitive as ISO 200 film, and thus
needs only half as much light at the same
setting.
FIXED-FOCUS CAMERA. A camera with a
fixed, small-aperture lens, whose great
depth-of-field makes adjustable focusing
unnecessary.
FLARE. Light that reaches the film or screen
in a place other than it should, causing a
reduction in contrast and/ or ghost images.
With cameras, flare is often most notice-
able when there is a bright light source in
or near the field of view.
FOCAL LENGTH. The distance from the opti-
cal center of a lens to the film plane when
the lens is focused on infinity. The focal
length f of a lens, generally specified in
millimeters, determines the· size of the
image. The longer the focal length, the
larger the image of a given object.
FRAMING ACCURACY. Correspondence be-
tween the boundary of the i\nage seen in
the viewfinder and that on a standard
mounted slide or print.
f NUMBER, RELATIVE APERTURE, AND APER-
TURE RATIO. The lower th~ f number of a
lens, the brighter its image. A lens with low
f number is said to be "fast" because short-
.er exposure times (faster shutte;r speeds)
can be used to achieve a given expo~ure.
The f numbers to which a lens can be set
are often marked on a scale around the lens
and are sometimes called f stops. ,
The f number of a lens is the ratio of its
focal length f to the (maximum) diameter
of the aperture as seen from in front of the
lens. The relative aperture is expressed as
f!f number. (This expression indicates that
the diameter of the entranc~ pupil is fet\lld
by dividing the focal length'.fby the f num-
ber.) The aperhrre ratio is express~ as
242 PHOTO/OPTICAL GLOSSARY
I
l :f number.
If the f number is 2, the relative aperture
is f/2 and the aperture ratio is 1:2. The
term "f/2 lens" means "a lens with maxi-
mum relative aperture f/2." Thus, for a
50mm focal length, f/2 lens, the aperture
appears to be 25mm in diameter (when the
diaphragm is wide open). Lenses are gener-
ally marked with either the relative aper-
ture or the aperture ratio.
GROUND GLASS. Type of focusing screen
with a rough light-diffusing surface (as if)
produced by grinding. It can be used to
check depth-of-field.
HOT SHOE. A special type of accessory shoe
(on top of camera) which provides both the
mechanical and electrical connections be-
tween camera and flash unit.
LENS SPEED. See {NUMBER.
MACRO LENS. One which permits extremely
short camera-to-subject distances for close-
up work.
MICROPRISM . Type of focusing screen
which is in effect made up of a large num-
ber of very tiny split-image rangefinder
elements. The image breaks up into tiny
pieces and "shimmers" until the lens is
accurately focused.
MINIMUM FJELD WIDTH. The wic!th of the
smallest scene that a lens can focus on. It
indicates how tight a close-up the lens can
take.
NORMAL LENS. A lens whose focal length
approximately equals the length of the
diagonal of its image. A "normal" lens is
typically supplied on a camera. On 35mm
SLR's, the focal length of the "normal"
lens supplied is usually 50 to 55mm, which
is somewhat longer than the mle above
would give.
PARALLAX ERROR. Differences between
viewfinder image and image recorded
through lens onto film, caused by a differ-
ence in position between the camera lens
and the viewfinder lens. The error is small
except at close range. Single-lens reflex
cameras avoid parallax error by using the
camera lens as the viewfinder lens.
SINGLE-LENS REFLEX (SLR) VIEWING SYSTEM.
Mirror-and-prism arrangement which lets
you use main camera lens to view subject;
it eliminates parallax.
SHUITER SPEED. Amount of time shutter is
open to allow light to pass through the lens
and reach film; usually expressed in sec-
onds. Shutter speeds for hand-held camera
use are generally 1130-second or shorter
("faster").
SPHERICAL ABERRATION. Lens defect in
which light rays passing through the pe-
riphery of the lens aperture are focused at
a different distance from the lens than rays
nearer the center. If severe, the image will
not focus crisply.
SPLIT-IMAGE RANGEFINDER. Type of focus-
ing aid which shows misalignment of two
adjacent parts of the image until image is
in focus. It's often provided in SLR's.
STOP. A major division on the f number
scale on the lens. For example, the change
inf number from 2 to 2.8 is said to be one
whole stop and corresponds to cutting
light transmission in half. Doubling the f
number (say from 2 to 4) is a 2-stop change
and reduces light transmission to one-
fourth.
STOPPED-DOWN METERING. Light meter
reading taken after lens has been "stopped
down" to the taking aperture. It's general-
ly less convenient than "wide-open" me-
tering. See AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM.
TELEPHOTO LENS. A lens with longer focal
length, and hence a narrower field of view,
than a normal lens. Objects appear closer
and larger. Its restricted depth-of-field can
be used to isolate a subject from a busy
background by throwing the background
out of focus.
WIDE-ANGLE LENS. A lens with shorter focal
length, hence wider field of view, than a
normal lens. It can exaggerate perspective
and produce extended depth-of-field.
ZOOM LENS. One which lets you vary the
focal length, and thus the image size, con-
tinuously and conveniently, without hav-
ing to refocus.
 TV, audio~·
and electronics
.
Video cassette recorders
Condensed from Consumers Reports, May 1982
With a video cassette recorder, or VCR,
you can tape-record TV programs auto-
matically at any time of the day or night
.and play the tape back whenever you
want. Y~u can also play tapes of hundreds
of moviehnd instructional programs that
are for sale or rent at video shops.
You can record without turning your TV
set on, but you need your TV set for play-
ing the tapes back. If your TV set is on,
you can record the prpgram you're watch-
ing or a program on a different channel.
With the help of a built-in clock-timer,
you can also record programs while you're
away from home.
Most VCR's are table models, about the
size of a stereo receiver, and weigh be-
tween 20 and 30 pounds. They come in
two formats-Beta (as in Betamax) and
VHS (as in Video Home System). Both sys-
tems were developed in Japan, and most of
the machines, regardless of brand name,
are made by four Japanese companies-
Matsushita, JVC, Sony, and Hitachi.
The most obvious difference between
the two formats is in the size of the tape
cassettes. Both are about the size of a
paperback book, but the VHS cassette is
slightly larger than the Beta cassette. For
that reason and many others, you can't
play a VHS tape on a Beta machine, or a
Beta tape on a VHS machine. Until recent-
ly, the longest tapes had a maximum nm of
five hours (Beta) or six hours (VHS). But a
new VHS tape with a maximum run of
eight hours is now available.
We chose 17 popular models for this
report-11 VHS and 6 Beta. Suggested
retail prices range from $650 to $1625, but
you cal) find large discounts.
When you buy one of the more expen-
sive VCR's, what you're paying for is extra
convenience, not better performance. In
our tests, the lower-priced models general-
ly did about as well as the higher-priced
models, and neither the VHS nor the Beta
format was superior. Because performance
differences were small, we've ranked the
models in the Ratings according to the
number and usefulness of their features.
BASIC FEATURES. With any VCR, you can
handle the recording yourself by pressing a
few buttons, or you can program the
machine to do the recording automati-
cally. For automatic recording, you select
the channel and set the machine's digital
clock for the time the recording is to start
and stop. All models will record at least
one program within the next 24 hours. The
more complex models will record several
programs over several days.
The Zenith has one recording speed; all
244 VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS
others have two or three. All models have
at least two playback speeds. The lower
the speed, the longer the tape will nm and
the more program material it will hold.
Though sometimes with a small loss in pic-
ture quality. On the models that have three
speeds, some special featmes are inopera-
ble in the middle speed.
When you press a recorder fast-forward
button, the tape will advance at more than
20 times the normal speed.
All models will rewind a full cassette in
less than six minutes. The picture isn't visi-
ble during fast-forward or rewind.
Some models have a pause button, and
others have a pause/still button. The dif-
ference is apparent when you're playing a
tape. When you press a pause button, the
tape will stop and the picture will disap-
pear. When you press a pause/still button,
the tape will stop but a still picture will
remain. All but two models have a "pause
protection" device that cuts in automati-
cally during long pauses to prevent dam-
age to the tape from the rotating magnetic
head cylinder.
All models are equipped with a tape
counter that works like an automobile
odometer and is useful for locating a par-
ticular point on a recorded tape. It can be
reset to 0000 at the touch of a button. In
addition, most counters have a memory
button. Press it and the tape will automati-
cally stop at 0000 when you rewind.
All models are easy to load and unload.
When you press the eject button, the lid of
the cassette compartment swings open and
the cassette can be easily removed. To re-
load, you just insert a cassette and close the
lid. Most machines load from the top and
have a transparent compartment lid, so
you ca·1 ~ee whether the tape is moving
and how m tch is left.
All models have audio/video input and
output jacks for making useful connections
with other equipment, such as a video
camera and microphone, hi-Ii systems, and
other VCR's. Through them, you can even
record material from machines with a dif-
ferent tape format. (Note that it's legal to
make a copy of a home movie, but the
legality of home-taping copyrighted mate-
rial-virtually all material that appears on
television-is currently under challenge in
the courts.)
SPECIAL FEATURES. Some models can be set
to automatically record as many as eight
different programs over a period of 14
days. All models can be set to repeatedly
record programs that appear at the same
time every day, until the tape runs out.
Some models will repeatedly record a
weekly program until the tape rnns out.
Ten models are equipped with a remote
unit that controls several functions. One
type transmits the control signal by infra-
red beam. The other type transmits by a
cable. Most of the remote units will con-
trol the basic playback functions-play,
rewind, fast forward, pause/ still, and stop.
Some will also handle such functions as
recording and changing channels.
Among the most elegant controls found
mostly on the higher-priced models are the
following: Frame advance (by which you
can move tape forward one split-second
video still picture at a time), search or cue/
review (for scanning tapes, in forward or
reverse, at about 10 times normal playing
speed), auto-search (for quickly finding
previously marked tape segments), and a,u-
dio dub (which enables you to put a sound
track on a tape you've recorded previous-
ly). The table on page 245 shows which
models have these and other features, con-
trolled from the console or remotely.
All VCR's are equipped to receive the
standard broadcast channels-2 through 13
(VHF) and 14 through 83 (UHF). Five of
the models will also receive cable-TV
channels without the help of a converter
box supplied by the cable company (al-
though they may need a special box to
unscramble signals from pay-TV channels,
such as Home Box Office).
RECOMMENDATIONS. Before buying a VCR,
Te:rt continued pnge 248
 Features of video cassette recorders
Special conaole controls Remote control•

~·
.(/'
~~
Brand and model / c.'-'' / <,<."'/ c.•v / .._~- / ...~· / ...~-ffA.:\"/ r'!l'v / ,.._fl' / o'"''/ <-•"' / o•~ / <.<.""/ .:}0 ( C!lev( vo

MAGNAVOX VR8345 v v v - v v I v v v v v v ...... ...... A,F,l,K,O

PANASONIC PV1770 ...... V' V' - ...... V' I V' V' V' ...... V' V' ...... V' A,F,l,K,O
QUASAR VH5610TW ...... V' V' - ...... V' I V' V' V' ...... V' V' ...... V' A,F,l,K,O
RCAVFT650 ...... V' V' - ...... V' I ...... V' V' ...... V' V' ...... V' A,F,l,K,O
...... ...... ...... ...... ......
:$
w - -
~
SONY SL5800 - V' V' - V' V' V' A,F,K,L,O
JVC HR7300U ...... - V' - ...... V' w V' V' V' ...... V' - - V' A,F,P 0
...... ...... ...... ...... ......
~
GE1VCR2014W - V' V' I V' V' V' V' V' V' A,B,F
vasoo ...... ...... ...... ......
w ~
TOSHIBA - V' V' - - V' - V' - V' A,G,J,K,O,Q
SANYO VCR4300 ...... - V' - ...... - w - - V' ...... V' - - V' F ttj
"'3
GE 1VCR2002X - - - - - - w - - - - - - - - B,C,G,M
t;a
SONY SLSOOO ...... - V' - - - w - - - - V' - - V' E,F,R
SANYO VCR4200 - - - - ...... - w - - - - - - - - G,M S5
C":l
...... - - - - ~
ZENITH VR8500 - V' - - - - - - - - E,F,N
MAGNAVOX VR8315 - - - - - - w - - - - - - - - D,H,M
~
PANASONIC PV1270 - - - - - - w - - - - - - - - D,H ,M
~
QUASAR VH5011TW - - - - - - w - - - - - - - - D,H,M
RCAVFT190 - - - - - - w - - - - - - - - D,H,M ~
01
Ratings on next page
 Ratings of video cassette recorders ~
O")

Listed in order of estimated sentially similar models are likely publication.

overall quality, based on conve- due to sample-to-sample differ- ;:s
~
•
nience features. Essentially simi- ences. Prices are suggested re-
lar models are bracketed and
listed in alphabetical order. Per-
tail ; large discounts are general-
ly available. @ indicates model
@ e 0 ~ 0

formance variations among es- was discontinued at original

Belter Wor. . &?
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6 '2x 19x 14 /2 1
32 e e 0 8/14 3/ 3
PANASONIC PV1770 v 1495 6 1/2x19x14 1'2 32 e 0 0 8/14 3/3
QUASAR VH5810TW v 1625 6 1'2x19x14 1'2 32 e e 0 8/14 3/3
RCA VFT850 v 1500 6 1/2x19x14 1'2 32 e e 0 8/14 3/3
SONY SL5800 B 1450 6 1'2x 19 1'2x15 37 e 0 4/14 2/3
JVC HR7300U v 1150 6x17x13 22 0 0 8/14 2/3
GE 1VCR2014W v 1439 5 1/2x 18x14 23 0 0 0 8/14 3/3
TOSHIBA V8500 B 1495 6x18 1/2x15 32 0 0 8/14 2/2
 SANYO YCR4300 B 800 5 1'2x19x14 22 - e 0 117 2/2
GE 1YCR2002X v 989 5 1'2x17 1'2x14 19 0 - 0 1/10 2/2
SONY SL5000 B 895 6 1'2x18x14 1'2 31 - e 0 1/1 2/3
SANYO YCR4200 B 650 5 1'2x19x14 21 - e e 1/3 2/2

[............,,.
ZENITH VR8500

~PANASONIC PY1270
B
v
v
800
800
900
6 1'2x18x14 1/2
5 1'2x19x14
5 1'2x19x14
31
21
21
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0
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1/1
1/1
1/2
3/3
3/3
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RCA YFT190 v 850 5 1/2x19x14 21 0 0 0 1/1 313

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES KEY TO COMMENTS

All have: automatic recording-at least
one program within next 24 hrs., plus dally
repeat; record; play; fast forward; rewind;
eject; tape counter; choice of speeds
(where required) ; automatic fine tuning;
video in I out jacks; audio in I out jacks;
tracking control.
Except as noted, all have: pause protec-
tion; top loading.
A - Can be programmed for weekly re- L - Has fast-forward console, as well as ::s
~
peat to end of tape. remote, control.
B- No pause protection during re- M-Has remote pause, but not pause/
cording. still, control (see story) . a
C - Doesn't automatiqally adjust to cor- N-Wired remote pause/still and search
rect speed In playback. control available for $20. ~
D-Tape always stops at 0000 in rewind
E-Tape doesn't stop at 0000 in rewind .
0-Remote slow-speed forward is vari-
able. ~
F - 14-channel push-button tuning.
G - 12-channel push-button tuning.
P - Has remote, as well as console, au-
dio-dub control. ~
H - No push-button tuning; has 2-knob
channel selector.
a - Has remote tracking control.
A - loads from front instead of top; re-
~
I - Can receive 23 cable-TV channels.
J- Can receive 9 cable-TV channels.
quires less top clearance than others,
but tape movement cannot be seen S5C":l
K - Has back-up batteries to power through transparent lid.
clock-timer. ~
~
~
~
-'I
248 VCR'S, SMALL-SCREEN TV'S
a key question to answer is how much
machine do you need? If you're not plan-
ning to do much systematic recording, it
would make sense to select one of the siin-
pler, less expensive models. If you like the
idea of being able to set up an extended
automatic recording schedule, or if you
like the convenience of such devices as
infrared remote units, you should select
one of the models near the top of the Rat-
ings.
Note that many of the models are identi-
cal for all practical purposes. For example,
although the top four VHS models have
Small-screen television sets
Color TV's
Condensed from Consumer Reports. January 1982
Diminutive though their viewing areas
may be, with 12- or 13-inch screens, the
color sets tested for this report aren't
cheap. They range in price from about
$315 to $480. Even at that, they're basical-
ly no-frills models, lacking features found
on larger sets.
PERFORMANCE. One thing the small sets
don't stint on is picture quality. Clarity
was commendable with every model. It
was a bit better with models in the first
two Ratings groups. Differences within
each group were very slight.
The tone quality of these TV's is scarce-
ly better than that of a table radio. But a
dozen models have an earphone jack that
can be used to connect the TV to a hi-Ii
system. We checked the jacks' audio quali-
ty by measuring frequency response. It was
best with the Penneys and the GE. How-
ever, no model was free of a persistent low-
frequency buzz, barely audible through
the tiny TV speaker but obtrusive enough
different face plates and different brand
names-Magnavox, Panasonic, Quasar,
and RCA-their features and performance
characteristics are almost exactly the
same. That's also true of the bottom four
VHS models.
There are no important performance
differences between the VHS and the Beta
systems. Both systems are well established,
although VHS models are outselling Betas
three to one. But if there's a chance that
you might want to exchange tapes with
friends, remember that you'll need a ma-
chine that's compatible with theirs.
to be irritating when fed through a hi-Ii
system. The buzz was most obtrusive from
the two models with the best frequency
response.
TUNING. Seven models have old-fashioned
click-stop tuning with two channel-selec-
tor knobs-one for VHF, one for UHF.
The Penneys and the RCA have a state-
of-the-art tuner: a solid-state, quartz-crys-
tal oscillator with a computer memory
programmed by the manufacturer for the
12 VHF and 70 UHF channels. A quartz-
tuned set never needs a tuning adjustment.
To bring in a desired channel, you press
two buttons on a keypad. Those tuners
worked very well indeed.
Nine models have a varactor tuner,
which falls between click-stop knobs and
quartz in sophistication. Varactor-tuned
sets provide a dozen or so channels, which
you must tune to the stations available in
your area. (Some of our sets came pretuned
to New York City VHF channels.) There-

after, changing channels typically means
pressing the appropriate button or turning
a knob.
The MCA and the Curtis Mathes varac-
tor models designate their channels arbi-
trarily as Vl, V2, and so forth. You might
well have to tune them next to a second,
"correctly" tuned set to be sure you had
reached a desired channel.
With most varactor hmers, the push-
button settings can be used for VHF and
UHF channels, as you choose. Not with
the Magnavox, the Zenith, or the Pana-
sonic; their VHF settings can't be used for
UHF stations, nor can their UHF settings
be used for VHF.
About half the sets have a "one-button"
control for viewers who can't quite get the
hang of hming a color picture. The control
always adjusts color and hue, and with
some sets it also touches up brightness and
· contrast. We're not keen on this control,
since it may sacrifice something in overall
color accuracy, especially in rendering yel-
lows and greens.
CABLE-TV CONNECTIONS. About half the
tested models have a coaxial cable input
jack for the VHF tuner, making it easy to
hook up the set to a cable-TV system (or a
roof antenna, for that matter). The other
tested models can be connected to a cable
SMALL-SCREEN TV'S 249
system if you buy a balun transformer,
available at an electronics-supply dealer
for $3 or so.
When you subscribe to cable TV, the
company may fill up the "empty" VHF
channels- the channels between 2 and 13
which you couldn't ordinarily get recep-
tion. The company may also offer you a
number of "extra" cable channels; to
receive them you usually have to rent a
converter box. Three sets let you receive
some of those extra channels without the
need for a converter. The Penneys and the
RCA can bring in the cable midband: the
nine channels designated A to I and, in
some areas, channels Al and A2. The
Toshiba receives the extra channels A to I
but not Al and A2. A Toshiba owner will
have to pick and choose if there are more
than a dozen channels broadcasting on
VHF, UHF, and cable combined, for the
set's varactor tuner has only 12 settings.
A word of warning: In some localities,
the cable-TV company may use frequen-
cies that are offset from the accepted stan-
dard. That may put a set such as the Pen-
neys or the RCA at a disadvantage, because
their quartz tuner can't be adjusted. ff
cable TV is essential in your area, check
this point before buying quartz tuning.
Ratings of color TV 's on next page

Black-and-white TV's
Condensed from Consumer Reports. March 1982
It's hard to find a good small-screen color We tested 16 such bare-bones sets.
TV priced at less than $300. But if you can Other things being equal, the key to pic-
do without color and can tolerate slightly ture quality is "clarity," which depends in
inferior picture quality (by todii.y's high tum on a variety of factors: good resolu-
standards), you can buy a small black-and- tion, crisp images, and a pleasing combina-
white TV priced at about $100-before tion of brightness and contrast. A panel of
discounts. experienced TV viewers felt that six sets-
What you'll get is a compact, light- the RCA, Toshiba, Wards, Philco, Sylvan-
weight receiver with a screen that mea- ia, and Sears models-had the clearest pic-
sures 12 inches diagonally. It will have sol- ture, albeit a cut below the the clearest
id-state circuits, which should be fairly picture produced by good color sets.
trouble-free, and a minimum of controls. Text continued on page 254
 Ratings of small·screen color TV's !:'..:>
01
0
Listed by groups; within groups, sions are to nearest 1/4 in.; ued at original publication.
listed except as noted in order of weight is to nearest lb. Prices are ~
estimated overall quality, based
on performance and features.
Differences between closely
ranked models were slight; mod-
manufacturer's suggested retail,
rounded to nearest dollar; * indi-
cates price is approximate; +
indicates shipping is extra. Dis-
G
Better
e 0 ~
•
Worse
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els judged. equal are bracketed
and listed alphabetically. Dimen-
counts are generally available. [Q]
indicates model was discontin-
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MAGNAVOX 884040 380 0 e ~ e e 0 0 ~ 12 v 0 12/3 E,U,N,Y
!ID SHARP 13E35
MGA CS1333U
450
430
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12
10
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12/12 E,l,K,L,T,V
12/12 A,F,G,S
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ZENITH N1320 W
450
415
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12/ 12 F,G,K,V,W,AA
12/3 A,M,R,U,V,Y

[ ...LCO C2322PW 370 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 11 2-k 0 12/3 A ,Q,R

SYLVANIA CAA113W 380 0 0 ~ 0 0 ~ e 0 12 2-k 0 12/3 A,Q,R
WARDS Cat. No.12313 315+ 0 0 ~ 0 e ~ e 0 11 2-k 0 12/3 A,Q,R
 SONY KV1207
SEARS Cat. No. 40341

PANASONIC CT3020A
GENERAL ELECTRIC
470
330+

420

370 *
0
0
e
e 0
0
e • e
0
~
~

.
~
~

e
~
0
~
0
~
~
~
0 0
0
~
e o
.
~

0
14
14

14

12
v
2-k

v
2-k
e
0
e
e
12/3 D,E,G,V
12/12 E,G,M,N,Q,R,V

12/12 E,1,0,U,V

3/3 B,E,O,Q,R,X

.
13AC2506W
SANYO 31C40A 350 e e • 0 0 ~ 0 0 17 2-k 0 24/24 F,G,J,L,Q,R,V,CC
HITACHI CT1304 420 e e • e 0 0 0 ~ 13 v e 24/12 E,G,t,K,N,V
CURTIS MATHES G381 480 e 0 ~ 0 0 ~ 0 11 v 0 48/0 A,C,F,G,H,L,M ,N,P,Q,R,S
QUAZAR WT3931TW 360 e 0 ~ 0 0 ~ 0 0 15 2-k e 12/3 J,K,M,Q,R

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

All have: Built-in or clip-on VHF and UHF
~ antennas; negligible geometric distortion.
Except as noted, all have: Handle or carry-
~ ing well at top or sides; 75-ohm cable-TV
connection; negligible picture shrinkage
0 when subjected to 10 percent drop in line
.....
voltage; tone quality judged fair; 24-mo.
0-
iii warranty on picture tube; no vertical- or
horizontal-hold control (none needed) ;
I - Has vertical-hold control; control is
recessed at set's rear.
J - Horizontal-hold control (Sanyo) and
vertical-hold control (Quaear) re-
cessed on rear panel; judged too
close to other recessed " technician-
onty" controls.
K - VHF fringe reception worse than
most.
S-As received, set has no preset chan-
nels; markings are merely "V's" and
" U's."
T-Channels are selectable only by
scanning with " up" or "down" but-
ton. ~
~
U- UHF channels cannot be tuned to
VHF. nor can VHF channels be tuned
to UHF.

~ ~
lighted channel numbers; no sharpness L - UHF fringe reception worse than V - Has 1-button control.
most. W - At tow line voltage, picture shrank 3
~
control.
Cl. M - Automatic color control not quite as percent.
~ KEY TO COMMENTS X- At low line voltage, picture shrank 6
~
effective as most.
~ A-Has sharpness control. N - Black-level retention worse than percent.
ii)' B - Comes with service data in set. most. Y - Has room-light sensor.
Z- Can receive 11 cable channels- A 1, (".)
-t C - Has 4-yr. warranty on picture tube.
-=::: D ~ Has 2 audio jacks ( 1 for earphones,
0 - Lacks well or handle for carrying
convenience.
P - Adhesive channel numbers, which
A2, and A through I-without con-
verter.
g
"'' 1 for recording) ; use of recording
o
::i
jack does not disconnect speaker.
E- Has earphone jack and earphone.
must be applied when this varactor-
tuner set is first tuned, had paper
AA-Can receive 9 cable channels- A
through I-without converter.
~
ijl F - Has earphone jack; earphone not backing that was hard to remove. BB-According to the company, this '"3
model has been replaced by essen- ~
>< supplied. Q-Channel numbers not lighted.
rl5
-O G - Has vertical-hold control. R - Lacks connector for 75-ohm cable. tially similar model 2042.
CC-According to the company, the cur-
111 H - Has horizontal-hold control.
~ rent designation of this model is ~
......
31C408A/N
 Ratings of small black·and·white television sets ~
~
1 indicates model is not listed in
Listed in order of estimated mensions are to nearest in. /4
overall quality when used with a Weights range from 12 to 15 lb. current catalog. Discounts are ~
:i:.:
good roof antenna in strong- and Prices are suggested retail , generally available.
~
medium-signal areas. Differ-
ences between closely ranked
models were judged slight. Di-
rounded to nearest dollar; • indi-
cates price is approximate; +
indicates shipping is extra; !ID
~
Better
e 0 ~
•
Woroe
rn
~
~
~

Overall
picture quality Fringe reception ~
~
:i:..
~
~·~
. (Ii

Brand and model / ;,Clw / _~•w/..llf',,P')',.,Cl/_..._e'/ ..<.~'-/i..~/1>.~ / A ..- /..§."/~ / .,t. /~ ,,{~',,._O/ VO~~ (~
""3
RCA AFR120S $120· e ~ e e ~ o e ~ o o o ~ 1213 A.c.o ~

TOSHIBA T288 130 e 0 ~ e

•e • 0 0 0 0 e ~ 12/12 c
!ID WARDS Cat. No. 11250 98+ e ~ ~ 0
•e • 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 12/3 F

PHILCO B422MWH 100 e • ~ e •e 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 12/3 F

SYLVANIA MW0130WH

ZENITH N121S
100

110·
e
0
•
~
~

0
e
e
• e•
~ 0
0
~
0
~
~
~
0
0
~
~
12/3

12/3
F

A,E,l,K
GENERAL ELECTRIC 12XE2104T 116* 0 0 0 0
•• 0 ~ 0 0 0 ~ 3/3 A,D,E,H,J

SEARS Cat. No. 50151

MAGNAVOX 883732
98 +

100
e
0
~

~
• 0 0 0
0 0 ~ e
0
0
•
0
0
0
0 0
~ ~
0
0
12/3

12/3
c
A,K

QUASAR AP3230TH 105 0 0 0 0 e 0 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 12/3 C,D,G

PANASONIC TR1215T 125 0 0 0 ~ e e 0 ~ 0 0 0 ~ 12/12 C,D.F

PANASONIC TR1216T

[QI J .C. PENNEY Cat. No. 2976

130

94+
0
0
0
~
0
~ 0
•
e 0
~ ~
0
~
0
~
0
~
~ 0 ~

0 0 ~
12/12

12/3
B,C,D,F

-
~
~
SAMPO B1201BK 98 0 0
• ••
0 ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ 0 3/3 c
en
~
SHARP3K62B 100 0 0
• •e
0 ~ ~ ~ 0 0 ~ 0 12/3 c ~
SANYO 21T66A 100 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ 0
• 0 ~ 0 0 12/3 c ~

~
~
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES KEY TO COMMENTS G - Has earphone jack only; earphone
All have: 12-in. screen measured diago- A- Has preset fine tuning . not supplied.
nally; built-in VHF antenna; unlighted
channel numbers; handle or well for carry-
B- Has electronic continuous-dialing
tuner.
H - Serviceability judged worse than av-
erage.
:i..
ing; 12-mo. warranty on picture tube.
Except a5 noted, all have: Separate UHF
C - Has at leailf 1 frequently used control
at set's refar; judged inconvenient.
1- 0verscan was 15 percent.
J - Tone quality judged poor. ~
~
antenna; 70-channel click-stop UHF tuner; D - Has combined VHF/UHF built-in an- K -Worse than most in receiving some
overscan of 12 percent or less; tone quali- tenna. nonstandard signals (see story)
ty judged fair; serviceability judged aver- E- Built-in l!ntenna replaceable by user. ......
age.
Except a5 noted, all lack: Preset fine tun-
F - Has e~hone jack; earphone sup-
plied. ~. ~
ing feature. ""-3
~
rh
Nl
01
~
254 SMALL-SCREEN TV'S, HI-FI COMPONENTS
Because it's unlikely that you'll want to
make special antenna provisions for one of
these cheap sets, we made a point of test-
ing fringe reception, particularly with the
sets' built-in antennas. Results were gener-
ally acceptable. As a mle, the sets did their
worst attempting to pull in weak UHF sig-
nals with their own antennas. The Toshiba
was somewhat more successful than the
rest in pulling in weak VHF signals with its
built-in antenna.
Most sets experienced no trouble in
delivering a satisfactory picture from a
video cassette recorder, which generates
nonstandard signals. But when fed signals
from some prerecorded tapes with "anti-
copy" features, two sets showed flaws. The
Zenith picture developed a vertical roll
that didn't respond to its vertical hold con-
trols, and the Magnavox picture suffered
from "flag-waving," the bending of verti-
cal lines near the top of the picture.
FEW FEATURES. You won't find push-button
channel selectors, remote control, or other
refinements on these small sets. Only four,
Our testing of hi-fi equipment in recent
years has disclosed two trends. Low-priced
components have been improving dramati-
cally in sound quality while high-priced
components (which have offered excellent
sound quality for years) have been sprout-
ing electronic conveniences that were for-
merly more at home in a well-equipped
recording studio.
Because of the availability of fine equip-
ment in all price ranges, some of the old
perils in assembling a component system
have abated. Buyers have also benefitted
from increased standardization, which has
made plug-in compatibility of components
widespread. Nevertheless, some planning
for example, have preset fine tuning, a fea-
ture that's all but standard on other TV
sets. Tuning a set that lacks this conve-
nience may be simple enough if the set is
new and has been factory-adjusted to a sin-
gle setting that suits all channels. Other-
wise, you might have to fine-tune when-
ever you change channels.
Only seven sets have brightness and con-
trast controls on the front, where they're
easiest to reach. The other sets have at
least one of those controls at the back.
All but one of the tested sets have old-
fashioned click-stop knobs for changing
channels. Since the knobs are smallish, the
numbers are also smallish; to read them,
you must get quite close to the set.
The Pansonic TR1216T is the only set
with an electronic tuner, which is poten-
tially more durable than a click-stop knob.
To change channels on this model, you
move a thumbwheel and watch a num-
bered dial; since the UHF channels aren't
calibrated precisely, you'll have to rely on
the TV picture to identify the channel.
is required in order to assemble a hi-Ii sys-
tem that is sensibly balanced for both your
listening needs and your pocketbook.
For about $500, you should be able to
get a stereo receiver, a pair of bookshelf
speakers, and a record player that can fill a
typical living room with undistorted
sound. If your requirements are more
demanding, you may have to spend more.
LOUDSPEAKERS. Choose loudspeakers first,
because the characteristics of your loud-
speakers will have a bearing on the selec-
tion of other components. It's a mistake to
skimp on speakers; nothing will sound its
best through inadequate speakers. Still, it's
not necessary for most people to spend
 GUIDE FOR HI-FI COMPONENTS 255
$600 or more for a pair of floor speakers.
That kind of money buys speakers that can
be played extremely loudly without distor-
tion and have extra capability in the very
deep bass range.
Mid-priced speakers offer excellent ac-
curacy and good performance deep into
the bass. At a discounted price of $350 to
$450 per pair, you should be able to find
mid-priced speakers that satisfy practically
any home listening demands.
Low-priced speakers list at about $250
to $350, but discounts of 20 percent or
more are usual. The ones we tested (page
263) were impressively accurate. Most lis-
teners would be quite satisfied with a pair
from the top half of the Ratings.
Our loudspeaker Ratings are based on
the accuracy of the reproouced sound. Be
aware, though, that you may prefer speak-
ers that are less accurate, that is, speakers
that "color" the sound somewhat more
than others. You may, for instance, wish to
have speakers that overemphasize the bass
range if you like strong bass.
When you listen to speakers in the shop,
compare only two models at a time, listen-
ing to them with the models as close
together physically as possible. Take along
a high-quality recording that you know
well, and have the shop play it through the
speakers. Adjust both models for equal
loudness (the louder model may mislead-
ingly sound better). And adjust the speak-
er's tone controls to give the best from
each model, starting with the maximum
setting for each control. Choose between a
pair and compare the winner to the next
model; don't rely on having a long memory
for small differences in sound. Ask the
dealer for return privileges; in the acous-
tics of your own room, the speakers may
not sound as they did in the shop.
The location of speakers in a room can
influence the strength and distribution of
the bass. Only trial and error can pinpoint
the most satisfactory position for speakers
in a given room, but there are some very
general guidelines. The bass is likely to be
strongest when the speakers are placed on
the floor in the corners of the room. With
large speakers, corner placement will
probably give too much bass in parts of the
room. Try moving the speakers in from the
side walls and up from the floor, depending
on how much bass you prefer. Low stands
are available that raise larger models about
a foot off the floor, a position that may be
preferable in your room.
If you have reason to acquire other com-
ponents before getting speakers, consider
buying headphones rather than inadequate
speakers. Headphones cost much less than
speakers, and they can give you the full
benefit of the br9ad dynamic range possi-
ble with today's recordings. But they can
also produce an unusual "superstereo"
effect that may not please everyone. Some
pop music is recorded using techniques
that enhance these effects.
Take note of the impedance of the loud-
speakers or headphones you select. The
impedances in CU's loudspeaker Ratings
were based on measurements taken over
the entire range of audio frequencies. Since
impedance changes with frequency, we
believe that our figures are more realistic
than manufacturers' rated impedances,
which are often "nominal" or averaged fig-
ures. In general, the lower a speaker's
impedance, the more power it draws from
the amplifier.
RECEIVERS. A stereo receiver groups three
main elements of a hi-fi set into a single
component: the FM tuner, phono pream-
plifier, and the power amplifiers that deliv-
er sound signals to loudspeakers.
For speakers and receivers rated by CU,
you can use the chart on the next page to
determine how powerful an amplifier
you'll need to produce music with a loud-
ness likely to satisfy most listeners-plus a
little more. To use it, first determine the
volume of your listening room. Consider
adjoining rooms as part of the listening
room if they are connected by large doors.
256 GUIDE FOR HI-Fl COMPONENTS
Next, consider the room's approximate
acoustic demands. A room with hard
floors, several scatter rugs, plain wooden
furniture, and little or no drapery will be
relatively "live." A room with thick wall-
to-wall carpeting, heavy draperies, and up-
holstered furniture will be relatively
"dead." (Consider any open doorway of
ordinary size as an area equivalent to one
covered by heavy drapes.) Acoustically,
most rooms fall somewhere between those
two extremes.
Next, locate the room's volume on the
scale at the bottom of the chart. Move up
that line to the region of the chart that
matches your room's acoustics: dead, aver-
age, or live. Then move horizontally to the
vertical scale on the left to get a "multipli-
er" figure.
Multiply the power need given in CU's
loudspeaker Ratings by the multiplier fig-
ure taken from the vertical scale on the
chart's left. The result is the power in watts
(average sine-wave rating) each speaker
must get from the amplifier.
Our Ratings of receivers give the power
outputs at speaker impedances of 4 and 8
ohms. Use the figme closest to the imped-
ance of your speaker; for example, use the
power rating at 8 ohms for speakers with
impedance of 6 ohms or more.
~ Uf----f---+--+-cr- ....,f-r---t-,
~
:I
U1---.--+-+.
ROOM VOLUME IN CUBIC FEET
RECORD AND TAPE PLAYERS. Modern record
changers match very closely the quality of
single-play turntables in the same price
range. Buy the record player and cartridge
at the same time, because many dealers
will throw in the cartridge at a very sharp
discount as part of the deal.
There are players for three types of
tape-recording systems broadly available.
None are compatible with each other.
Reel-to-reel tapes have been around the
longest, are the most versatile, and offer,
potentially, the best performance. They
permit you to record whatever you wish
on blank tape. In spite of their versatility,
reel-to-reel tapes have lost most of their
market to systems that package the tapes
more conveniently. The packaged-tape de-
signs have been standardized into two
types: cassettes and eight-track cartridges,
each of which uses a different type of play-
er. The typical eight-track cartridge dock
is a playback-only device, whereas the typ-
ical cassette deck (page 279) is a record-
and-playback unit. Besides playing back
recorded tapes, a cassette unit lets you do
your own taping of radio broadcasts, music
on discs, and so forth. And unlike typical
eight-track cartridge decks, cassette ma-
chines have a rewind feature as well as a
fast-forward speed.
 HI-FI COMPONENTS, AUDIO GLOSSARY 257
A GOOD WAY TO IMPROVE HOME SOUND is
with the DBX "disc decoder," a "black-
box" accessory that lists for $109 (DBX
Inc., 71 Chapel St., Newton, Mass. 02195).
The DBX works only with special DBX-
encoded records, which are expensive-$9
to $18-and hard to find, but the combina-
tion provides one of the most dramatic
improvements in home sound available for
anything near that price.
In a concert hall, the dynamic range of
the music- the difference between the
softest and loudest sounds-can be more
than 80 decibels (dB). Conventional rec-
ords and tapes, though, provide at most
only 60 or 65 dB of dynamic range, due to
technical limitations. These limitations
Glossary of audio terms
ACCURACY. In general, a single-number
measure of an audio device's ability to pro-
cess signals without accentuation or sup-
pression in any audible tonal range. Accu-
racy is a measure of the variation of loud-
ness level across the audio spec~mm on a
scale where a flat frequency response has a
score of 100. Loudspeaker accuracy, as
used by CU, does not include the bass
below 110 Hz. Differences of less than
eight percentage points are not likely to be
significant for most people.
AIRPLANE FLUTTER REJECTION. The measure
of a receiver's immunity to the effects of
wavering signals produced by an aircraft in
the reception path.
AM REJECTION. The ability of an FM receiv-
er to keep out many kinds of natural and
human-made electronic noise.
AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL {AFC). A FLUTTER. Wavering in pitch that can be
circuit that locks a receiver to a tuned-in
station. An AFC-defeat is necessary to
enable you to tune in a weak station that's
close on the dial to a strong one.
BASS DISTORTION. How clearly a speaker
can be largely overcome by companding, a
process in which the dynamic range is elec-
tronically compressed (DBX calls it "en-
coded") during recording, then restored to
normal by the DBX accessory at home.
The unit plugs into your receiver at the
tape-monitor jacks, and can be switched on
or off so that you can play both "encoded"
and conventional recordings. The DBX
Model 21, which we tested, has extra jacks
and a switch to substitute for the tape
monitoring jacks of the receiver.
Our tests of DBX-encoded and conven-
tional recordings of the same music im-
pressed us mightily. Listening to the
DBX'ed records was uncannily like listen-
ing to a concert-hall performance.
reproduces deep bass tones.
BASS HALF-WUDNE$ POINT. The low fre-
quency in Hz at which the sound power of
a loudspeaker rolls off to become half as
loud as it is in the rest of the tonal spec-
tmm. That point is considered a relative
measure of a speaker's ability to reproduce
low bass sounds.
CAPTURE RATIO. A measure of an FM
tuner's ability to reject weaker signals
arriving at the same point on the dial as the
desired one.
DYNAMIC RANCE. This is the span between
the loudest and softest sounds a tape deck
can record. With good dynamic range, less
noise will be audible during quiet musical
passages, and tape overload-a form of dis-
tortion-will be less likely at high signal
levels.
caused by fluctuations in the speed of the
player (record or tape). Particularly no-
ticeable in piano tones, flutter may make
music sound "watery" or "sour."
FREQUENCY RESPONSE. The measure of a
258 GLOSSARY OF AUDIO TERMS
component's ability to reproduce the
range of tones from the low bass to the
high treble. A "fiat" response means that
the component reproduces these tones
smoothly and uniformly.
FRONT-END OVERWAD. Distortion or inter-
ference caused by an FM tuner's inability
to handle strong signals from a nearby
transmitter. Front-end overload can cause
a station to appear at more than one place
on the dial.
HEADROOM. Given in decibels, the ·differ-
ence between the " O" level on a tape
recorder's record-level meter and the point
where overload distortion actually starts to
occur. Typically, a tape recorder will have
several decibels of headroom above the
reference point in the mid-range. Because
the limitations inherent in cassette re-
cording are especially pronounced at high
frequencies, a cassette deck's overload
point in the treble is usually below the ref-
erence point.
IMAGE REJECTION. A receiver's ability to
reject unwanted signals from frequencies
above the desired signal. For FM recep-
tion, the unwanted signals are most bother-
some near airports.
IMPEDANCE. In a loudspeaker, impedance is
a complex electrical characteristic that
determines the flow of electrical current
from the amplifier. Impedance, expressed
in ohms, varies with the frequency. Other
things being equal, the lower a speaker's
impedance, the more power it draws from
the amplifier.
INTERMODULATION DISTORTION. In a tape
recorder, distortion caused by strong high-
frequency signals combining to produce
undesired new tones.
PHONQ.PREAMP FREQUENCY RESPONSE. A head.
measure of a preamp's ability to correct
bass/treble unbalances in the standard
record-making process.
POWER. In CU's Ratings, the power figures
are the square of the root-mean-square
(RMS) output voltage divided by the resist-
ance of the load, otherwise known as con-
tinuous sine-wave power (often errone-
ously referred to as " RMS" power). Use
these figures and your speakers' rated
impedance in the calculation given in the
Shopping Guide for Hi-Fi Components for
how much amplifier power you need.
RUMBLE. A constant low-pitched back-
ground noise heard over the loudspeaker
and produced in a record player by turn-
table and motor vibration.
SELECTIVITY. The ability of a tuner to reject
or " ignore" strong stations close on the
dial to a weak station tuned in.
SENSITIVITY. A tuner's ability to bring in
weak or distant stations without a rushing
background noise. Highly sensitive tuners
must be selective in order to " ignore"
strong stations close on the dial to the one
you want to hear. In a phono cartridge or
microphone, sensitivity is the strength of
electrical output for a given input.
SIGNAL-TO.NOISE RATIO (SI N). A measure of
the relative inaudibility of the noise that is
inherent in all electronic circuitry.
SPEED ACCURACY. How closely a turntable
or tape deck maintains its speeds.
STEREO SEPARATION. A phono cartridge's or
stereo receiver's ability to keep the audio
information in each channel separate.
TONEARM MASS COMPATIBILITY. An indica-
tion of how well a phono cartridge will
track warped records with a wide variety
of tonearms of differing mass.
TRACKING ABILITY. The ability of a phono
cartridge to play very loud passages with-
out audible distortion.
TRACKING ERROR. A potential for distortion
that exists because most tone arms de-
scribe an arc across a record instead of the
straight line used by the record cutting
TUNING ACCURACY/FREEDOM FROM DISTOR·
TION. A measure of the ability of an FM
tuner to be tuned easily to the point of
lowest distortion.
VERTICAL TRACKING FORCE (VTF). The force
with which a stylus bears down on a
record.
 MID-PRICED STEREO RECEIVERS 259

Mid-priced stereo rece ive rs

Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1981
Low-priced receivers may not have multipath, a form of distortion that occurs
enough power for your needs. If you listen
when the FM signal "bounces" off tall
to music in a large room and drive big
buildings or mountains and reaches the
speakers, you may have to consider a receiver by two paths.
If you're plagued by CB interference,
receiver in the mid-priced range. By step-
ping up a price notch, you can also get
the Onkyo was much better than the rest in
handy tuning aids, the circuitry to use two
rejecting strong CB signals.
tape decks, and extra filters for improving
FEATURES. Mid-priced receivers have all
a poor signal to the amplifier. the features found on low-priced models,
The mid-priced receivers we tested for
plus a few more. One of the more notice-
able is the digital readout of station fre-
this report have suggested retail prices of
$350 to $420, but we had no trouble buy-
quencies offered by four models. The Sony
and the ]VG have digital-only display; the
ing samples discounted 20 to 30 percent.
Pioneer and the Sanyo redundantly accom-
They offered power outputs of 44 to 60
pany the digital readout with a slide-rule
watts with 8-ohm speakers and 30 to 84
display typical of those on the remaining
watts with 4-ohm speakers. That's about
twice the amplifier power of low-priced
models.
About half the receivers have a circuit
models, and more than you need for any of
designed to fine-tune a station automati-
the mid-priced loudspeakers on page 000.
PERFORMANCE. Stereo receiver perform-cally after you've rough-tuned by dial. The
ance has reached such a high level overall
servo-lock circuit on five models searches
that most of our standard electronics tests
for the strong center of a signal after
did not reveal differences that would influ-
you've hand-tuned more or less accurately.
ence a decision among these receivers. Our
The lock "lets go" of the station when you
use the knob to change stations. The
tests for frequency response, signal-to-
quartz lock on the Sony, the Pioneer, and
noise (SIN) ratio, sensitivity, and selectiv-
the Sanyo uses vibrations in a quartz crys-
ity gave impressive results with every
tal as a reference and locks onto the near-
model. Your choice, then, can be based on
special peculiarities and on the availability
est assigned broadcast frequency. Both
of desirable features. tuning locks were impressively accurate.
If you live near an FM transmitter, you
Three models have autoscan tuning and
may have experienced front-end overload,
buttons that can be preset to stations.
Almost half the tested models have
a condition in which the nearby station's
replaced the signal-strength and center-
strong signal can show up at other places
tune meters with segmented strips of
on the dial as a phantom station. Among
lights. The strips are accurate enough for
the tested models, the Sony showed the
best resistance to such interference.tuning stations, but a signal-strength meter
If you live between two big cities, you
is more help than lighted strips when align-
may receive two stations broadcasting on
ing an FM antenna.
the same frequency. You'd want a receiver
Tape-dubbing (making tape-to-tape
copies) is possible with all but the Fisher,
with a good capture ratio to tune in the
Nikko, and ]VG models. Most of the rest
stronger station and reject the weaker one.
make tape copies in one "direction" only,
Good capture ratio also helps a tuner resist
Text continued page 263
 Ratings of mid-priced stereo receivers
Listed fn order of estimated
overall quality based on FM per-
formance; where FM perform-
ance scores are identical, listed
alphabetically. Differences in
score of about 7 points or less
were judged not significant. All
have: Excellent amplifier signal-
to-noise (S/N) ratio, stereo sep-
aration, and freedom from dis-
tortion; very good image rejec-
tion; satisfactory phono sensitiv-
ity, overload point, and input im-
pedance.
Except as noted, all have: Excel-
lent phono frequency response,
S/N ratio, and freedom from dis-
t ortion; average resistance to CB
interference and average AM
tuner performance. Substantial
d iscounts are generally available
o n most models. !ID indicates
model is not listed in current cat-
alog.
~
FEATURES
All have: FM and AM tuners; FM muting; 1
P- Lacks input for 300-ohm antenna.
Q-Lacks indoor FM antenna. Es
R-Has output jack for AM stereo de- t?
stereo phone input; outputs with indepen-
dent switches for 2 pairs of speakers;
headphone jack; switchable loudness
coder.
S-Allows for 9-kHz station spacing on
;g
contour; wood and/or metal cabinet. AM band. ?3
Except as noted. all have: 2 tape-monitor
facilities with the capaliility of copying
from the first tape deck to a second tape
KEY TO ADVANTAGES (page 262)
A- Much better than average in resist-
~
ance to CB interference.
Cr.i
~
deck; 1 stereo auxiliary input; 300- and
75-ohm antenna inputs; indoor dipole F'-1 - B - Better than average in resistance to
~
antenna: switch to defeat FM muting; FM CB interference.
- stereo-mono switch. C - Much better than average in AM tuner
performance. 0
0- Better than average i.!1 AM tuner per-
~
KEY TO OTHER FEATURES
A--Permits automatic scanning and tun- formance.
ing on FM band.
8 - Has touch-sensitive tuning knob to
release tuning lock.
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES (page 262) -
a -Worse than average in resistance to
Q
'-.;;
C-Permits copying tapes from either of
two decks.
CB interference.
b -Worse than average in AM tuner per- ~
0 - Permits copying tapes while listening
to record or radio.
formance.
c - Tuning aid does not work for weak-
~
E-Has only 1 set of tape-monitor jacks. signal reception .
F-Lacks auxiliary input. d-Tuning aid does not work for tuning
G- Has 5-band equalizer. by hand.
H- Has mid-range tone control. e - FM muting is not def eatable.
/-Has switch to bypass tone controls. f- Phone frequency response, very
J- Has effective loudness control. good.
g - Pho no SIN judged very good.
K-Has automatic FM bandwidth/blend
switching . h- Freedom from phone distortion
L - Lacks FM-mono switch. judged only very good.
M- Has switch to fade sound . i - Balance control has limited range.
N- Has low-frequency filter (not sub- j- FM frequency response was impaired
sonic). by tape-output loading.
0- Power-output indicator has sensitivity
switch.
 Scores Specifications and features

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TOSHIBA SASOOO $380 85 98 20 Slide/100 Servo M 2 seg. 5 seg. - B.l.M
FISHER RS2004A 350 84 97 24 Slide/20 - M Meter Meter Meter
~
E.G.l.L
YAMAHA CR640 395 84 97 27 Slide/ 100 - M Meter Meter - C,O,J,K
9
MARANTZ SR4000
SONY STRV45
420
400
82
82
99
97
22
19
Slide/20
Digital
-
Quartz
M
M.A.P
Meter
-
Meter
5 seg.
12 seg.
-
D,H ;g
A.O.S
?s
PIONEER SX3700 375 81 93 25
Slide/
digital
Qua rtz M 3 seg. 5 seg. 12 seg. R ~
~
AKAi AAR40 400 80 98 23 Slide/40 - M Meter Meter 5 seg. N.O
NIKKO NR819 370 80 97 23 Slide/ 100 Servo M Meter Meter - B.E ~
ONKYO TX3000
TECHNICS SA404
350
350
80
79
95
97
24
19
Slide/100
Slide/50
Servo
-
M
M
Meter
2 seg.
Meter
5 seg.
Meter
5 seg.
B,F
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[QI REALISTIC ST A960 400 78 95 24 Slide/20 - M Meter Meter - C.D.N,Q

SANYO PLUS 55 400 76 97 25

Slide/
Quartz M - 5 seg. 5 seg. 0
~
.....
digital
KENWOOD KR730 409 75 94 20 Slide/100 Servo A.P 3 seg. 3 seg. 5 seg. A,F ~
JVC RS55 400 68 93 19 Digital Se rvo M.A. P - 5 seg. - A,E. P
~
N>
Performance judgments on next page O'>

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 Mid-priced stereo receivers: Performance N)
er>
N)

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- Receiver performance
Feature•
performance
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output

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FISHER RS2004A
YAMAHA CR840
0
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74
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MARANTZ SR4000 0 ~ 0 e 0 e ~
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0 0 - S4 76 B b,i
AKAi AAR40 0 ~ e e 0 e ~
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NIKKO NR819 0 Q 0 e 0 0 ~
0 0 ~ so 70 - a
ONKYO TX3000
TECHNICS SA404
0 e c 0 e e 0
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70
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REALISTIC STA980
SANYO PLUS 55
KENWOOD KR730
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Key to Advantages and Disadvantages on page 260

 STEREO RECEIVERS, LOW-PRICED LOUDSPEAKERS 263
but the Yamaha and the Realistic permit
copying from either deck to the other.
With the Yamaha, you can even listen to
something else while making or copying
t3*s.
~ther features are noted in the Ratings.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If the Shopping Guide
for Hi-Fi Components on page 254 indi-
cates that you need a mid-priced receiver,
you have many fine ones to choose among.
Any of the top 11 in the Ratings would be
likely to please a demanding listener. They
are listed in order of performance as an FM
receiver. A difference of about seven
points or less in the FM performance
scores would probably not be discernible
to most listeners.
Among the high-rated models, you can
shop for the best price or for a feature you
want.

Low·priced loudspeakers
Condense~ from Consumer Reports . May 1982
Relatively low-priced speakers-ranging in If there were a speaker that could repro-
price from $250 to $320 per pair, before duce sounds in this range with perfect
discounts-can do almost everything you'd accuracy, it would have a perfectly "flat"
expect of high-quality speakers costing response (a graph of its frequency response
twice as much. True, they can't convey the would be a straight horizontal line), and
deepest bass shudders of an organ fugue or we would give it a perfect accuracy score
deliver all the massive resonances of some of 100.
electronic instruments. Nor can they fill The low-priced speakers proved remark-
every cubic foot of a large room with loud ably accurate in the frequency range eval-
music. But, without being spectacular, uated. The top-rated Allison had a room-
they're solid performers that should satisfy accuracy score-a computation that in-
most listeners. cludes certain effects of listening condi-
ACCURACY. In CU's view, accuracy of sound tions-of 93. Another 13 speakers came
reproduction is the most rational basis for within eight percentage points of the Alli-
judging loudspeaker performance. A 100 son. (Our tests over the years have shown
percent accurate speaker would reproduce that even an experienced listener can't be
fully and smoothly every sound in the sure which of two speakers is more accu-
music spectrum-from about 30 Hertz (Hz) rate when their accuracy scores differ by
in the bass to about 15,000 in the treble. eight points or less.) The narrow range of
That's the range in which most instruments accuracy scores testifies to the speakers'
put out the fundamental tones and combi- uniformly high quality.
nations of overtones that constitute their That's not to say each of those sounded
musical "signature." exactly the same. Even models with equal
However, a room affects sound from a scores sounded different from each other,
loudspeaker much more in the bass than in because their departures from perfect ac-
the mid-band or the treble. So CU evalu- curacy occurred at different points in the
ates speaker accuracy with sound from 120 music spectrum.
Hz on up, where room effects are not pro- BASS PERFORMANCE. The acoustical tests
nounced. that enabled us to score speaker accuracy
264 LOW-PRICED LOUDSPEAKERS
in the treble and mid-range aren't much
help in rating performance in the low bass
frequencies-from about 100 Hz down.
Variables such as the size and shape of a
room, its constmction, its furnishings, the
location of the speaker, and the position of
the listener have much more effect on
those low frequencies than on any other
frequencies.
But another set of measurements does
let us make relative judgments of a speak-
er's potential for rendering deep bass fre-
quencies. One measurement is the "bass
half-loudness point." That's the frequency
at which the low end of a speaker's power
response weakens to sound only half as
loud as the rest of the spectnun's output at
loud listening levels. Usually, the lower the
point, the deeper the bass a speaker can
deliver. The bass half-loudness point was
50 Hz or less with 11 models-good per-
formance, in our view, and very nearly a
match for the mid-priced speakers we've
tested.
Another guideline for deep-bass poten-
tial is the degree of "bass harmonic distor-
tion." Such distortion can make the music
sound muddy; if severe, it can even break
up the bass frequencies. The Allison, AR,
and Genesis models could reach deeper
into the bass than the others before the
onset of severe distortion.
POWER REQUIBEMENTS. To produce a given
level of sound, a highly efficient speaker
needs relatively little power; low-efficien-
cy speakers need quite a lot to produce the
same level. That's not to say low efficiency
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
means low quality. A low-efficiency loud-
speaker simply needs more sound-produc-
ing power from an amplifier-more watt-
age-than a high-efficiency model.
We calculated the power that these
speakers would need to produce fairly loud
sound in a fairly large room (3000 cubic
feet) with "average" acoustics. Power re-
quirements ranged from 4 watts for the
]BL and the Technics to 19 watts for the
Yamaha. To be sure your amplifier has
enough power to drive these speakers in
your home, consult the shopping guide on
page 254. If you collect "audiophile"
recordings, which make more demands of
an amplifier than ordinary discs do, you
should allow about 2 1/ 1 times as much pow-
er as we've listed in the Ratings.
CABINET SIZE. The tested speakers tend to
be look-alikes. Most are about a foot
square and two feet high, on average. The
Allison, a one-foot cube, is the smallest
and, at 16 pounds, one of the lightest. The
40-ponnd KLH is the heaviest, but it's still
lighter than many expensive speakers.
Wood-grain vinyl finish is the mle with
most cabinets.
RECOMMENDATIONS. we recommend
choosing from among the top 14 models in
the Ratings; they were judged essentially
equal in accuracy. To narrow the choice,
check the Ratings for details that may mat-
ter to yon: bass capability, power require-
ments, or even the speaker's size or finish.
Finally, shop for price; you may find dis-
counts that knock $50 or more off the
nominal retail prices we've listed.
 LOW-PRICED LOUDSPEAKERS 265
Ratings of low-priced loudspeakers
Listed in order of room-accuracy score (see story); models with identical
accuracy scores are listed alphabetically. Except as noted, room-accuracy
score was determined for speaker on stand at ear level, against rear wall,
and 4 ft. from side wall. Differences in accuracy of 8 points or less are not
readily resolved by ear. Impedance given is as measured by CU. Power
given is the minimum "RMS" power needed to produce loud sound in a
3000-cu-ft. room with average accoustics. All have a removable grille.
Except as noted, all have: wood-grain vinyl finish; no high- or mid-frequen-
cy level control (models with a level control performed m<)st accurately
with the control at its maximum setting). Dimensions are in order of height,
width, and depth. Prices are suggested retall per pair of speakers; dis-
counts are generally available.
ALLISON SIX. $320. Accuracy: 93. 11'!.x11 '!.x11'!. in. 16 lb. Impedance: 4 ohms. Power
required : 14 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 50 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
much better than average. Has high-frequency level control. Walnut-veneer cabinet.
BOSTON A70. $270. Accuracy: 91 . 24x14x7•t. in. 24 lb. Impedance: 4'!. ohms. Power required:
12 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 49 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: better than
average.
ADVENT 3002. $278. Accuracy: 90. 20x12'!.x8o/. in. 21 lb. Impedance: 5'12 ohms. Power
required : 15 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 47 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
average.
INFINITY RSe. $350. Accuracy: 90. 20x13x10'!. In. 25 lb. Impedance: 4'!. ohms. Power required :
16 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 47 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: worse than
average. Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft. high. Has high-frequency
level control. Oak-veneer cabinet.
ADS L420. $320. Accuracy: 89. 17'1.x11 'l.x7'12 in. 16 lb. Impedance: 4 ohms. Power required : 14
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 52 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: worse than
average. Metal grille and walnut-veneer cabinet.
JBL R82. $310. Accuracy: 89. 21 '!.x13'12x11'1• in. 30 lb. Impedance: 6 ohms. Power required: 4
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 58 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: worse than
average. Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft . high. Has high-frequency
level control. '
JENSEN SYSTEM 200. $280. Accuracy: 89. 18o/.x11x9'12in. 17 lb. Impedance: 6'!. ohms. Power
required : 8 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 58 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
worse than average. According to the company, this model has been replaced by the 200A,
claimed to be the same except for a high-frequency level control.
AR 38S. $320. Accuracy: 88. 24x13'12x1<Pt. In. 33 lb. Impedance: 6 ohms. Power required: 6
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 49 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: much better
than average.
KLH 512. Approx. $300. Accuracy: 88. 25't.x15x13'1• in. 40 lb. Impedance: 5 1/2 ohms. Power
required: 1 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 46 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
better than average. Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft . high. Has
high-frequency level control.
REALISTIC OPTIMUS 10. $280. Accuracy: 88. 25x15'!.x1 1'1• in. 35 lb. Impedance: 6 ohms.
Power required: 6 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 43 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distor-
tion: average. Room-accurcacy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft . high. Has high-
frequency level control. Walnut-veneer cabinet.
Ratings continued next page
266 LOUDSPEAKERS, PHONO CARTRIDGES
SPEAKERLAB SX.$258 plus shipping. Accuracy: 88. 20"'/.x 11o/.x9% In. 23 lb. Impedance: 5
ohms. Power required: 14 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 47 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic
distortion: better th ~m average.
FISHER S17F ')260. Acc11racy. 87. 25'hx16x ·12 1; , In. 26 lb. Impedance: fi oh'lls. Power
required: 6 watts. Basa half-io..idness point: 52 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
worse than average.
GENESIS 10. $300. Accuracy: 86. 23'/.x12'!.x10'1• In. 28 lb. Impedance: 5 ohms. Power
required: 8 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 53 Hz. Freedom from bass distortion: much better
than average.
TECHNICS SBL70. $250. Accuracy: 85. 27x14'/.x11 ln.28 lb. Impedance: 6 ohms. Power
required: 4 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 51 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
average. Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft. high.
SANSUI 547. $280. Accuracy: 84. 24x14x11'!. in. 28 lb. Impedance: 6 ohms. Power required: 6
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 49 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion: average.
Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft . high.
YAMAHA NS6. $300. Accuracy: 83. 23x13x11'!. In. 31 lb. Impedance: 3% ohms. Power
required: 19 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 43 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
worse than average .• This model was discontinued at original publication.
EV INTERFACE I SERIES II. $300. Accuracy: 82. 21'/.x11%x93/, In. 24 lb. Impedance: 5 ohms.
Power required: 7 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 54 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distor-
tion: average. Has high-frequency level control.
SONY SSUSO. $280. Accuracy: 82. 24'/.x13'1.x12'!. In. 29 lb. Impedance: 7 ohms. Power
required: 14 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 45 Hz. Freedom from bass harmonic distortion:
average. Room-accuracy score determined for speaker on stand 1 ft. high.

Phono cartridges
Condensed from Consumer Reports. March 1982
Except for loudspeakers, the cartridge is
the most important determinant of the
quality of sound you get from records.
The tested cartridges are compatible
with virtually all stereo amplifiers and
receivers made in the last 20 years. And all
their styluses are replaceable (one by
return to the factory) for about half the
price of the cartridge.
PERFORMANCE. All turntables have a dial
for adjusting the vertical tracking force
(VfF), the minimum downward force that
will allow a particular cartridge to work
without mistracking. The Ratings show
our recommended VfF for each cartridge
in grams; it assumes that the proper anti-
skating adjustment has also been made on
the turntable, according to the manufac-
turer's instructions. If your turntable lacks
an antiskating device, you should increase
the recommended VfF by 25 percent.
As a rule, a low VfF will hold down
record wear. But if for any reason your
stylus mistracks, don't be afraid to use a
slightly higher VfF than we've recom-
mended. That will be easier on your
records than mistracking would be.
The frequency response and stereo sepa-
ration of all models were at least satisfacto-
ry. But overall performance may suffer
from subtler factors. For instance, very
low-frequency vibrations can make some
cartridges resonate with the tone arm on
which they' re installed. The resonance is

dependant on the tone-arm mass and the
cartridge's ability or inability to adapt to
it. The higher the mass of the tone arm on
your turntable (see turntable Ratings), the
more important it will be to select a car-
tridge that scored high in adaptability.
Intermodulation (IM) distortion may oc-
cur during the play of simultaneous notes,
when the cartridge allows one note to alter
or distort another. The problem can be
caused by side-to-side or up-and-Oown
movements of the stylus. Since side-to-side
movements are more common on recorded
music, we consider lateral IM distortion
more serious than vertical IM distortion.
FEATURES. Installing a conventional car-
tridge on a tone arm can be exasperating-
a finicky test of deftness with tiny screws
and tiny wires. Mercifully, six integrated
units (cartridges together with their sup-
porting bracket, or headshell) let you skip
the test. They plug directly into a tone arm
that has the right kind of fitting. (The turn-
table Ratings on page 276 indicate which
models will accept these cartridges.)
Not only are integrated cartridges sim-
ple to install, but their light weight helps
keep down the overall tone-arm mass.
Some, in fact, may be too lighc for your
PHONO CARTRIDGES 267
tone arm. To get the right balance, you
may have to add weights (supplied by the
cartridge manufacturer) and adjust the
VTF accordingly.
The Pickering and Stanton cartridges
have a small, removable brush that sweeps
a few grooves ahead of the stylus. You
should add one gram to the recommended
VTF to compensate for the additional
weight.
Two Shure models and the Realistic
RXT4 have a hinged brush that sweeps the
record and dampens the up-and-Oown
movement of the cartridge. That helps in
the play of warped records. It also im-
proves the cartridge's compatibility with
higher-mass tone arms. With the damper
brush down in the play position, add half a
gram to the VTF.
RECOMMENDATIONS. The ADC Integra
XLMIII, an integrated cartridge, and the
Shure V15-IV, which has a damper brush,
head the list. But since score differences of
six points or less are insignificant, we can
highly recommend another 15 models-
down to the Stanton 681EE. Another four
integrated cartridges are in that group.
Ratings on next page

What CU's Ratings mean

Products are rated, for the most part, in order of estimated overall
quality, without regard to price.
Models are check-rated (0) when the test samples prove to be of
high overall quality and significantly superior to those of other mod-
els tested.
Best Buy Ratings are accorded to models which are not only rated
high but also priced relatively low, and should give more quality per
dollar than other Acceptable models.
A Rating of a given model should not be considered a Rating of
other models sold under the same brand name unless so noted.
 Ratings of phono cartridges ~

Listed in order of estimated
overall quality, based on labora-
tory tests. Models with equal
scores are listed alphabetically.
Score differences of 6 points or
&5
less are not significant. All were
judged satisfactory in frequency
response and stereo separation.
GD E9 0 ~ - ·
Better Worae
Prices are suggested retail ;
steep discounts are available.

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ADC INTEGRA XLM mm $135 92 1.6 g. 0 0 e 12.3 g. J,L

SHURE V15-IV 191 92 0.9 0 0 0 6.7 A. C.H.M
ADCOM HC-E 130 91 1.6 0 0 0 4.9 E, G,M
ORTOFON CONCORDE 30ill 200 91 1.2 0 0 0 6.3 H,l,J,K,P
SHURE M97HE-AHill 126 90 1.3 8 0 e 12.9 A ,H,L,Q
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT120E 90 89 1.6 e 0 0 6.9 M
REALISTIC RXT4 50 89 1.1 0 0 e 7.2 A.C,M
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT140l.C 175 88 1.0 0 0 0 7.0 H,M
ORTOFON LM15 115 88 1.6 0 e e 3.0 J
SHURE V15-lll-HE 133 88 1.0 0 0 e 6.8 H
SHURE M95ED 98 88 0.9 0 0 e 6.6
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT57-XEill 145 87 1.2 0 0 0 7.0 J,O
PICKERING XSV4000 180 87 0.8 0 e 6.5 B,C,H.M
ADC ZLM IMPROVED 150 86 1.3
--
e 0 0 5.7 H
BANG & OLUFSEN MMC20-ENC rn 140 86 1.2 e e 0 9.2 J,K
STANTON 881S 179 86 0. 8 ~ e 0 6.5 B,C,H,M
STANTON 881EE 97 86 1.5 0 0 0 6.8 B,C,M
OSAWA MP20 120 84 1.4 e 0 e 8.4
SONUS SIL VER P 100 84 1.5 0 e ~ 6.7 H
ADC XLM II-IMPROVED 110 83 1.2 e 0 0 6.6
EMPIRE EDR. 9 200 83 1.6 e 0 0 5.8 H,M
ASTATIC MF200 160 81 1.orn 0 e ~ 6.0 H,M,N
MICRO-ACOUSTICS 3002 170 81 1.0 0 0 0 2.8 D,F, H, J,M
PICKERING xv1snSOE-DCF 90 81 1.9 0 0 0 6.8 B,C,M
BANG & OLUFSEN MMC20-Ec rn 90 80 1.3 e 0 0 9.2 J,K
EMPIRE 400TC 100 79 2.3 0 e 0 5.7 C,M
MICRO- ACOUSTICS 100E 99 79 1.2 e e 0 4.9 D,F
SONUS GOLD BLUE 165 79 1.0 0 0 ~ 6.6 H
[j} Multiply by 1.25 if antiskate compensation not applied. rn Below maker's recommendation, but considered sufficient by
cu.
~~
(gj Integrated plug-in model (see story) .

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES C-Easier than most to mount in head- L - Includes gauge for stylus overhang.
All: Come with mounting hardware; are shell. M -Comes with small screwdriver. ""-<
sensitive enough for normal magnetic D- Likely to reproduce more background N-Also available pre-mounted in head- 0
phone inputs on amplifiers and receivers. noise than other models. shell for S-shaped arms as MF200H, Q
Except as noted, all: Are moving-magnet E-Stylus replaceable only by factory. $183. .....
design; have elliptical (biradial) stylus F -Nonmagnetic design.
G - Moving-coil design.
0-Also available as conventional car-
tridge AT55- XE, $125, and as inte-
r;
::;;J
replaceable by user.
H -Has modified elliptical stylus. grated unit for straight arms, AT59- ......,
KEY TO COMMENTS I-Comes with alternative counterbal- XE, $145. t::::i
A - Has damper-brush that removes dust ance weight for most tone arms. P - Also available as conventional car- G'.l
and aids in tracking warps. J-Comes with extra weights. tridge LM30, $185. t>:j
B-Has removable dust brush. K - Includes gauge for VTF. 0-Also available as conventional car- C;j
!ridge M97HE, $118.
~
<.O
270 MINI-COMPONENT SYSTEMS
Mini-component systems
Condensed from Consumer
Mini-components need only about one-
third the space that their conventional-
sized counterparts take up. They are avail-
able as matched sets that include speakers,
or yon can mix and match individual com-
ponents. Although we tested all the com-
ponents individually, the Ratings order is
for assembled systems of components by
brand.
Speaker performance was the Achilles'
heel '>f mini systems. (We· report on the
mini-loudspeakers separately, page 274.)
Most of the mini-components produced
full-sized performance, but the small
speakers were so lacking in bass that they
gave it a thin reproduction. There's noth-
ing you can do about the poor-sounding
speakers that come with four sets we
tested, but the others can be matched with
good low-priced 1011dspeakers.
Mini-component prices are quite high,
ranging from $560 to $1390 for a complete
system without ~peakers (a tape deck, an
FM/ AM tuner, and an amplifier), and from
$700 to $1310 for systems with loudspeak-
ers. The JVC includes a mini-turntable for
the $1310; it worked very well. (Some
models have an integrated amplifier and
others have a separate power amp and pre-
amp; we tested the separate units together
as though they were integrated amplifiers.)
For such prices you could easily assemble
a hi-fi set of conventional components
with excellent performance, copious pow
er, and many more features than arc avail-
able with mini-components. However, if
you choose mini-components for space or
esthetic reasons, yo11 can obtain surprising-
ly good performance from some of the tiny
units.
PERFORMANC?:. Amplifier performance was
impressive with every model except the
Hitachi. The scores for frequency re-
Reports, September 1981
sponse, SIN ratio, and distortion were usu-
ally excellent. Power outputs were low for
this price range-closer to what you'd
expect from low-priced receivers-but am-
ple for small speakers, and some could
drive typical mid-priced speakers.
The FM tuners in these systems were
nea rly ru, impressive in most respects. Sev-
eral had problems with front-end overload:
A powerful nearby FM station might show
up in more than one place on the dial.
Most were more difficult to tune than con-
ventional FM tuners.
We measured tape-<leck performance
with several different brands of tape. The
Ratings give the brand that worked best
with each deck. All the decks could play
metal tape and showed a bit of extra
dynamic range in the treble when using it,
but the difference wouldn't matter much
\"hen taping recorded music or FM. You
insert tape cassettes into a slot on the Aiwa
M302, like you do with tape players in
cars; we prefer the other decks that let you
see the cassette reels turning.
CHOICF. The Aiwa M.50 1 offered higher
quality than any other tested mini system-
high enough to be check-rated. It also
offers more convenience an<! more fea-
tures-digital station readout and automat-
ic FM scanning among others-than most
minis do. Tt's expensive, though; even with
steep discounts, you're likely to pay well
over $1000 once you've added speakers
and a turntable.
The sets that come with speakers are
meant to he used as complete systems-
you'd be stuck with deficient bass perfor-
mance. Components from the other sys-
tems can be mixed with conventional com-
ponents to yield a partially miniaturized
system. Note, though, that the Aiwas need
speakers with 8-ohm impedance.
 MINI-COMPONENT SYSTEMS 271
Ratings of mini·component systems
Listed by groups (with or without
attached loudspeakers) ; within
groups, listed in order of estimated
overall quality based on laboratory
tests and judgments of conve-
nience. See page 27 4 for Ratings
report on mini-speakers. Table on
pages 272 to 273 gives significant
test results for individual compo-
nents within systems. All systems
include a cassette tape deck, FM
tuner, and an integrated amplifier or
separate power amplifier and pre-
amplifier. Dimensions are for com-
ponents stacked vertically, and do
not include dimensions of speakers.
Prices are for complete system (in-
cluding speakers when they come
with the system) ; * indicates price
is approximate; discounts are gen-
erally available. !ID indicates model
was discontinued at original publi-
cation .
0
Better + - - - - - - - - W o r M •

OAIWA M501 $1020 12 1'2x 10x11 1/2 0 e 0 0

TOSHIBA 15 SERIES 1390 12 1'2x 10 1/4x9% 0 0 0 0
TECHNICS 1060 10 1'2x11 %x 11 1'2 0 0 ~ e
TOSHIBA 10 SERIES 850 8 1/4X 10 1/4x9 1/4 0 0 ~ ~
AKAIUC2
AIWA M302
795
560
9 1'2x 11x 12 1'2
8 1'2x8 1/•x 10 11.
0
0
~
0 •• ~
~
Systems with loudspeakers
• The following systems are sold with a pair of loudspeakers, a disadvan tage (see story) .
JVC 13100J 9x1 3 1'2x 11 % Q ~ Q Q
KLll SYSTEM 400 1000 1231.x 1231.x 111/ 4 0 0 0 -~
FISHER ACSM103 650 10 1/4x8%x12 0 ---o -~- --
1-1-1/2-x-9x
-9-1/-2---~
--- • - ~ - ~-
@ HITACHI M1 100 ·
-- - - - -·--- ---
ITI Price includes turntable with built-in phone cartridge, model LE5.

Performance and features table on next page

 Mini·component systems: Performance and features ~
Nl

Listed alphabetically. All were no S /N ratio, distortion at 8 were judged: Excellent in phono ~
judged: Excellent in amplifier fre- ohms, selectivity, FM freq uency fre quency respo nse and excel- t--<
quency response and stereo response, and capture ratio; and lent or very good in distortion at ~
separation; very good in sensitiv- very good or good in tone-con- 4 ohms. 8
•
ity, airp lane flutter, and FM im- trol action, AM rejection, and
age rejection ; excellent or very cassett e-d eck frequency re- (§) e o -~ ~
good in amplifier S/N rati o, p ho- sponse. Except as noted, all Better Worae ~
~"3
t:r.i
Amplifier FM tuner Cassetta deck ~
~
~//h~ ~

b.
~,,/S
.,,<::'
••
Q'•"'
b.
••
~#4~·
c,O~
..
AIWA M302 Cil 17 0 e 0 0 e 0 A,E,I
" f,h,i,j O,J
9AIWA M501
AKAIUC2
Cil
38
60
30
0
0
0
~
0
0
0
0
0
e ----0 0
0
A,B,E,F,G,J,K,M
D,M,P
i,j
a,i,j
B,E, H
F,I
FISHER ACSM103 Cil 23 0 0 e 0 e 0 - a,f,i,j E.F.1
HITACHI M1 Ill
JVC
13
Cil
10
35
~
0
~
~
---- 0 0 0 0
e e e 0
A,C,M
A,B,C,K,M,O
a,c,d,f,i,j
i
E.F.J
G,K
KLH SYSTEM 400
TECHNICS
45
60
35
50
0
e e
0 --0
0
0 e 0 e
e 0 0 0
K,L
A,B,E,F,G,K, M,N
e,g,i
-
E.F.L
B,F, H
TOSHIBA 10 Series 18 23 e 0 e e 0 0 A,C,l,J,M g C,K
TOSHIBA 15 Series 60 54 0 --
0 0 0 e 0 e A,B,E,F,G,H,K,L,M,N
[i] CU agrees with manufacturer that amplifier should not be used with speakers rated less than 8 ohms.
b,g,i A,B,C,J

rn Judged fair in phono frequency response, good in distortion at 4 ohms.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES FM tuner CaHette deck

Amplifiers: All have: Stereo headphone E- Digital readout of station frequen- e - Record-level meters respond to aver-
jack; auxiliary input; tape-monitor facility. cies. age signal level.
Except as noted, all have: Loudness con- F-Can be set to scan for FM stations f- Record-level meters' resolution
trol. automatically. judged coarse.
G - FM frequencies can be preset. g - Cassette-compartment cover is re-
FM tuners: All have: Signal-strength indi- H - Frequencies can be entered directly movable and could be mislaid.
cator; defeatable FM interstation muting; on digital display. h-Allows inadvertent erasure of a "pro-
FM stereo/mono switch; indoor FM anten- I- Has automatic frequency control tected" cassette tape.
na. Except as noted, all have: FM/ AM (AFC) . i - Lacks playback-level control.
tuner with dial-type tuning; center-tune J - Has at least 1 ac outlet at rear. j-Cassette compartment lacks back-
indicator; 300- and 75-ohm antenna in- Cassette deck light.
puts. K - Has push-button tape controls.
L -Has memory rewind. KEY TO COMMENTS
CaHette decks: All have: Provision for
regular, chrome, and metal-particle tape;
M - Deck is timer-controllable.
N - Deck can scan tape for gaps between
Amplifier
A- Lacks loudness control. ~
noise-reduction circuitry; tape c ounter;
microphone jacks. Except as noted, all
selections.
0 - Has "Super ANRS" feature to extend
FM tuner ~
have: Lever-type tape controls; playback
level control; backlight for cassette com-
dynamic range in the treble.
P - Has at least 1 ac outlet at rear.
B-Quartz tuner with manual frequency
scan.
C- Has only 75-ohm antenna input; balun
8
partment; record-level meters with " light-
up" segments that respon d to signal KEY TO DISADVANTAGES
transformer for 300-ohm line sup-
plied.
~
peaks; 4 to 7 dB of headroom in midband;
- 7 to - 4 dB of headroom in treble.
FM tuner
a- Lacks center-tune indicator.
Cassette deck
D- Cassette fits into slot, as with a car ~
KEY TO ADVANTAGES
b - Lacks AM band .
c - Suffered from triple tuning, which In-
tape player.
E- Midband headroom: O to 3 dB. ~
'-3
Amplifier terfered with FM tuning. F- Treble headroom: -3 to 0 dB.
A - Has at least 1 ac outlet at rear. d- Signal-streng th in dicator judged G- Treble headroom with " Super ANRS": ~
B - Has connection for remote speakers.
C- Has mixing input for microphone.
poor. 5 dB.
H- Tape of choice: BASF Professional I.
~
D - Has 2 tape monitors. I- Tape of choice: TDK SA-X. ~
~
J- Tape of choice: Scotch Master I.
K-Tape of choice: TDK AD.
L-Tape of choice: Scotch Master II.
Nl
cj
274 MINI-LOUSDPEAKERS

Mini-loudspeakers
Condensed from Consumer
Loudspeakers designed to accomrany
mini-component systems (page 270 are
about the size of a shoebox. We tested four
models that come as part of integrated
mini;-eomponent systems and four others
that could be used with any hi-fi compo-
nent system- mini or not.
Although some showed good accuracy
in the mid-range and treble, the mini-
speakers were invariably deficient in the
low and mid-bass. Only the KLH, which is
somewhat larger than most of the others,
managed a respectable bass half-loudness
point of 52 Hz; others ranged from 66 to
100 Hz. In tests for bass harmonic distor-
Reports, September 1981
tion when played loudly in a large room, it
was apparent that mini-speakers weren't
meant to be used that way. Distortion lev-
els were so high we haven't bothered to list
them in the Ratings.
Unless you're committed to a totally
miniaturized hi-fi system, you'd be better
off getting a mini-component package that
doesn't include speakers, and connecting a
pair of full-sized speakers to the system.
The better low-priced speakers (page 263)
would do beautifully, of course. Any of the
14 top-rated models would outperform the
best mini-speakers, and they're in the same
general price range.

Ratings of mini-loudspeakers
Listed in order of room-accuracy score; models with identical scores are
listed alphabetically. Differences in accuracy of 8 points or less are not
readily resolved by ear. Dimensions are in order of height, width, and
depth. Prices, where given, are suggested retail. Where no price is given,
speakers are an integral part of a mini-component system and are includ-
ed in the price of the system (see page 271).
AIWA SCE11A, $165. Accuracy: 88. 7'!.x5x6 in. 6'12 lb. Impedance: 7.5 ohms. Power required:
15 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 83 Hz. Black metal cabinet.
JVC SES. Accuracy: 88. 13'1zX9x8'/z In. 10'12 lb. Impedance: 6.0 ohms. Power required: 10 watts.
Bass half-loudness point: 66 Hz. Sliver-finished wood cabinet.
TECHNICS SBF2, $310. Accuracy: 86. 10x5'12X6 In. 7 lb. Impedance: 5.0 ohms. Power required:
11 watts. Bass hall-loudness point: 80 Hz. Sliver metal cabinet.
AKAi SWN2, $210. Accuracy: 84. 9'1zx5x7'1. In. 6 lb. Impedance: 6.0 ohms. Power required: 10
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 100 Hz. Silver wood cabinet.
AIWA SCESOY, $330. Accuracy: 83. 15'/.x10x92/. In. 18 lb. Impedance: 6.0 ohms. Power
required: 18 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 67 Hz. Sliver-finished wood cabinet. Has high- and
mid-frequency controls; accuracy was highest with mid-range control In the "12 o'clock" posi-
tion.
KLH 4. Accuracy: 77. 12'1zX8'1.x7'1• In. 15 lb. Impedance: 7.0 ohms. Power required: 24 watts.
Bass hall-loudness point: 52 Hz. Walnut veneer cabinet.
FISHER MSM100. Accuracy: 73. 10'1.x82/.x10 In. 8 lb. Impedance: 8.0 ohms. Power required: 11
watts. Bass half-loudness point: 79 Hz. Wood cabinet finished with walnut-grain vlnyt.
HITACHI HSM1 MK II. Accuracy: 72. 11'1zX6x6 In. 5 lb. Impedance: 4.0 ohms. Power required:
15 watts. Bass half-loudness point: 78 Hz. Metallic plastic cabinet.

Turntables
Condensed frorfl r,rmsumer Reports, March 1982
Single-play turntables, the type heavily
favored by hi-6 enthusiasts, can't by them-
selves play a couple of hours' worth of
records at a time. But most of the best-
selling models are automatic to some
degree. That is, they will return the arm to
its post and stop the platter at the end of
play. If a single-play model is fully auto-
matic, it will also start the platter and
gently place the stylus on the record, at the
touch of a button.
PERFORMANCE. All the turntables were ad-
mirably low in flutter, and freedom from
rumble was generally good.
Effective tone-arm mass, a measure of
the tone arm's resistance to changes in
motion, may introduce a problem when
the stylus is tracking a warped record. Too
high a mass, and the tone arm may resist
following its proper path at the top of a
warp, carrying the stylus off the record
momentarily and distorting the sound. The
problem is avoided in models with a lower-
mass tone arm (see Ratings), though a low-
mass cartridge can also assist in reducing
the effects of warps.
Acoustic feedback is an annoying rum-
ble that occurs when the cartridge picks up
(usually low-frequency) sound vibrations
from a nearby loudspeaker. Even though
every moqel's resistance to feedback was
at least good, small differences here could
be important if you plan to have your turn-
table close to your speakers.
CONVENIBNCE FEATURES. Every model has a
cue control-a lever or button that you
Can't find it?
The Index on page 378 lists all reports in this issue both alphabeti-
cally and by subject.
TURNTABLES 275
press to lower or raise the tone arm with-
out touching it. That minimizes the possi-
bility of damaging records. On some mod-
els, the cue control is located outside the
dust cover; on others, it's less conveniently
located inside.
Most models have a strobe indicator that
tells you when the turntable is running too
fast or too slow. Normally, the indicator
can be used for both 33 1/, and 45 rpm. (But
you must place a special cardboard strobe
disc on the turntable to get a 45-rpm read-
ing on the JVC models.) If the strobe shows
that the speed is off, you can increase or
decrease it-by about five percent-by
turning a speed-control knob.
The Sony models have an automatic
speed-control mechanism-a "quartz lock"
device that dictates speed by means of a
quartz-crystal oscillator. The Yamaha
P350 has no speed-control device, manual
or automatic. We found that each turn-
table's speed was extremely accurate to
begin with.
RECOMMENDATIONS. You probably won't
go wrong if you pick any one of the top
nine models. (Their overall Ratings scores
are all within six points of one another,
indicating differences too small to be
judged significant.) But note that three of
the nine have especially attractive fea-
tures. The Technics SLD303 ($180) and the
Sony PSLX5 ($220) each have a repeat
control and an automatic sensor for adjust-
ing the record size. The Pioneer PL5 ($180)
also has a repeat control.
Ratings on next page

Listed in order of estimated
overall quality, based on labora-
tory tests and convenience judg-
Ratings of turntables ~
er>
significant. Dimensions are with model has been discontinued.
dust cov_er closed. Prices are Very
suggested retail, rounded to

•e
Excellent good ~

•
Fmir Poor
men ts. Score differences of nearest dollar; discounts are
about 6 points or less are not generally available. ~ indicates 0- ~
/

~~~'

~·
.~
·# '
Brand and model
/ ~. ""( Q~·~· (. (c ~ ~ ~(.
FISHER MT8430 $169 53le X 113tax 15 in. - 89 0 e e 0 e 0 + 51-6

SONYPSLX4 190 1
4 /4 X 17 X 14 - 89 0 0 0 e 0 0 [j]

"- 8788 00 e€) 0~ e0 00 00

TECHNICS SLD303 180 1 3 A,B,E
4 /• X 167!e X 14 /• +71-7

HITACHI HT40S 140 1 1

431e X 17 /e X 14 /• + 41 - 3.5

" 87 0 0 0 e 0 e
PIONEER PLS 1 B,C
180 431eX 16 /2X 14% +61-8

SONY PSLXS 220 1 7

4 /• X 17X 13 /e
" 87 0 e 0 0 0 0 [j] A,B

PIONEER PL4 160 1

43fe X 16 '2 X 143ta - 86 0 0 0 e ~ 0 +2/- 5 c
JVC LA31 160 45!a X 16 1/2X 14 1'2 - 84 0 e 0 e 0 0 +71 - 7 F

DUAL CS528 180 1

53le X 17 /•X 15 /21

" 84 e e 0 e e e +4.5/- 5

JVC LF41 190 1 1

4 '2X 16 '2X 14 /4 1
" 83 0 e 0 0 0 e +7,-8 B,F

0 e ~ e e
" 0
YAMAHA P450 1 1 +51 - 6.5 B
190 5 1.x 11 1.x 14% 83
@ ONKYO CP1015A 160 531. X 163ta X 14% - 82 0 0 ~ e 0 0 +4/-4.5

TECHNICS SLD202 160 4 1/4 X 167/a X 143/. - 81 0 0 ~ e 0 0 +61 - 7.5 E

KENWOOD KD40R 182 1

5 /a X 17% X 14% - 80 0 e ~ e 0 ~ +4/ - 3. 5 c
SANSUI FRD35

@AKAi APD30
175

140
1
4% X 17 /4 X 14 '21

51/2X 17 1/4X 153/4

-
-
80

79
0
0
e
0
•• e e
~ 0
~
0
+41-4

+61 -7
C,E

@AKAi APD40

DUAL CS508
160

160
5% X 17 1/4 X 15%
1 1
53ta X 17 /4 X 15 '2
....
-
79

79
0 e
e e 0
• ~
e e
0 e
~
+7.51 - 6

+4/ - 5
B,E

YAMAHA P350 150 1

5 /4 X 173ta X 14% - 76 0 0 ~ e 0 ~ [fil

mQuartz-lock feature precludes need for speed control.

lfil Has no speed control.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES KEY TO COMMENTS
All have: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm speeds; cueing A- Has automatic sensor to adjust for
control; VTF gauge; antiskating adjust- record size.
men!; removable hinged dust cover; re- B - Has repeat control.
movable headshell or mounting bracket; C-Cue control Is inside dust cover, an
excellent speed accuracy. inconvenience.
Except as noted, all have: controls outside D- Tone arm does not automatically re-
dust cover; adjustable speed control for turn to starting position after play.
33 1/ 3 and 45 rpm with lighted strobe. E- Will accept integrated cartridge (see
story on cartridges, page 266).
F-Strobe speed-indicator does not ~
show 45 rpm speed. §3
~
~
~
~
~
278 INDOOR FM ANTENNAS
Indoor FM antennas
Condensed from Consumer Reports, March 1982
When you're not in a strong-signal area
FM reception is usually best with a good
outdoor antenna. If that's not feasible,
many FM listeners make do with an indoor
dipole antenna, the standard T-shaped
" ribbon" that's tacked behind a bookcase
or deployed under a rug. Serious listeners,
however, may crave better reception than
a fixed dipole can provide. In their interest,
we tested four specialty indoor FM anten-
nas: the Winegard FM4400, listing at $75;
the Sony AN300 Helical, $80; the Technics
SHF101 , $90; and the B.I.C. FMIO Beam
Box, $100. Those list prices are routinely
discounted.
The Winegard, the Sony, and the Tech-
nics are constructed along the same lines.
Each has a horizontal antenna element that
can be rotated. The base doesn't take up
much shelf or table space, but the antenna,
from 17 to 20'/, inches long, needs room to
tum. The Beam Box looks something like a
small stereo receiver, measuring about 15
inches wide by 16 inches deep.
All four antennas are meant to be
adjusted whenever you change stations.
With the Sony and the Technics, you tune
in the desired station on the FM receiver,
adjust the antenna's tuning control for
peak signal strength, and then tum the
horizontal element around until the signal
is at its clearest. With the Winegard, once
the receiver is tuned in, you need only
rotate the antenna; a built-in radio-fre-
quency amplifier boosts incoming FM sig-
nals. With the Beam Box, you " rotate" the
1
If you want to know more
The issue of CONSUMER REPORTS cited at the beginning of each report
gives more details.
antenna by turning a switch to one of four
positions, stopping at the position where
the signal is clearest; then you fine-tune
further by means of the tuning control.
PERFORMANCE. In an urban area, where
strong FM signals come in from many
directions, we compared each antenna's
reception with that of a standard fixed-
position dipole. On average, every model
slightly reduced multipath interference-
noise and distortion caused by broadcast-
signal reflection. (When we moved the
dipole, it performed as well as the rotata-
ble models. But, of course, constantly shift-
ing a five-foot wire ribbon is impractical.)
In a suburban area, where weak signals
are more of a problem than multipath, the
tested models' superiority over the dipole
was more pronounced. The Sony, the
Technics, and the Beam Box could receive
a number of stations with less noise than
the dipole. And the Winegard, thanks to its
radio-frequency amplifier, usually pro-
duced significantly less noise than the oth-
er three antennas.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If you're obliged to
use an indoor FM antenna, one of these
rotatable models could improve your re-
ception dramatically. For a strong-signal
area, our choice would be the Beam Box.
It's the easiest to direct (by flicks of a
switch) toward different stations and the
least obtmsive with respect to decor. For
weak-signal areas, the Winegard looks like
the best bet. It's also the cheapest antenna
of the four we tested.
 LOW-COST CASSETTE DECKS 279
Low-cost cassette decks
Condensed from Consumer Reports. September 1982
These decks, costing around $170 after dis-
counts, don't offer all the amenities to be
found on more expensive models, but they
do have the features that are now virtually
standard. The cassette compartment and
all controls are on the front panel, so you
can stack another component atop the
deck or fit it in a bookshelf. There's a
pause control to stop and start the tape
without having to touch other controls, a
tape counter to let you index the passages
on a tape, and an automatic shutoff to dis-
engage the cassette mechanism when a
tape has recorded or played to the end.
These decks also have some frills. Most
have "soft-touch" controls, plus recording-
level indicators that are of the very latest
design. Every deck has a Dolby B noise-
reducer, " ( < couple also have the more
advanced Dolby C system.
PERFORMANCE. As the Ratings show, most
of these decks performed quite well when
we tested their rec9rding and playback
capabilities. All were commendably low in
flutter, and most had a highly uniform fre-
quency response. We tested each deck
with two types of tape, normal bias (Type
I) and high bias (Type II).
Using Type I tapes, we also measured
each deck's dynamic range-the range of
loudness the machine can handle without
hiss intmding at the low end and distortion
bombarding the high end.
Dynamic range in the midband was best
on the Sony and the Pioneer, the two decks
with Dolby C noise-reduction circuitry.
The other decks were nearly as good. In
the treble, dynamic range dropped a notch
m two on every deck. Here again, though,
·h~ Sony and the Pioneer scored best.
T0 make the best use of a deck's dynam-
ic range, you should record at the highest
volume possible without distortion, using
the deck's recording-level meters as a
guide. The Ratings give the level we'd rec-
ommend for each deck.
The meters on most decks show where
the music "peaks," or approaches a level
that could cause distortion. The meters are
typically lighted segments, rather like an
illuminated bar graph; by observing the
display, you know how to adjust the deck's
recording level. The display of the Tech-
nics was especially easy to read, since it
holds peak readings for a second or so.
The recording-level controls on most of
the decks are ganged; you can set the right
and left channel level either separately or
together, using only one hand. Ganged
controls help maintain the balance be-
tween left and right channels when adjust-
ing recording levels, and they are useful for
certain special effects.
RECOMMENDATIONS. A " perfect" deck
would have earned 100 points when we
scored its performance and its features.
The top-rated Sony TCFX30 came close,
amassing 89 points and earning a check-
rating for its superior overall quality. At
$250 (before discounts), it"s the most ex-
pensive model we tested, but that money
buys the desirable Dolby C noise-reducer,
problem-free performance, and apprecia-
ble convenience in operation.
In our judgment differences in score of
six points or less aren't very significant
where cassette decks are concerned. Con-
sequently, the next six models in the Rat-
ings are more or less equal, though a notch
below the Sony. To choose among them,
check the Ratings for the combination of
performance and features with the most
appeal for you. Check the stores for price,
too. As always with hi-fi equipment, dis-
counts are the norm.
Ratings on next page
 Ratings of low-priced cassette decks ~
Listed in order of estimated flutter, and, except as noted, are nal publication.
overall quality based on per- recommended for use with nor-
formance and judgments of fea- mal bias (Type I) tapes. Prices
tures and convenience; differ-
ences in Overall Score of 6
are approximate retail, rounded
to nearest dollar; discounts are
o e 0 ~ •
Better Woree
points or less were judged not usually available. ~ indicates
very significant. All were low in model was discontinued at origi-

/
,,.-<$'
be...
+ e.,
. s-~
-"~ t-•($ !\..,
!\.+ 0~
b~·
-~
~0,....
~~
Brand and model Q'<3' ,,o
0 SONY TCFX30 $250 89 4 1/4x16 1/4x11 in. e Q 8 Q Q +5 15S/P A,G m D
PIONEER CT4 200 82 43/.x16 1'2x10 1'2 6 Q 8 ~ Q +6 5S/P A,E,K d,e,g
~ AIWA AD3100U 225 81 4 1/4x16 1/2x 113f. Q 6 Q Q -- +2 12S/A C,D,1 ,J d
TEAC V40 240 79 5x17x11% 6 6 Q 8 6 +2 12S/FA F, K a,e C,E
ONKYO TA1500 195 78 5x16 1/2x 11 1/4 0 e ~ e 0 +2 NI A b
~ TECHNICS RSM218 170 78 431.x 17x9 1/4 e e 0 0 0 +6 18S/P B,D,F,H,I d,e,h C,D
KENWOOD KXSO 225 76 4 3/4x17 1/4x10 e e ~ ~ o +5 1s1sp a,e A
MARANTZ SD1015 200 75 6 1/•x16 1/4x11 1/• 6 8 ~ Q Q -2 N/A l,J c,i,j A,D
~ SANSUI D150M 249 73 1
5 /4x17x93f. Q 6 ~ Q -- +4 9S/P E b,d,e,i,k a
~YAMAHA K350 240 71 5 1/4x17 1/4x11 1/4 6 8 ~ Q 6 +2 N/A c,i,j C
SHARP RT32 209 69 4 1/4x17x10 8 6 ~ Q -- +4 7S/P E,F d,f A
mNo. of segments (SJ or needle (NJ ! peak (PJ , slow peak (SP) , fast average (FA) . or average (AJ response.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have : Dolby B noise reduction; provi- G - Can go from Play to Record without g - Finger pressing Eject button may in-
sion for tapes of Type I. II, and IV ("metal" stopping. terfere with opening cassette-com-
tape) ; headphone jack; microphone in- H -Can play tape automatically when partment door.
puts; pause control; tape counter; auto- rewind is complete. h - Unit is incompatible with those Type II
matic stop. I - Rewind is faster than with most. and IV cassettes that have no switch-
Except as noted, all have : controls that J - Ejects cassette at second press of actuating slots.
require light to medium force to operate; Stop button. I -Has separate left and right recording-
ganged left and right recording-level con- K - Has button to mute recording mo- level controls, judged inconvenient for
trols; provision for timer control; detach- mentarily. most uses.
able audio cables; power cord at least 4 ft. j-Not recommended for use with exter-
long; ability to change tape motion with- KEY TO DISADVANTAGES nal timer.
out using Stop button; backlight for cas- a - Starting tape or changing its motion k - With mike input in use. may record
sette compartment; 1-yr. warranty. entails delay of more than 1/ 2 sec. minor background hum.
b - Starting tape or chan~ing Its motion
KEY TO ADVANTAGES ent3ils delay of about '2 sec. KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Also has Dolby C noise reduction. c - Has "piano key" controls that require A- Recommended for use with high bias
B - Meter momentarily holds peak read- more force than others to operate. (Type II) tapes.
ings. d-Cannot go directly from Play to Fast 8- Power cord less than 4 ft. long.
C-Has control to adjust bias for Type I Forward or Rewind . C-Audio cables are permanently at-
tape. e - One-button Record control may allow tached.
D - Has cue I review feature. accidental erasures. 0-2-yr. warranty. ~
E- Has feature to find gaps between f - Record button is next to Play button; £-According to the company, this mod- 0
taped passages. may allow accidental erasures. el is essentially similar to V50, a model ~
F - Has switch to select line or mike with built-in microphone and output- ~
level controls.
~
input.
~
§2
~
~
~
~
~
t"Jj

~
 Home workshop

Electric drills
Condensed from C onsumer Reports. May 1982
The size of any drill designates the size of a top speed ranging from 750 to 2500 rev-
the thickest shank that the drill's chuck can olutions per minute (rpm). Our 1/1-inch
accept. A 1/1-inch dril~ for example, can drills are geared down for lower speed-
accept a bit with a 1/1-inch shank. The big- 550 to 800 rpm-and greater torque, or
gest sellers these days are 3/a-inch drills, but twisting force. They need more torque to
the market for '11-inch drills is growing. keep their larger bits turning, and less
Those are the two sizes we tested. speed to keep their larger bits from over-
We looked for the following popular heating and quickly dulling.
features: variable speed; a switch to re- However, a drill's speed under some
verse the direction of rotation; and double load is a more realistic indicator of the
insulation, which allows safe use with an types of jobs for which it's best suited. As
ungrounded, two-prong power cord. We the Ratings show, the speed of most mod-
tested 17 standard %-inch drills-the kind els dropped only a few hundred rpm when
you plug into a wall outlet-priced from we applied a heavy but not atypical load.
about $20 to $90. Most are reversible. At best, the cordless drills could muster
There are jobs where a cordless drill- up a maximum speed of only 300 to 400
one operating on rechargeable batteries, rpm. They sacrifice speed for the sake of
not house current-is especially conve- reasonable torque.
nient. So we tested five %-inch cordless PERFORMANCE. To determine the capabili-
models. Their prices range from about $39 ties of the various drills, we tested for three
to $60 plus shipping. characteristics that were our major Ratings
For 1/1-inch drills, we chose the cheapest criteria: maximum power output, sus-
double-insulated model of each of seven tained power output, and stall torque.
brands, ranging from about $49 to $90. All Maximum power output is an indicator
seven are reversible, and all but one have of the power available for short spurts.
variable speed. Among the standard %-inch drills, two
SIZE vs. SPEED. A %-inch drill is better for Black & Decker models, the 7159 and the
some jobs, and a 1/1-inch drill is better for 7166, were the most powerful. Running at
others. The main difference lies in speed. lower speed but with higher torque to
When they're running free, rather than deliver about the same power output were
under load, out standard 'la-inch drills have the two most powerful 1/1-inch drills we

tested, the Sears 1029 and the Wen PR53.
All the cordless models performed poorly
in the test.
Sustained power output is an indicator
of a drill's ability to perform for a pro-
longed period under load without over-
heating. During three consecutive IO-min-
ute periods under a one-foot-pound load,
most models didn't suffer a significant loss
of power. But all our samples of the Black
& Decker 7127, the Wards 82008, and the
J.C. Penney 0785 failed without complet-
ing the test. Three of four samples of the
Skil 584 also failed. The cordless models
had no chance from the start even under a
more moderate 1/2-foot-pound load; they
could nm for only about 10 minutes before
needing a recharge.
Stall torque is a measure of the maxi-
mum amount of torque that a drill can
develop, and it occurs just as the load
becomes so great that the drill stops turn-
ing. None of the %-inch drills, including
the cordless models, could match the stall
torque of most of the 1/2-inch models.
A TRJPLE·ACTION MODEL The Ski/ 600,
though the lowest rated and most expen-
sive of our 1/2-inch drills, boasts a feah1re
that may appeal to some people. It can be
used as a hammer-drill or hammer-chisel.
As a hammer-drill (for masonry only), it
speeded up drilling considerably. As a
hammer-chisel for wood, it proved very
smooth and controllable-bettering the
chiseling results we could achieve by hand
in the same time-but very noisy.
SAFETY. All the standard drills as well as the
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
ELECTRIC DRILLS 283
Wen cordless model have a trigger lock,
which keeps the drill running without con-
stant pressure on the trigger. A quick
squeeze of the trigger should automati-
cally disengage the trigger lock. With the
Edisons and the standard W en models,
though, the trigger lock wouldn't disen- ·
gage when the speed-control knob was
htrned fully clockwise to the highest-speed
setting. If the bit should jam in the work
while the trigger is locked on, the drill
could twist your wrist or wrench loose
from your grip-with possibly disasterous
consequences. We rated the four models-
the Edison T3150 and T3250 and the Wen
PR82 and PR&3-Not Acceptable.
RECOMMENDATIONS. If you plan to buy only
one drill, we recommend a standard %-inch
model. A 1/2-inch drill may provide more
torque, but its lower speed means that
you'll take longer to finish the types of jobs
that you'll, ordinarily face. And the cord-
less models lack the muscle and endurance
needed for lengthy or heavy-duty work.
The %-inch Black & Decker 7159 is
check-rated because it excelled in our tests
and has no serious disadvantages. But its
$90 price may give you pause. The Black &
Decker 7190, a Best Buy at $35, provides
enough power for most jobs, and for less
than half the price.
If you already own a %-inch drill and
find that you need more torque for certain
jobs, the 1/2-inch Sears 102 9, $50 plus ship-
ping, is the model of choice. It weighs
more than five pounds, but it's well bal-
anced and easy to handle.
Ratings on next page
 Ratings of electric drills ff
Listed by types; within types, torque and at maximum speed. el was discontinued at original
listed in order of estimated over- Weights are to nearest 1I10 lb., publication. ~
all quality. Models within brack- not including cord. Prices are ~
suggested retail, rounded to
ets were judged approximately
~
Very

•
Excellent good Good F91r Poor
equal and are listed alphabeti- nearest dollar; + indicates ship-
cally. Speeds are given to near- ping is extra; * indicates price is © .
e 0 ~ ~
est 25 rpm; speeds under load approximate. Discounts are gen- ~
were measured at 1 ft.-lb. of erally available. rnI indicates mod- t:::
t-i
en

~·
/ .,.7/.Q/. ~·..~o,-:S~..,~ ~/ ~·/ "~
q~l' +rl. +•" Ciel'
Brand and model
L: ci; " ,,,,. ...

3/s-inch model•
@e BLACK It DECKER 7159 $90* 1100 900 0 0 e 2.9 F,G,W
SEARS Cat. No. 1148 75+ 1100 825 e e 0 4.2 F,K,L,Y
BLACK It DECKER 7188 10· 1200 950 0 e 0 3.0 A,G,W,X

[BLACK & DECKER 7100, A ..., But 35* 1200 800 e e ~ 2.8 G,X
IIDJ.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 1092 50+ 750 625 e e 0 3.2 G,M
SKIL597 85 750 650 e e 0 . 3. 1 G,M
WARDS Cat. No. 82009 55+ 1200 900 e e ~ 3.0 M
WARDS Cat. No. 82023 68+ 1200 800 e e ~ 3. 1 A.M

(SEARS Cat. No. 1004

SKIL457
35+
53
1350
1300
850
850
0
0
0
0 •• 2.7
2.9
F,G,l,K
l,M
SEARS Cat. No. 1143 20+ 1200 700

-- --
• The following models are downrated because they could not run at a test load for 30 minutes. • 2.8 B,E,l,k

BLACK & DECKER 7127

WARDS Cat. No. 82008
21·
35+
2500 1425
2500 1325
e
e •• •• 2.5
2.8
F,G,V
E
[Q]SKIL 584
[Q]J.c. PENNEY Cat. No. 0785
45•
35+
1300
1300
825
850
0
0 •• •• 3.0
2.9
E,I
l,M

Not Acceptable
• The following models are rated Not Acceptable because the trigger lock failed to disengage when the speed-adjustment knob was
set fully clockwise, at maximum speed.
EDISON T3150 35• 1000 650 -- -- • 2.4 l,K,Z
WEN PR82 39 1200 725 Q Q -- 2.7 l,K
Ratings continued next page
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: Double insulation; pistol-grip F - Trigger lock engages only at maxi- Q -Owner can replace batteries; no spe-
handle. mum speed. cial tool required.
Except as noted, all have. Variable speed, G - Trigger lock protected against acci- R - Has charging controller that protects
controlled by the trigger; reverse switch, dental engagement. against overcharging, and indicator
with interlock to prevent accidental H - No trigger lock. light that signals full charge or hot
change of direction while drill is running; I - Has all-plastic housing. battery.
trigger lock that can be locked on at any J -Can be used as hammer-drill and S- Full recharge in 1 hr.
speed within its control range; partial met- hammer-chisel (see story) . T - Full recharge in 3 hr.
al housing; handle at rear of housing; pow-
er cord 5 to 7 ft. long; 1-yr. warranty cov-
K - Handle under middle of housing.
L- Has auxiliary handle on top of hous-
U - Full recharge in 16 hr.
V- Power cord is only 1 fl . long; exten- ~
ering parts and labor. ing.
M - Has auxiliary handle on left side of
sion cord is a virtual necessity.
W-Power cord is 10 ft. long. ~
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Has electronic speed control; deliv-
housing.
N - Has auxiliary handles on top and at
X-Power cord is removable.
Y - Motor brushes replaceable without
~
ers more power at low speed than rear of housing. disassembly. ?.;
~
most other models. O - Has atixiliary handle that screws into Z - Current designation of this model is
B - Not reversible. right or left side of housing. Shopcraft T3150-20.
C-Single-speed model.
D- Two-speed model.
P - Has auxiliary handles at rear and
left; rear handle is not removable.
AA-Current designation of this model is
Shopcraft T3250-20.
~
E-Trigger lock engages only at maxi- ~
mum speed and one intermediate
speed.
~
01
Ratings of electric
/~
Nl
drills continued / 00
a>
/> ~q
.,c,•
Brand and model / q" /.i':.Z
3/8-inch cordless models
IIDJ.c. PENNEY Cat. No. 3486
SEARS Cat. No. 1116
$50+
60+
300
300
200
225 •• -
- •
••·
2.4
2.4
D,H,l,K,R,S
D,H,l,K,R,S
SKIL2003
WEN2200
50
55
300
325
225
175 •• -
-
••
2.4
2.4
D,H,1,K,T
C,F,l,K,T
BLACK & DECKER 9020

1/2-inch models
39• 400 250
• - 2.5 D,H,l,Q,U

SEARS Cat. No. 1029 50+ 600 575 0 0 0 5.5 C,F,K,N,Y

BLACK & DECKER 7254 49• 550 475 e e 0 3.4 G,M,X
IIDJ.C. PENNEY Cat. No. 4641 55+ 600 525 e e 0 3.7 p

WARDS82515 50• 550 500 e e 0 3.6 M

SKIL600 90 800 650 0 0 0 3.8 G,J,M

Not Acceptable
• The following models are rated Not Acceptable because the trigger lock failed to disengage when the speed-adjustment knob was
set fully clockwise, at maximum speed.
EDISON T3250 49• 700 525 e e e 3.4 l,K,0 ,AA
WEN PR53 65 700 600 0 0 0 4.4 l,K.L

Hammers
Condensed from Consumer Reports, October 1982
For carpenters and do-it-yourselfers, the
preferred hammer design is the familiar
claw hammer. The preferred size is the "16
ounce," which is the weight of the head
alone. The handle, which can be made of
steel, fiberglass, or wood, adds another
eight ounces or so to the hammer's
weight.
The claw hammer is meant strictly for
driving nails and pulling them out. But it's
actually used to pound or pry all sorts of
things around the house. Sometimes that's
all right, and sometimes it isn't.
The best claw hammer won't last long
under abuse. A cheap hammer probably
won't last long even when pounding or
pulling nails. So our shoppers stayed away
from the bargain bin when they bought the
24 hammers we tested and rated.
A good hammer can be expensive, as
hand tools go, but not all expensive
hammers are top-rated. You can expect to
pay about $15 to $18 for a high-quality
hammer with a steel or fiberglass handle.
Hammers with an eight-sided wood handle
fall into that same price category, while
hammers with an oval handle are generally
less than $10.
PERFORMANCE. cu staffers-some experi-
enced do-it-yourselfers, some not-tried all
the hammers, using two per session, to
drive nails into plywood backed with
2x4's. They kept hammering until each
hammer had been compared with most of
the others at least once, according to a sta-
tistical plan. And they were asked to make
judgments about which hammer in the pair
they preferred overall, and which seemed
better in specific areas: balance, comfort,
and starting and driving a nail.
Our staffers preferred hammers with a
fiberglass or tubular-steel handle slightly
more than the others. But that doesn't
HAMMERS 287
mean fiberglass-handled or steel-handled
hammers will necessarily be better at start-
ing a nail or driving it home. The hammers
rated high in hammering performance
were judged the most comfortable to hold
and swing; in use, therefore, they would
appear to be the better hammers.
Jn a severe test of strength, each ham-
mer's handle was subjected to forces rang-
ing up to 200 pounds. The test didn't faze
the steel-handled hammers, and caused
only minor Hexing of the fiberglass-han-
dled models. But it broke some wood han-
dles, cracked some others, and started to
pull still others away from the head. Even
so, considering the abusiveness of the test,
we think that all the hammers are strong
for ordinary purposes.
Most of the hammers did well when we
tried to pull 2 1/2-inch headed nails. The
models we downrated either had claws that
let the nail shank slip through or a head
that lacked the desired continuously
curved shape and smoothness.
On some hammers, the ends of the claws
are fairly blunt; that can be a slight draw-
back, for it means you can't easily use the
claw to pry under a nail head. On the other
hand, the claws on the Sears Craftsman
hammers and the Estwing solid-steel-han-
dled model have fairly thin, sharp ends;
they're good for prying, but they're also
susceptible to being nicked and chipped,
we found. The Sears Craftsman hammers
have a nice added touch: One claw has a
notch that makes it easy to pull small
nails.
RECOMMENDATIONS. There's not a poor
hammer in the Ratings. All are well-made
and certainly durable enough to hold up
for years of normal use around the house.
A hammer with an oval wood handle
would probably be the best choice for
Tert continued page 290
 Ratings of hammers ~
Listed by handle type; within except as noted, all are between

~
6 0 ~.
types, listed in order of esti-
mated overall quality, based pri-
marily on handle strength and
test-panel preferences. All are
16-oz. curved-claw hammers;
12% and 13 1'2 in. long. Prices
are suggested retail, rounded to
nearest dollar; + indicates that
shipping is extra. Discounts may
be available.
-..
@
·- ~
~

Br•nd 8nd model

Fiberglass handle
/; ~~~~~
SEARS CRAFTSMAN C•t. No. 3820 $15+ a e 0 e A,B,L,N
STANLEY PROFESSIONAL F 11/1 17 0 a e e B,K
VAUGHAN FS 111 17 0 @ e e B,J,L
TRUE TEMPER FG011 16 e e €) 0 B,K,P
PLU-11-G 17 0 0 0 0 D,J,M

Tubular-steel handle ·
SEARS CRAFTSMAN C81. No. 311311 15+ 0 e 0 e A,B,L,N
VAUGHAN T011 17 e e 0 e B,J,L
STANLEY PROFESSIONAL ST 11h 17 e e 0 e B,K
TRUE TEMPER ROCKET A11 16 e e 0 0 B,P
PLUMB ULTRALITE 11-470 17 0 0 0 0 D,J,M
Solid-steel handle
SEARS CRAnSMAN Cat. No. 3825 15+ e e 0 e A.B,L,N
VAUGHAN R16 18 e e 0 e B,L
ESTWING E3-16C 18 e 0 0 0 E.J,L

Eight-sided wood handle

PLUMB AUTOGRAF 11-438 16 0 0 0 0 C,J.M
TRUE TEMPER 016 15 0 0 0 0 C.K.P
STANLEY PROFESSIONAL 101'1. 15 0 0 0 e C,G,M
SEARS CRAFTSMAN Cat. No. 38141 14+ 0 0 ~ e A,L,N,
VAUGHAN DO 16 16 ~ ~ ~ e C,F.J,L

Oval wood handle

TRUE TEMPER JIM DANDY 316 7 0 ~ 0 0 p
PLUMB SERVALL 11-464 8 ~ ~ 0 ~ H,J,M
VAUGHAN DD 16 8 ~ ~ ~ e G,J,Q
EASCO No. 01 106 11 ~ ~ ~ e M,O
STANLEY 211 1'2 7 ~ ~ ~ ~ l,K,M
SEARS CRAnSMAN Cat. No. 3818
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- End of 1 claw has notch for pulling
10+ ~ 0
F - Sides of handle are shaped with pro-
•nails.
e A,L

small nails in tight locations.
B-Cover on handle provided slightly
more comfort than others.
C - Shape of handle provided slightly
more control than others when ham-
mering.
nounced edges; in prolonged use,
could be uncomfortable for some
users.
G - Handle judged too fat to provide a
comfortable grip for users with small
hands.
J-Relatively large striking face.
K-Some samples tested had striking
face with rough finish, which may help
reduce chance of glancing blows. s=
~
L - Relatively sharp claw ends.
M - Relatively blunt or thick claw ends.

D - Molded edges where hand grasps
handle could be uncomfortable for
some users in prolonged use.
E- Small ridge where hand grasps han-
die; in prolonged use, could be un-
comfortable for some users.
H-Samples tested had striking face with
more "toe-in" than most; could cause
some users to scrape their knuckles
when driving nails.
I- Top of head has rough finish, which
could damage wood when pulling
~
N - Claws reinforced with ribs.
0 - Claw opening does not accept nails
larger than 40-penny (5 in. long) . Cf.l
P - Long claw opening narrows gradually;
useful for pulling small nails. Nl
00
Q- Handle longer than most. <.D
290 HAMMERS, SOCKET WRENCH SETS
someone who needs a hammer only now
and then. We don't think it makes much
sense to pay more than $10 for a hammer
that will spend most of its time in the tool
box. If, on the other hand, you spend a lot
of time building things or fixing up the
house, you'll probably be most satisfied
with a fiberglass or steel handle. Those
hammers, generally the strongest, were
most preferred by our staHers.

Socket wrench sets

Condensed from Consumer Reports. January 1981
Socket wrenches can handle nuts and bolts
button ratchet handles: the NAPA New
Britain NB46 ($22), the Sears Craftsman
in cramped, hard-to-reach, or hard-to-see
places-those you can't get at with ordi-
Cat. No. 43781 ($16 plus shipping), the
nary wrenches. You can buy socket Proto 5252A ($23), and the Snap-On Fl23
($24). All of the push-button ratchets
wrenches and accessories separately from
worked well and would be worth owning
open stock (parts are interchangeable be-
for their overall quality and convenience.
tween makes). Or you can buy a set with
anywhere from a few to hundreds of The Sears set comes with a push-button
ratchet handle.
pieces. We examined sets appropriate for
household use. If you're working on a nut .or bolt head
PARTS. The basic parts in a set are a ratchet-
in a cramped space, you might have clear-
ing handle, or wrench, and the inter-ance for only a thin-walled socket; the top
changeable sockets that snap on and off the
eight 3/e-inch drive sets have thinner socket
walls than most. You may also need a
wrench's drive lug. These parts come in
small-headed ratchet handle; among the
nominal sizes based on the width of the
tested models, the smallest ratchet heads
drive lug (•/.-inch, %-inch, '12-inch, etc.).
were on the top-rated Sears %-inch and the
For each drive-lug size, there's a range of
two Snap-On sets. If you have little room
sockets (small ones for the 1/.-inch drive,
to swing the handle, it helps if the click
larger ones for the %-inch) appropriate for
certain tasks. stops in the ratchet mechanism are close
CONVENIEN,CE, VERSATU.JTY. The typical 3/e-
together.
inch set CU tested has nine "regular" sock-
RECOMMENDATIONS. We rated the %-inch
ets and seven "deep" sockets for the most
wrench sets and the combination sets
common nut sizes between 3/s inch and 7/s
together, since each type has a %-inch-
inch. Deep sockets are handy with U-bolts
drive ratchet handle. Among the %-inch
sets, the top-rated Sears ($47 plus ship-
and such, where the nut screws so far down
ping) merits first choice. If you don't need
on the bolt that ordinary sockets can't
reach it. Most of the %-inch sets also have
such a high quality tool, consider a cheap-
a special socket for spark plugs. er combination wrench set; the Oxwall
1542 ($15) would be a reasonable choice.
The typical combination set has seven
Among the '!.-inch socket sets, the five top-
regular %-inch sockets and seven regular
1
/.-inch sockets. A 1/.-inch wrench set typi-
rated models are all good bets.
RATCHETING SCREWDRIVERS. These gadgets
cally has nine sockets for nuts in the '/"-to
1
/2-inch range. (CONSUMER REPORTS, February 1981) have a
billiard-ball-sized handle with a ratcheting
We also tested several optional push-

mechanism that makes screw-driving easi-
er. We tested the Easydriver (Creative
Tools Inc., 309 County St., Bennington,
Vt. 05201) and the ScrewBall (S!V Tool
Co., 1450 Spencer Rd., Newton, Kan.
67114). You can buy by the piece or
choose among kits with different selections
of screwdriver blades and sockets for driv-
ing nuts and bolts. The tools are sold at
SOCKET WRENCH SETS 291
hardware stores and home centers, or by
mail. Overall, we prefer the Easydriver. Its
ratchet moves smoothly, and it was more
comfortable to use. ScrewBall kits are
available with three different handles, one
bulbous and two-toned, the others solid-
colored and Battened on two sides. We
rated the bulbous handle Not Acceptable
because of a weak ratcheting mechanism.

Ratings of socket wrench sets

Listed by drive size (3/a-in., 11.-ln.); within size, listed in order of estimated
overall quality except as noted. Differences In quality between closely
ranked models were slight. Prices are approximate retail; discounts may
be available.

s/a·lnch,.drlve and combination-drive socket sets

SEARS CRAFTSMAN Cat. No. 33227, $47 plus shipping. 21 pieces.
S-K 4520, $50. 21 pieces.
MASTER MECHANIC T3821, $55. 21 pieces.
SNAP-ON 222FSP, $135. 23 pieces.
EASCO 91-218, $47. 20 pieces.
CHALLENGER 2125, $61 . 22 pieces.
WILLIAMS WSB4, $109. 19 pieces.
PROTO 5002B, $103. 22 pieces.
BLACKHAWK 2228, $47. 22 pieces.
NAPA NEW BRITAIN 8122, $47. 22 pieces.
OXWALL 1542 (combination), $15. 23 pieces.
The following models were judged substantially lower In overall quality than those preceding.
HOLLYWOOD ACCESSORIES T183, $24. 11 pieces.
HOLLYWOOD ACCESSORIES T170 (combination), $31. 21 pieces.
ALLENITE NB16S, $16. 16 pieces.
POWERMASTER 4852 (combination}, $12. 21 pieces.
ROYAL 275 (combination), $15. 40 pieces.

•J•. lnch·drlve socket sets. The following models were judged approximately equal
In overall quality. Listed alphabetlca//y.

CHALLENGER 2304, $34. 14 pieces.

EASCO 91107, $23. 14 pieces.
NAPA NEW BRITAIN 8017, $25. 16 pieces.
S-K 4913, $32. 14 pieces.
Ratings continued next page
292 SOCKET WRENCH SETS, STEPLADDERS
SNAP-ON 114TMPB, $61. 15 pieces.

The following models were judged slightly lower in overall qua/lty than those preceedlng.
SEARS CRAFTSMAN Cat. No. 44141, $24 plus shipping. 15 pieces.
PROTO 47008, $50. 13 pieces.
WILLIAMS WSM1B, $48. 12 pieces.
The following model was judged slightly lower In overall quality than those preceeding.
ALLENITE 123C, $11. 12 pieces.

Stepladders
Condensed from Consumer Reports, September 1981
Wood ladders have the edge over alumi-
num ladders. They're a lot more rigid.
They're stronger and more stable. They're
usually a bit cheaper. But wood ladders are
quite a bit heavier than aluminum ones,
and when you're handling something as
cumbersome as a stepladder, an extra six to
eight pounds can be quite a burden. Wood
ladders also require some care in storage,
since wood left exposed to the elements
can be damaged by insects or by rot.
When we bought our wood ladders,
many of the steps were a little loose.
Before we conducted our tests, we tight-
ened the stringer nuts or tightened the
wedges under the steps. We suggest that
you do the same if you buy a wood ladder.
Among the best wood ladders we tested
were the Rich 380 A;ax, $31, and the Sears
Cat. No. 40116, $29 plus shipping.
Aluminum ladders are a lot less rigid
than wood, but they require no special
care in storage, and they're a lot lighter.
Remember, though, aluminum ladders
conduct electricity. They should not be
used where they may contact electrical
power lines or circuits. Moreover, when
you're using a power tool on an aluminum
ladder, make sure that the tool is grounded
or that it's double-insulated.
Many of the aluminum ladders we tested
had sharp comers and edges that could
scratch, but that hazard is not serious on
most of them. Those protrusions can easily
be filed down in minutes.
If you choose an aluminum model, note
that the two top-rated aluminum ladders
are relatively inexpensive: the White Met-
al Heartsaver, for $49, and the Sears Cat.
No. 42386, for $44 plus shipping. The
third-rated model, the Howard 5506, is an
expensive $90.

How to use the Buying Guide

• Look In the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
 STEPLADDERS, STRING TRIMMERS 293

Ratings of stepladders
Listed by types; within types, listed in order of estimated overall quality
based primarily on tests of strength, rigidity, and stability. Differences
between closely ranked models were judged slight. Similar models are
listed in alphabetical order. All are 6 ft., with highest usable step at about 4
ft. Duty ratings (in parentheses) are as supplied by manufacturer. Prices
are rounded to nearest dollar; + Indicates shipping ls extra; Im indicates
model Is not listed in current catalog. Except for mall-order models, dis-
counts may be available.

Wood
Putnem Pine Step Durable, $48. 19 lb. (200 lb.). Putnem Peerless, $57. 19 lb. (225 lb.). Rich
380 Aju, $31. 19 lb. (200 lb.). Seen Cet. No. 40118, $29+ (slmllar to preceding). Rich 390
Derby, $35. 19 lb. (200 lb.). Howard 11038, $45. 16'1• lb. (225 lb.). Flint Elm City, $64. 20'!. lb.
(225 lb.). Rich 280 Acme, $40. 19 lb. (225 lb.). Seers Cet. No. 40198, $39+ (slmllar to preced-
ing). Gold Medel Tioga, $86. 19 lb. (225 lb.). H-•rd 11028, $44. 15 lb. (200 lb.). Im Wards Cat.
No. 8778, $22+ . 16 lb. (200 lb.). Flint Alesken Husky, $45. 16'!. lb. (200 lb.). Wards Cet. No.
8712, $38+ . 17% lb. (225 lb.).
Wood-Not Acceptable. The following model was fudged Not Acceptable because Insecure
step attachments could result In sudden fa/lure and lead to a fall.
Keller W-1, $32. 17 lb. (200 lb.).

Alumlnum
Im Seen Cet. No. 42388, $44+ . 10'!. lb. (225 lb.). White Metal Heer1Mver, $49 (slmllar to
preceding). Howard 5508, $90. 14 lb. (225 lb.). Scranton Ster, $40. 12 lb. (225 lb.). White Metal
Wonderllght, $47. 10 lb. (200 lb.). Im Seen Cet. No. 42058, $34+. 9 lb. (200 lb.). Howard 3508,
$66. 12% lb. (200 lb.). Im J.C. Penney Cet. No. 0038, $45+ (225 lb.; slmllar to preceding).
Werner Sef-T-Muter 388, $40. (225 lb.; slmllar to preceding). Daymond HH88/US88, $50. 11
lb. (225 lb.).
Aluminum-Conditlonelly Acceptable. The fol/owing model has a severe cut hazard. Condi-
tion for acceptability Is that you fife the corners at the spreader pivot.
Keller Oreenllne 708, $36. 11 V. lb. (225 lb.).

String trimmers
Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1982
The easiest way to manicure odd edges and of nylon string. A tew inches of the nylon
comers of the lawn that a mower can't stick out of the spool. When you trim, the
quite get at is with a string trimmer. A string whirls parallel to the ground, cutting
typical trimmer consists of a metal shaft grass and weeds but bouncing off hard, sta-
with a pistol grip at the top and, at the tionary objects (like walls and tree trunks)
bottom, an electric motor spinning a spool Tert continued page 296
 Ratings of string trimmers :f
Listed by types; within types, models were judged approxi- ping is extra. C"/.l
listed in order of estimated over- mately equal in quality and are
~
all quality. Except as noted,
closely ranked models differed
little in overall quality. Bracketed
listed alphabetically. Prices are
approximate retail, rounded to
nearest dollar; + indicates ship-
(£>
Better
e 0 ~
•
Wone
~
c;')

~
~
••
~,,/$ !\..
~
t>:i
Brand and model ;;~
_!v__ .,.,($~ __ ~'~ (.
~~~._.§'~~~ C:J.. __
. .b....
<:>'</' c,O
~~
.(/' ~
C"/.l

Two-handed models
[9 BLACK A DECKER 8255 $60 5 1'2 lb. 12 In. 0 e A.D a H
9 TORO 1100-51325 60 53/4 12 0 e D,F d
"THE GREEN MACHINE 1500 60 53/4 15 0 0 c d A,H
PARAMOUNT SK120 40 331. 12 e 0 D d B
SEARS Cat. No. 7982, A Bll•t Buy 29 + 33/ 4 12 e 0 d B
PARAMOUNT SK140 54 63/4 14 0 0 D d
• The following 5 models were judged substantially lower in overall quality than those preceding.
HOMELITE ST40 53 5 3/4 14 Q Q B,C
JOHN DEERE 70E 52 4 3/4 14 0 0
WEED EATER 807 55 5 1/4 14 0 0
LAWN BOY LB80E4 48 63/4 14 0 ~ D e C,H
KAS TRIM ALL TA1017 50 6 3/4 14 0 ~ D e,t C,H,I
• The following 3 models were judged substantially lower In overall quality than those preceding.
ECHO ETSOOO 60 7 1'2 16 ~ ~ d
l SEARS Cat. No. 7983 49+ 7 112 16 ~ d

----
WEED EATER 509 65 7 112 16 ~
One-handed models
SEARS Cat. No. 7981, A S.•t Buy 18+ 23/4 10 0 0 H d
TORO 910-51230 28 2 1/4 8 e e E d D
HOMELITE ST20 35 3 112 10 e 0 B,G,H - G,H
PARAMOUNT SK100 25 3 10 0 0 D,H d
• The following 4 models were judged substantially lower in overall quality than those preceding.
WEED EATER 307 25 2 1/4 8 0 ~ c F.G
BLACK & DECKER 8201
( LAWN BOY LB30E4
18
27
2
2%
8
7 •• ~
~
D
D
b
d,e
G,H

K&S TRIM ALL TA953

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

30 23/4

KEY TO ADVANTAGES
7
• ~ D

KEY TO COMMENTS
d,e E,J

A-Control on helper handle feeds A- Uses 2 strings to trim.

Except as noted, all: Use a single nylon
string; feed string when spinning spool is
tapped on the ground; have a spool that Is
removable without tools; have no protec-
tive guard; are double-insulated.
All two-handed models have reversible
helper handle and so can be used for edg-
ing.
Except as noted, all two-handed models:
Use nylon string about 0.065 in. in diame-
ter; take spools holding 50 ft. of string.
Except as noted, all one-handed models:
have trigger about 27 in. above ground:
were judged unsuitable for edging; use
nylon string about 0.50 in. in diameter:
take spools holding 20 to 25 ft. of string.
string. 8- Replacement spool has 16 ft. of
B -String feeds automatically. string.
l::/.l
C-Better balanced when edging. C- Replacement spool has 32 ft. of
D - Has protective guard. string. ~
~
E- Has partial protective guard. 0-Replacement spool has 12 ft. of
F - Has very comfortable helper handle. string.
G - Handle enables lawn edging. E- Replacement spool has 40 ft. of 0
~
H - Trigger is about 30 in. above ground. string.
F- Replacement package consists of 2
~
KEY TO DISADVANTAGES spools with 12 ft. of string each.
a -String turned much longer than that of G-Uses string of 0.060 to 0.065 in. dia.
~
others after power shut-off. H- Has provision to prevent cord from
b- Lacks spool ; precut string lengths disconnecting accidentally.
must be installed by hand.
c - String must be unwound by hand.
/-According to the company, current
designation is K&S Trim All TA1018. ~
d - Tools needed to replace spool. J-According to the company, current
e - Unit is not double-insulated; requires designation is K&S Trim All TA954. ~
grounding. 01
f- Helper handle has sharp edge.
296 STRING TRIMMERS
that would interfere with a mower's pro-
gress.
All the trimmers we rated are cord mod-
els that draw power from an extension
cord. Fourteen are two-handed models,
with a second "helper" handle that can be
adjusted to suit a particular gardening
activity. Eight are shorter, smaller, and less
powerful one-handed models, generally
recommended for light trimming. Prices
range from about $18 to $65.
(We also tested three cordless, battery-
operated trimmers, the Toro CL700-515.50
and the essentially similar pair K&S Trim
All TA14C and Lown Boy LB40C4, all
priced about $60 to $65. But they weren't
any match for the others, so we don't rec-
ommend them , and we haven't rated
them.)
PERFORMANCE. Among the two-handed
models, four did an outstanding job of
trimming; the thickest grass and weeds
slowed them hardly at all. The Black &
Decker 8255 and the Toro 1100-51325
earned a check-rating for their overall per-
formance. Two lightweight two-handed
models, the Paramount SK 120 and the
Sears 7982, were nearly as deft at trim-
ming, although they gave signs of slowing
slightly when confronted with very lush
growth.
The one-handed models, meant for light-
duty cutting, couldn't compete with the
two-handed trimmers, as a class. But the
hest of the one-handers, the Sears 7981, did
everything the slowest two-handers could
do, and did it better.
All the two-handed models, including
the slowest trimmers, edged effectively.
Among the small string trimmers, only the
Homelite ST20, with its crutch-like handle,
proved suitable for the task.
Good balance, light weight, and com-
fortable handles make a trimmer easy to
maneuver. The lightweight Sears 7982 and
the Paramount SK 120 were the easiest of
the two-handed models to steer through
grass and thick weeds. Most of the one-
handed models are on the short side, forc-
ing you to lean well forward, which can be
tiring. But there's little need to lean with
the Toro 910-51230, and almost no need
with the Homelite ST20. Those two have
handles that give good control without the
support of the user's free hand grasping
down on the shaft.
SAFETY. A trimmer's flexible string is un-
likely to throw large objects any distance,
but the string can toss smallish pebbles,
gravel, and debris. Many of these trimmers
have a guard around the rear of the motor
housing. Even so, it's prudent to wear gog-
gles, or safety glasses when using a trim-
mer, and to keep bystanders-especially
children-well away from the work area.
A cut from a string trimmer wouldn't be
nearly as bad as that inflicted by a steel-
bladed trimmer, but the whirling string
can draw blood if it hits bare skin. So keep
hands and feet clear of the nylon line, and
wear long pants and sturdy shoes when
trimming.
Proper grounding would be necessary
for the safe operation of four models; they
aren't double-insulated. No trimmer, dou-
ble-insulated or grounded, should be ex-
posed to water; the manufacturers quite
properly warn against trimming wet grass
or working in the rain.
RECOMMENDATIONS. A two-handed trimmer
is best for those who do extensive trim-
ming or who have to battle dense growths
of heavy weeds. The Black & Decker 8255
and the Toro 1100-51325, both $60 and
both check-rated, were fine performers.
The Sears 7982 trimmed almost as effec-
tively as higher-rated models, though not
without some vibration, and it was unusu-
ally easy to handle; at $29 plus shipping,
it's a Best Buy.
If your trimming operations are less
ambitious and confined to a small area, a
one-handed model may fill the bill. The
Sears 7981 can probably meet modest
trimming needs with ease; at $18 plus ship-
ping, it too is a Best Buy.
 PRUNING TOOLS 297

Pruning tools
Condensed from Consumer Reports. May 1981
The right tool can take much of the tedium hand pnmers have adjustable pivot points,
and fatigue out of pmning trees and which let you adjust for wear.
shmbs. Our Ratings are based primarily on All the hand pmners have a safety latch
the preferences of a panel of users. to keep the spring-loaded handles and jaws
SIZES, TYPES. Large, two-handed lopping closed when the tool isn't in use. Several
shears cut branches up to one inch thick. anvil models have two-position latches
Small, pliers-like hand pnmers snip lighter (partially open as well as closed). In the
wood. Each size is available with two dif- partially open position, the handles and
ferent types of cutter. The blade of an anvil jaws spread less than they normally would,
cutter is poised squarely over the anvil, possibly helping reduce fatigue when
like a knife over a cutting board. The blade you're cutting many small branches.
of a hook-and-blade cutter is offset to Few of the blades emerged from our
graze past the hook, in scissors fashion. As tests unscathed, though in most cases. the
a class, hook-and-blade cutters can cut nicks and other damages didn't impair cut-
closer and cleaner than anvil models. But ting performance appreciably.
unless you're a stickler for flush cuts, we RECOMMENDATIONS. Note the Best Buy
think you should choose an anvil cutter: models among the hand pmners. Before
According to our panel tests, they're you buy a tool, check it over in the store.
smoother and easier to cut with than hook- Examine anvil models from the top; the
and-blade models. blade should be aligned with the center of
FEATURES. Most of the high-rated tools the anvil. Next, look from the side; the
have a nonstick-coated blade, which re- edge of the blade and the surface of the
duced the effort needed to make a cut. . anvil should mate fully, with no gaps
Compound-lever mechanisms on some showing. A hook-and-blade cutter should
models also allowed for less cutting effort, slice through paper easily. The blade
though not all such mechanisms proved an should be smoothly curved; the hook
advantage. All the loppers and most of the should be ground flat on one side.

Ratings of pruning tools

Hand pruners. Listed by design types, anvil and hook-and-blade;
within types, listed in order of overall preference of CU's use panel. Except
as noted, closely ranked models differed little in panel preference. Hand
pruners are suitable for trimming small bushes and shrubs; they are not
suitable for cutting branches larger than about % in. in diameter. All
high-rated models have nonstick coating on cutting blade, adjustable
blade pivot, safety latch, and cushioned grips. Weights are to nearest oz.
Prices are rounded (above $10) to nearest dollar. Discounts may be avail-
able.

Anvll models. The following models are recommended for general-purpose use. As a
group, they were much preferred by CU's panel over hook-and-blade models. But they could
Ratings continued next page
298 PRUNING TOOLS
not cut closer than about !4 in. to a main branch or make cuts as bruise-free as hook-and-blade
models.

WILKINSON W76, $14. 10 oz. Current designation of this model is W076.

OUIK-KUT K15T, $7.49. 10 oz. A Best Buy.
WALLACE P15T, $7.49. 10 oz. Essentially similar to Quik-Kut K15T, preceding. A Best Buy.
Panel preference for the fol/owing models was substantially lower than for those preceding.
Ames 23039. Snap-Cut 19Y. Florian Ratchet-Cut 701. Wallace P21H. Quik-Kut K7T Prunette.
Wallace P7T Prunette. Snap-Cut 119T. Ward• 1021. Wilkinson W75. True Temper P10. Wal-
lace PCH. Wi11 908. Ames 23038. Village Blacksmith G5016-11. True Temper Rocket A35.

Hook·and·blade models. The following models are recommended for use where
cutting flush to main branches and leaving bruise-free stems are more important than smooth
cutting. CU's panel preferred the highest-rated of these only slightly over the lowest-rated anvll
models.

BROOKSTONE 2889, $23 plus shipping . 15 oz. Has compound lever action. Judged more likely
than other hook-and-blade models to leave a stump.
SEARS Cat. No. 86458, $10 plus shipping. 10 oz. A Beet Buy.
Panel preference for the following models was substantially lower than for those preceding.
Wilkin1on 159. Wallace Pro Pruner. Wilkin1on 160. Ames 23800. Wilkin1on W186. Snap-Cut
128. Wi11 68. Wi11 607.
,
Not Acceptable. The blades of all samples of the following model failed during testing,
rendering the tools unusable.

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH G5001-12, $10. 12 oz.

Lopping shears. Listed by design types, anvil and hook-and-blade;

within types, listed in order of overall preference of CU's use panel. Except
as noted, closely ranked models differed little in panel preference. Lop-
ping shears are suitable for trimming and pruning chores too heavy for
hand pruners; they are not suitable for cutting branches larger than about
1 in. in diameter. All have an adjustable pivot bolt. Unless otherwise indi-
cated, all high-rated models have nonstick coating on cutting blade and
have cushioned grips. Lengths are overall, to the nearest '!. in.; weights
are to the nearest 1/4 lb. Prices are rounded (above $10) to the nearest
dollar. Discounts may be available.

Anvll models. The following models are recommended for general-purpose use. As a
group, they were preferred by CU's panel over hook-and-blade models. But they could not
come closer than about !4 In. to a main branch or make cuts as bruise-free as hook-and-blade
models.

SNAP-CUT 25T, $23. 26'/• in. 2'! . lb. Tubular metal handles. Has compound-gear action.
Reversible anvil.
 PRUNING TOOLS, HEDGE TRIMMERS 299
QUIK-KUT KLAT, $24. 27 In. 3 lb. Wood handles. Has compound-lever action. Deeply molded
1
/,

finger grips dictate way tool Is to be held comfortably, judged a minor nuisance. Adjustable
anvil.
WALLACE 2LAT, $24. 27 In. 3 1/ . lb. Essentially similar to Qulk-Kut KLAT, preceding.
FLORIAN MINI RATCHET-CUT 101, $30. Also available as Brookstone 7489, $30 plus shipping,
and as U.S. General Supply 717-RL 101, $30 plus shipping. 19 In. 2 lb. Metal handles. Ratchet
mechanism permits cutting of heavier wood with less effort, but requires several squeezes, even
on light wood.
QUIK-KUT KXLT24, $12. 24 In. 2 lb. Tubular metal handles. Adjustable anvil.
WALLACE XLT24, $12. 24 In. 2 lb. Essentially similar to Quik-Kut KXLT24, preceding.
SNAP-CUT 1149T, $17. 25'!. In. 2'1• lb. Tubular metal handles.
TRUE TEMPER 106, $20. 27 112 In. 2 1/2 lb. Wood handles. Adjustable anvil. No nonstick coating
on cutting blade. No cushioned grips. Metal extension of anvil bent during testing, weakening
tool.

Hook-and-blade models. The following models are recommended for use where
cutting flush to the main branch and leaving a bruise-free stem are more Important than smooth
cutting. CU's panel preferred the highest-rated of these sl/ghtly over the mid-rated anvil mod-
els.

QUIK-KUT KLP25, $13. 25'12 In. 2'1• lb. Tubular metal handles. Has rubber bumpers to absorb
shock, judged a very minor advantage.
SEARS 86123, approx. $16. 26'12 In. 23/. lb. Wooden handles. Has rubber bumpers to absorb .
shock, judged a very minor advantage. No cushioned grips.
Panel preference for the following models was substantially lower than for those preceding.
Ames 23021. Wallace LP28. True Temper A105. Wallace LP25. Snap-Cut 1145T. Ames 23024.
Village Blacksmith G5211-11. Ames 23026. Wards 1026.

Electric hedge trimmers

Condensed from Consumer Reports, September 1981
shipping to $72. The top two Sears models
The cutting assembly of a typical hedge
trimmer consists of two overlapping earned check ratings.
SAFETY. All the rated trimmers have two
blades. The guide blade usually remains
handles. The rear handle, which extends
fixed; the cutting blade moves back and
forth along it. On some models, both back from the motor housing, is held for
blades move in reciprocating fashion. balance and to operate the on-off switch.
The forward handle usually wraps halfway
The cutting length of the blades deter-
around the motor housing; it can be held
mines the sweep of foliage that can be met
with one pass (the width of a hedge, say).
on either side or on top to support and
guide the trimmer.
Within a brand line, the longer the cutting
length, the more expensive. The tested Most brands have a "deadman" switch-
trimmers range in cutting length from 10 1/,
a spring-loaded on-off slide or trigger
to 21 v, inches and in price from $27 plus
mechanism that shuts off power when fin-
 300 ELECTRIC HEDGE TRIMMERS
ger pressure is released. But the Black &
Decker models can override the trigger and
lock on the power; that potentially danger-
ous feature allows the blades to continue
mnning even if you lose your grip on the
handle.
Most models are double-insulated,
which eliminates the need for grounding.
PERFORMANCE AND CONVENIENCE. We
tested each trimmer on three common
types of shmbbery: evergreen bushes, for-
sythia bushes, and privet hedges. We
judged performance in terms of being able
to cut quickly (without hesitation or stall-
ing) and cleanly leaving few frayed stalks
or dangling ends. We also evaluated han-
dling characteristics. The three Sears units
were the quickest and cleanest cutters.
Three of the Black & Decker units were
almost as speedy, but they left frayed
stalks and dangling ends. The other trim-
mers were relatively slow and untidy.
The lighter models seemed easier to
maneuver, but they weren't necessarily
less tiring to use. The two check-rated
Sears, although a couple of pounds heavier
than most of the others, took less effort to
move through shrub growth, nevertheless.
They also required fewer passes and less
time to do the job.
The power switch of the Black & Decker
models is under the long rear handle. Press-
ing it with the forefinger puts the wrist at
an awkward angle when trimming horizon-
tally at shoulder height or above.
Comfortable handles were perhaps more
important than weight in preventing fa-
tigue. Only the top two Sears hedge trim-
mers have handles that were judged easy to
grip and guide in all the trimming atti-
tudes. The Ratings note models that may
prove to be tiring in extended use.

Ratings of electric hedge trimmers

•
Listed, except as noted, in order of
estimated overall quality. Models
judged equal in quality are brack- • e
Better...,_ _ __
0
_ _ _ _ Wone
eted and are listed alphabetically.
Pr.ices are approximate; + indi-
cates shipping is extra.

Brend end model

ci~
~~
(9 SEARS Cat. No. 8157 $44 + 173/• in. 7 lb. e 0 0 A,C
9 SEARS Cat. No. 8159 59+ 1
21 '2 7 e 0 0 A,C
(BLACK a DECKER 8118 36 12 1/2 4 1/• 0 ~ 0 D,G
BLACK a DECKER 8134 50 173/• 5 '21
0 ~ 0 B,D,G

r
SEARS Cat. No. 8156
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BLACK & DECKER 8115 29
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
All have: A double-edged cutter assembly col-
ored bright orange; a safety shield between
the front handle and blades.
Except as noted, all have: A fixed guide blade;
a wraparound front handle; a deadman
switch; double insulation.
KEY TO COMMENTS
A- Relatively heavy weight may tire some
users (but see story) .
B -Vibrated much less than most; guide
blade, as well as cutting blade, recipro-
cates.
C-Quleter than most.
-- ---- •
12 1/ 2 4 D,F,G
D- Lacks deadman switch; power trigger can
be locked on, a potential safety hazard.
E-Tended to stall more than most.
F- Front handle Is not a wraparound type; it
was too cramped for secure grip in many
attitudes, restricted maneuverability, and
may prove tiring In extended use.
G - Front or rear handle inhibited cutting
above shoulder height.
H - Rear handle judged too short and front
handle too cramped for secure grip; they
restricted maneuverability and may prove
tiring during extended use.

Tools to apply paint

Condensed from Consumer Reports. February 1982
Much of the paint sold today may need at use the right tools. The right brush or roll-
least two coats to cover the old paint. That er won't make painting fun. But it can
not only increases your outlay for materi- make a messy job bearable, and it can help
als; it adds to the time you need to get the give professional-looking results.
paint on the walls. All the more reason tc

Paint brushes
A bmsh is by far the most versatile paint
tool. It can handle almost any household
paint job satisfactorily. But a bmsh is rath-
er slow when you're painting a large, ff.at
area. (Painting a wall, for example, took us
three times as long with a four-inch brush
as with a seven-inch roller.)
For oil-base paints, we recommend a
brush with natural bristles. They give a
smoother surface, with a minimum of
302 TOOLS TO APPLY PAINT
brush marks. For latex (water-base) paints,
though, we favor a brush with synthetic
bristles. They won't absorb the water in
the paint and sweJI up, as natural bristles
will. A waterlogged brush is uncomforta-
bly heavy, and its bristles lose resiliency.
A good rule of sizing is to use the largest
hmsh-within limits-that suits the job. A
professional painter may prefer a five-inch
brush for painting a waJI, but an amateur
might feel more comfortable with a four-
inch (or smaJler) one, despite the slower
going. SmaJI brushes, suitable for trim and
such, ' are available with bristles cut
straight across, in an oval shape, or on an
angle.
JUDGING QUALITY. Bend the bristles back
with your hand. Good bristles should feel
soft and springy, with good bounce or snap
(although you may want added stiffness for
rougher surfaces, like stucco or cinder
blocks). Grasp a handful of bristles and tug
fairly hard. If you uproot more than one or
two bristles, pass up the bmsh.
The more bristles in a bmsh, the more
paint it can deliver with each dip. The bris-
tles in a good four-inch bmsh should be at
least 'ls-inch thick near the handle. But
make sure that they 're fairly closely
packed. If the Blier strips in the center of
the bristles are too wide, it's a sign that the
manufacturer has skimped on bristles.
On the best brushes, the tips of the bris-
tles are "branched" or "flagged"-very
much like the split ends on the magnified
hairs in shampoo commercials. Look
closely and you can see the flagging with
the naked eye. The more flagging on the
bristles, the more paint the brush can
deliver smoothly and easily.
Paint rollers
Rollers were made for painting walls and
ceilings, where they're fast and easy to use.
And where a bmsh or a pad may leave
marks, a roJler tends to leave a uniform
stippled texture that can be quite pleasing.
Hog bristles, especiaJly those marked
"China," are best among natural-bristle
brushes. NaturaJly flagged, the bristles
tend to continue flagging as their ends
weaPdown with use. High-quality synthet-
ic bristles are split or flagged during manu-
facture, but the flagging wears off as the
bmsh is used.
Check the taper of the individual bris-
tles. Hog bristles taper down from handle
to tip, as do the best synthetic bristles.
Horsehair bristles have little or no taper.
Untapered bristles give a coarse finish,
with lots of bmsh marks.
The length of the bristles is another
point to check. Long bristles hold more
paint than short ones. They're also more
resilient and leave fewer brush marks. The
bristles in a good four-inch brush should
measure at least 3 1/2 inches from handle to
tip. A good two-inch brush should have
bristles at least 2 '/, inches long.
Most good brushes have a mixture of
long and short bristles for proper delivery
of paint to the bristle tips. A bmsh that
tapers gradually from handle to tip has a
good mixture of lengths. A sharp taper
indicates too many short bristles.
For a four-inch bmsh, figure on spend-
ing $11 (for synthetic bristles) to $13 or
more (for hog bristles). The cost of a good
two-inch brush can range from $5 to $8.
A good brush can last a lifetime-provid-
ed you clean it properly after every use. If
you don't have the patience to take care of
a bmsh, you're better off buying a cheap
one and throwing it away after the job is
finished. (Consider a lower-quality bmsh,
too, if you're painting rough surfaces that
can wear away bristles quickly.) .
A roller is especially handy for applying
latex paints, which don't flow out as well
as oil-base paints.
But rollers can't find their way easily
into corners and around trim. And they're

notorious spatterers. (The Padco Spatter-
Shield Roller, $5.29, is one tool that's
designed to solve that problem. Its shield
reduced spattering somewhat in our tests,
hut still not enough to eliminate the need
for drop cloths.)
Rollers commonly come in seven- and
nine-inch lengths, although smaller sizes
are available for special jobs. A roller set
consists of three basic items: a cylindrical
roller cover to apply the paint, a frame to
hold the cover, and a pan to hold the
paint.
A good roller frame, which may cost $3
to $4, is made of heavy, stiff wire, with a
flexible wire frame extending across the
top to grip the cover. Cheaper, less satis-
factory frames secure the cover only with
two cap ends.
Roller covers use either natural fibers
(mohair or lamb's wool) or S)'nthetics (ny-
lon or polyester). In our experience, mo-
hair doesn't work as well as the synthet-
ics.
The length of the fiber, or nap, ranges
from about '/" inch to 1 \I, inches. Short nap
is best for smooth, flat surfaces; a medium
nap, about 3/s inch, for light stucco and
Painting pads
A pad, or flat applicator, is a sort of com-
promise between a brush and a roller. (For
painting large, flat surfaces, a seven-inch
pad proved to be about twice as fast as a
four-inch brush, but slower than a seven-
inch roller.) Unlike a roller, a pad can work
in corners and handle the bottom edges of
clapboard siding. With the help of edge
guides, it can form a straighter, cleaner
edge than a brush can.
But pads require considerable kill in
applying paint evenly without leaving no-
ticeable edge marks and fiber marks in the
finish. They don't do the job on even slight-
ly contoured surfaces. And they tend to
drip more than brushes and rollers do,
especially when painting ceilings. Paints
TOOLS TO APPLY PAINT 303
smooth concrete; and a long nap 3/, to 1
inch, for cinder blocks. The longest nap is
for special jobs, such as painting chain-link
fencing. (A new type of roller-the Texture
Roller Cover from Elder and Jenks, Inc.-is
good for applying textured paint in one
coat.)
JUDCINC QUALITY. A sturdy roller cover has
a core that won't bend when you squeeze
the end. Avoid roller covers with a core of
untreated cardboard. They'll soften and
collapse in water.
The cover should be perfectly cylindri-
cal, without conspicuous seams. Fabric
and core should be firmly attached at the
ends. A cover whose fabric is well-glued to
the core (look for a glue line at the ends) is
less likely to come apart
Check the density of the fibers. Dense
fibers-the roller equivalent of long, thick
bristles-tend to carry more paint and give
a smoother finish.
A top-quality nine-inch synthetic cover
with short or medium nap should cost only
about $3. And, providing it's properly
cleaned, a roller cover is reusable. That's
all the more reason to avoid low-quality
"hargain" covers.
that were easy to apply with a brush or
roller were too thick for a pad, we found.
Diluting with paint thinner or water made
the pad easier to use, but it also made more
drips.
Pad manufacturers, apparently aware of
that shortcoming, offer special paint trays
designed to limit the amount of paint that
gets on the pad. On some, you remove
excess paint by scraping the pad along one
edge of the tray-a design that hardly
worked at all, we found. Some trays have a
built-in roller that rests in the paint and on
which you roll the pad-a design that
worked for some of our testers. Except for
the roller-equipped pad tray in the Red
Devil Pad Painter Kit and the Shure Line 3
304 TOOLS TO APPLY PAINT
Woy Paint Tray, all the trays we bought
were quite unstable either hanging from a
ladder or sitting on a flat surface.
Pads come in many shapes and sizes.
The largest we've seen measure 10 inches
across; the smallest, l '12 inches. Most of the
pads we tested were seven-inchers that
were very much alike in appearance and
performance.
Perhaps the most important feature to
Paint sprayers
In the hands of an expert, a spray gun can
produce the smoothest paint job of all, and
in a fraction of the time required with a
bmsh, roller, or pad. But in the hands of an
amateur, a spray gun is, at best, a mixed
blessing.
The proper equipment is very expen-
sive. Figure on spending at least $150 for a
sprayer-and even that doesn't buy profes-
sional-quality equipment.
Spraying works well on intricate objects
(wicker fumih1re, for example) or for large
flat areas (house siding or interior walls).
But mastering the proper technique is dif-
ficult. It takes lots of practice to avoid
depositing too much paint, which results in
unsightly sags and mns, or spraying on too
little paint, which creates in a streaked,
tiger-stripe effect.
You can't control a spray gun nearly as
precisely as you can the stroke of a bmsh,
roller, or pad. So, before spraying, you
have to carefully mask off all areas that
you don't intend to paint. For a small job,
you might spend more time masking than
spraying. And cleaning spray equipment is
messy.
Most paint is blended for use with a
bmsh or roller and is too thick for spray-
ing. You'll have to dilute it'with thinner or
water, depending on the paint. Trouble is,
the diluting instmctions that come with
most of the guns we've tested aren't very
specific. Some guns provide "viscosity
check is the ease of replacing the pad on its
handle. (Some pads were quite difficult to
remove.) That's especially important be-
cause pads aren't particularly long-wear-
ing. You'll probably have to replace them
at least once during the course of a major
paint project.
The larger pads range in price from
about $3 to $7. Replacement pads nm $1
or $2 less than the complete tool.
gauges" to help you determine how much
thinning is needed. But such gauges, we've
found, aren't always reliable. Chances are
that you'll have to depend largely on trial-
and-error methods and, ultimately, your
own experience.
The atomized particles of paint a
sprayer produces are unhealthy to inhale;
when concentrated in an enclosed area,
they can be explosive. So, if possible, spray
outdoors. If you must spray indoors, keep
the windows open. Don't smoke on the job.
Make sure there are no electric heaters,
pilot lights, or other open flames nearby.
And wear a face mask.
If those cautions sound severe, hear in
mind that they apply to the safest paint
sprayers: the air-atomized type, which
atomize paint with compressed air much
as a cologne atomizer uses air from a
squeeze-bulb to atomize cologne.
When we last reported on spray guns, in
1978, we included in our tests some airless
models. They atomize the paint by forcing
it through a small opening under very high
pressure-from 2000 to 3000 pounds per
square inch. We rated most of those mod-
els Not Acceptable because accidental
triggering could actually inject paint into
the flesh, with horrifying consequences.
Tissue damage from such an injury might
even lead to amputation. We strongly rec-
ommend that you avoid airless paint
sprayers.
 TOOLS TO REMOVE PAINT 305

Tools to remove paint

Condensed from Consumer Reports. June 1979
Paint removal is messy, tedious work, but Chemical paint removers are poisonous
you don't have to do it every time you and/or highly flammable. They are among
repaint. Of course, you should get rid of the most dangerous products used in the
bits of loosened paint before repainting home. Blow-torches and other devices that
any surface. When you must deal with soften old paint by heating it pose an obvi-
paint in really poor condition, however, ous fire hazard. There are scrapers and san-
you should probably go beyond just strip- ders, to be used by hand or as accessories
ping away the flaking and peeling paint. for an electric drill. Finishing sanders can
Otherwise, the surface may continue to also be used to remove paint. There's a
deteriorate. And you'll usually end up with wide variety of paint-removing tools avail-
far better-looking results if you strip off all able from hardware stores, home centers,
the old paint. and by mail order.

Hand tools-for small jobs

We tested 40 hand tools of various types.
Each type has specialized uses. Since none
are really expensive, we suggest you keep
more than one type in your tool kit: one or
two scrapers, along with a rasp or a sand-
paper substitute. Within types, differences
from one brand to the next were usually
minimal, so you can choose by price and
availability. We've included company
names and addresses for products sold pri-
marily by mail.
HOOK SCRAPERS are best suited for remov-
ing loose paint from flat surfaces. A hook
scraper looks a bit like an extra-large razor
with a stiff, fairly dull blade. It is pulled
along the work surface so the edge of the
blade scrapes away the paint. We paid
between $1.50 and $13 for the ones we
tested. The blade on a hook scraper usually
has more than one usable edge. By loos-
ening a screw, you can bring another edge
into the working position. The more usable
edges a scraper has, the longer you can
work without having to sharpen it.
All the hook scrapers worked about
equally well, hut the Red Devil Carbide
Scraper 300.5, $13, stood out. It has a tung-
sten carbide blade that is much harder than
a conventional metal blade and will hold
its edge much longer. But if the blade gets
dull, you'll have to replace it or have it
honed by a professional. The blades on the
other models can be resharpened simply
by filing them lightly, a job you may do
quite often.
PUSH SCRAPERS. Most of the 15 push scrap-
ers we tested resemble a putty knife,
though they vary in details. Some have a
long handle; others a short one. Some have
a blunt edge; others are sharpened. And
you have a choice of stiff or flexible blades
in several widths. You should try to match
the shape and size of the scraper to the job
at hand: A narrow-bladed scraper, for
example, will be best for working in and
around window frames. The prices we paid
ranged from 98¢ to $4.69.
Push scrapers are useful on flat surfaces
and for digging paint out of corners, but
they are not meant to be used on curves. In
general, they were less effective than the
hook scrapers on all but the loosest paint.
It's more difficult to push a scraper than to
pull it.
306 TOOLS TO REMOVE PAINT
The Stanley 28-593, 98¢, uses a replace-
able utility-knife blade and is primarily
designed to scrape paint off window panes.
We found it did a very effective job. The
Hyde 5 in 1 Painting Tool, $3.99, is a con-
ventional scraper with an unconventional
blade. The edge can be used to scrape
paint or to spread plaster or spac.kling
compound; a semicircular cut-out can be
used to help clean paint rollers; and a point
at one edge of the blade can be used to
clean out cracks or chip putty away from
window frames. The Hyde .5 in 1 isn't bet-
ter at scraping paint than the other tested
models, but it is a more versatile tool.
RASPS AND ABRASIVE BLOCKS. All five devices
we tested can scrape and sand. Each has a
different abrasive face, and most are avail-
able in a variety of sizes and abrasive
grades. However, their shape limits their
use primarily to flat surfaces.
The X-Acto Stripper, $1.29, and Arco
Plane Rasp, $2.09, are suited only for
small jobs, such as getting paint out of a
window channel. Both have a rigid metal
cutting surface resembling that of a food
grater. The Sally Family Sand-All (Cat.
No. 157-SA JW, U. S. General Supply
Corp., 100 General Place, Jericho, N. Y.
11753; $1.90 plus shipping) holds a sheet
of metal with tungsten-carbide grit brazed
to it. Tt's the only tested model with a
removable sheet of abrasive.
The Disston Abrader Model 400, $6.99
to $7.99, is advertised as a replacement for
sandpaper, files, and rasps. The cutting sur-
face is a sheet of stainless steel dotted with
tiny "pillars" that do the cutting. The han-
dle is a comfortable, free-form shape that
most closely resembles the handle on a
woodworker's plane. The Disston Abrad-
er's coarse grade was about as effective as
coarse sandpaper for removing paint, and
it had less tendency to clog. Tts fine grade
wasn't very effective for paint removal
because paint tended to build up on its
cutting surface, but it was useful for fine
sanding.
The Elgin Diamond Hand Sander (Cat.
No. 237-DSW, U.S. General Supply Corp.;
$12.80 plus shipping) has the most unusual
abrasive surface: a sheet of rigid material
covered with a pattern of hexagons that,
according to the company, contains "dia-
mond grit. " We tested a medium-grit mod-
el, which worked about as well as very fine
sandpaper and left a fairly smooth finish.
SANDPAPER SUBSTITUTES. The three we
tested are fairly flexible, so they can get
into places the rasps and abrasive blocks
can't. Evade Sanding Squares (3 for $1.62)
and Silicon Carbon Sanding Screens (Cat.
No. N-4108, Brookstone Co., 127 Vose
Rd., Peterborough, N.H. 03458; $4.95 plus
shipping) both resemble ordinary sandpap-
er. The Sanding Squares are rectangles of
tough cloth coated on both sides with abra-
sive. The Sanding Screens are sheets of
abrasive-coated nylon mesh. Both are
available in a variety of grits, and both
proved to be durable and fast-cutting.
Dragon Skin, 90¢, is a thin sheet of metal
punched with ragged holes. Tt's available
in only one grade of coarseness. Tt removed
paint quickly, but left the surface rather
rough. You'd have to do some light sanding
to eliminate the Dragon Skin 's tracks.
All three substitutes can be wrapped
around a dowel to sand a concave surface
or can be used with a sanding block. The
Dragon Skin was too stiff to reach into
tight corners or to wrap around complex
shapes. The Sanding Squares were some-
what more flexible, the Sanding Screens
the most limber.
SPONGES AND GLASS BLOCKS. To sand mold-
ing and other complex shapes, woodwork-
ers often wrap sandpaper around a sponge.
The three sanding sponges we tested come
essentially prewrapped with an abrasive
coating covering four sides. They are
springy and flexible, and can be rinsed out
to unclog the abrasive. The best was Quik-
sand, $1.40. The other two brands-Coast-
al Sanding Sponge, $1.20, and Red Devil
Flexible Sanding Block, $1- began to lose

their abrasive after a few minutes of use.
The three foamed-glass blocks we tested
turned out to be the least desirable of our
hand-powered devices. The Space-Age
Stripper, 6 for $7.95, Miracle Eraser, 6 for
$7.99, and Carter's Sand-No-Mor, 69¢ to
Heaters, rotary strippers, and drlll attachments
We tested devices that use heat to soften
paint to the point where it can easily be
scraped away. Most consist of an electric
heating element, plus a metal shield and a
handle. One is a quartz-halogen lamp, very
much like a home-movie light. Another is a
propane-fueled heater. All were judged
Not Acceptable because we found it was
all too easy to set fi re to paint with any of
these heaters. Following are the brands
and models we tested: Hyde-Lectric Paint
Remover HE-100, Hyde-Lectric Paint Re-
mover and Putty Softener HE-200, Magna
2.52 Super Tool (eurchased as U.S. General
Cat. No . .511-2.52), Red Devil Electric Paint
Remover 3401, Smith-Victor Torch/amp
TL2 (purchased as Brookstone Cat. No.
M1991 and as J.C. Whitney Cat. No. 1.5-
.5717), and Warner Electric Paint Burner
384. (Also rated Not Acceptable were the
Sears Cat. No. 44795, the Sears Electric
Paint Remover Cat. No. 44792, and the
W ards Electric Paint Remover Cat. No. 7.5-
.537600, all apparently discontinued.)
The "rotary strippers" we tested were
also judged Not Acceptable. These are
electric drill attachments and consist of
stiff wires bristling from a hub. As the unit
How to use the Buying Guide
• Look in the Index for specific reports.
• Look in the Contents for general subject areas.
• Look on pages 5 to 7 for explanations of check-ratings and Best
Buys, and of why some products are included and others not.
TOOLS TO REMOVE PAIN T 307
99¢, when new, resemble chunks of hard-
ened foamed plastic. They wear away
quite rapidly as they're used, leaving a res-
idue of glass dust in the work area. And all
of them gave off the stench of rotten eggs
as we worked.
whirls, the wires or fingers strike a working
surface and abrade it. In use, some of the
wires can break off and fly away at high
speed, which could injure the user or some-
one standing nearby. Following are the
brands and models we tested: Ali Roto
Wire Stripper, Coastal Paint Stripper, CVI
Coarse Rotary Stripper (purchased as / . C.
Whitney Cat. No. 1.5-.5261), CVI Fine
Rotary Stripper (purchased as ]. C. Whit-
ney Cat. No. 1.5~5262), Lornart Coarse
Rotary Stripper 19-24 (also available as
U. S. General Cat. No. 196-1970), Lomart
Fine Rotary Stripper 19-142 (also available
as U. S. General Cat. No. 196-1940), Ny la
Rotary Stripper 3-30 (purchased as U.S.
General Cat. No. 196-1093), Revere Rota
Tani 3-42, Super Stripper, Thompson Raio
Stripper, and Thompson 3-Way Inter-
changeable Rota Stripper.
Most other drill attachments we tested
are simply variations on the standard sand-
ing disc, the difference being the kind of
abrasive supplied. These were judged suit-
able only fo r small- to medium-sized jobs.
To a great extent, selection of one of these
is based on price and conformity of tool
design to the surface you wish to strip.
308 LATEX WALL PAINTS

Latex wall paints

Condensed from Consumer Reports, February 1982
Top-of-the-line paints list from $11 up to
from color to color within a brand, so we
list the results by brand name in the Table
$20, a lot to pay for wall paint, but they
are probably what you need for rooms you
of Performance Judgments separate from
use the most. Most cheaper paints that we
the Ratings.
Soaked-in stains that won't succumb to a
have tested in the past lacked good hiding
power, durability and resistance to fading.
liquid cleaner have to be scmbbed off. But
scmbbing with scouring powder can re-
The best bet is to buy top-grade paint
when it is on sale. move some of the paint, and the paint can
change color- sometimes dramatically.
Even these paints were generally disap-
In every color, there were several paints
pointing. Most will require the use of two
that resisted both of those effects very
coats, and many were easily spoiled by any
effort to remove stains. well, but most did not. Paints rated high in
HIDING POWER. We found, as we have inresistance to scrubbing had to resist abra-
sion and discoloration; those with low
the past, that a brand's hiding power varies
scores suffered from either defect. Because
from color to color. The variations were so
great that we couldn't give one hiding-
the results differed from color to color, we
power score to a brand of paint. Rather, we
give the resistance-to-scmbbing scores in
the Ratings of the individual colors.
give a separate Rating for each of the
brand's colors we tested. As a result, the
FADING. Faded paint may often be the rea-
color you want will usually determine
son you decide to repaint a room; if so, it
which brands will serve you best. makes sense to pick a paint that has good
fade resistance so you won't have to
The Ratings column for "hiding power"
repaint again so soon. It's possible to find ~
assigns each paint a number indicating
paint with good fade resistance in every
how dark a surface the paint will be able to
color, but the selection is limited in pink,
hide. We give numbers for one coat and
for two. Higher numbers mean more hid-
gold, and especially yellow. You could get
ing power-a score of 6 means that paint
stuck with a paint that starts to lose its
will hide a black undercoat, a zero means
freshness in months instead of years. Be-
that it wo.n't even cover white. cause fade resistance varied so much from
STAINS. You should expect a top-of-the-line
color to color, out test results are given in
paint to be durable and easy to clean.
the Ratings for each color.
Unfortunately, our ·.'arious tests found big
WATER RESISTANCE. Most latex paints will
differences in those qualities. soften and perhaps discolor under standing
water. If left untouched, they will dry out
One of our tests shows how strongly a
greasy stain will adhere to the paint sur-
in a few hours and usually recover com-
pletely. While wet, however, the paints
face. With the best performers, the grease
differed considerably, as the table on the
wiped right off the next day with a few
right shows. The best paints could be
swipes of a sponge that was wet with a
dented while wet with a fingernail or a
liquid household cleaner. Others required
flowerpot sitting on a shelf, but they could
more wiping and retained a hint of the
withstand gentle wiping. With the worst
stain. Four brands soaked up the stain so
performers, you would have to hlot up
thoroughly that sponging was almost use-
standing puddles with a very soft touch to
less. Results of this tcs didn't vary much

avoid lifting the paint film or wiping it
away entirely.
Because of their vulnerability to stand-
ing water, latex paints are a poor bet for
windowsills, plant shelves, kitchen and
bathroom trim, or any surface that's likely
to get wet often. Oil-based paints are still
the best products for those surfaces.
SPATIER. Most of the paints did suffer the
nemesis of roller painting, that spatter of
fine droplets that settles on woodwork or
ftuniture that you've neglected to cover.
It's possible to formulate paint so that it
doesn't spatter. For example, Pratt & Lam-
bert did it with its A ccolade line, the only
tested paint that didn't spatter at all in any
color. But Pratt & Lambert's Vap ex spat-
tered badly in every color.
RECOMMENDATIONS. There's no point in
LATEX WALL PAINTS 309
buying expensive paint unless you need
qualities that are available only in top-of-
the-line products. One-coat coverage
would be worth the extra price, but you're
not likely to get it unless you repaint with
a color not too different and choose a paint
with a high hiding-power score.
Good washability is another quality of-
ten worth paying extra for, but not all of
the tested paints had it. However, good
washability can be found among the top
few paints in each color.
By selecting a high-rated paint, you
choose among the best paints available.
Although you may have to use two coats,
at least you can avoid paying top dollar for
a paint that might require three coats or
one that won't hold up to the abuses of
ordinary life.

Ratings of latex wall paints

Listed by color; within colors, listed and prices.
in order of estimated overall quality.
The table on page 317 gives per- Very

•
formance judgments that apply to Excellent good Good Feir Poor
all the tested colors of a brand, as
well as full brand and model names
@ e 0 ~

White
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 5 0 0 0
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM 6 e 0 ~
SEARS EASY LIVING 4 0 0 e
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 2 e 0 0
KELLY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX 2 0 0 0
Ratings continued next page
310 LATEX WALL PAINTS

""'
.,,<:<
.,~
""'
.,,<:<
~"' i.'~
:0.$'°' ~"' ~·~:-'~<:'""'
~ ~<:'O; ~e·~~·
White continued Cj"~ <c~ ~q ~"'·
KY ANIZE EASY CLEAN 6 0 0 0
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL 3 e 0 0

••e
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AOUAVELVET 4 e 0
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99 3 e 0
BRUNING WALL PLATE 2 0 0
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN
2
4
0
0
0
0 ••
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELDITJ
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARATS
4
2
2
~
0
~
0
0
0 ~
••
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER 2 0 0 ~
VALSPAR PREMIUM
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET
0
3
0
0
0
0 •e
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR
DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX 0
3 0
0
0
0 ••
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE 3 0 0 ~
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE 4 0 0 ~
JEWEL COLORIZER
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE
0 1
2
0
•
0
0 ••
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON 4 0 0 ~
COOK COROVEL
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM
2
2 •
~
~
0
0
0
~
TRU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE 2 0 ~
DUPONT LUCITE
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX 0
4
2 •
~-
0
0
~

••e
COLONY SATIN TONE
DUPONT EASY CARE
ITl Darker than other whites tested.
0
0 •• 0
0
 LATEX WALL PAINTS 311

oe

c..e
.,.,
.........(Ii
~ e
~~ {:>c;
ilOj' ~
1'.e
.,...~'Ii
<c'li '!>Qc..e•

Gold
DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX 00
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT
5
4
6
6
~
~ • •e
0
VALSPAR PREMIUM
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL
KELLY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX
2
2
2
6
6
6
0
e
0
0
0
0
• ~
~
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 2 6 ~ e 0
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE
SEARS EASY LIVING
2
2
6
6
0
0
0
e •
0
BRUNING WALL PLATE 2 6 0 e e
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99 6 e 0 ~
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER 2 6 0 0 0

• • ••
JEWEL COLORIZER 00 2 6 0 0
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE 2 6 0 ~
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD 3 6 ~
KYANIZE EASY CLEAN 2 6 0 ~ 0
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVELVET
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE
2 6
6
~
0 • • 0 ~
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE 3 6 ~ e •
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON 3 6 0 0 0
TRU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE 1 6 ~ 0 0
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR 2 6 ~ ~ ~
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 0 e 0 0
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARATS 4 ~ 0 ~
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET 5 0 0 e
COOK COROVEL
COLONY SATIN TONE
6
4 •• •
0
0
0
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN
DUPONT EASY CARE
\]] Darker than other golds tested.
4
6
0
• • e 0
~

Ratings continued next page

312 LATEX WALL PAINTS

""
~(:'
""
._e~'~
~(:'
.,~

~
- ~°'
"°~ b'~o,
._e
~~ - ~
""
e._-...~°'"<:>
Gold continued .-,;
c,'-
«~ .-,;ft!!>~
._e

• • •e
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM 0 ~ 0
DUPONT LUCITE 3 0
PAATT & LAMBERT VAPEX 0 ~ 0
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM 0 ~
• ~

Blue
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 6 6 0 0 ~
KY ANIZE EASY CLEAN 5 6 0 0 e
PAA TT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 3 6 e 0 0
KELLY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX 2 6 0 0 0
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL 3 6 e 0 ~
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVEL VET 3 6 e 0 ~

•••
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT 4 6 ~ 0
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE 2 6 0 0
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 9!l 2 6 e 0
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD
JEWEL COLORIZER
3
3
6
6
0
0
e
0 ••
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN 3 6 0 0 ~
VALSPAR PREMIUM
DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER
2

2
6
6
6
0
0
0
e
0
0
•ee
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE 4 6 0 0 e
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET 3 6 0 0 e
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM 5 e 0 ~
SEARS EASY LIVING 5 0 0 ~
BRUNING WALL PLATE 4 0 0 e
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR
3
2
6
6 •
0
0
0
••
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARATS 5 ~ e ~
 LATEX WALL PAINTS 313

cfb
'&~ c,e
.,e°-''~ .,~
.,
. ...'&~
·t::-°-'
':!:>~
.,e ~$'°-'~c,e
~ ~~o, ~
10.e.,..,10."'
Blue continued c;;CJ..
~'Ii c,<:/ .,e"'
COOK COROVEL
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE
2 6
5 •
0
0
0 e
~

TRU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE

COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON
2
2
6
6
~
0
0
0 •~
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX
COLONY SATIN TONE
2 6
6
~

•
0
0 ••
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM 4 ~ 0
•e
••
DUPONT EASY CARE[!) 5 e
DUPONT LUCITE 3 e e
[!) Darker than other blues tested.

Yellow
SEARS EASY LIVING 2 6 0 ~ ~
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 4 0 0 ~
KELLY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX 3 0 0 ~
KY ANIZE EASY CLEAN
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL
2 6
2
4
0
0
0
•
~
~
0
~
0
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 2 0 ~ 0
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARA TS 3 ~ e ~

•• ••
VALSPAR PREMIUM 2 0 ~
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN 2 5 ~ ~
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99 3 e
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM 3 ~ ~ ~
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVELVET
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD
4
3
~
0 ~
• • ~

STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE 2 6 ~ e •

BRUNING WALL PLATE 0 0 0 e
DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX 0 2 0 ~ e
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT 5 ~
• •
Ratings continued next page
314 LATEX WALL PAINTS

ec.. e.,. c,e

,,,<:<
o"" o<J/. ;_,,,•-.,.;. c."'
,,,<:<
· ~°'q . i>'<:'
P;q
r.,,•~
':!t,11' '<:'~
•"'
:0'<:'0, <"' ~,<:'°'<:'""'
!'.~
c,o~ b'<:'o, ~e.,~tt>
o"' c,<~
Yellow continued "'c; '},' ~ <c"' c,Q ,,,,..

JEWEL COLORIZER
COLONY SA TIN TONE
3
3
~

•
~
0 ••
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON
3
4
~
0
0
0 •
~

• •• •••
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR 3 ~
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE 3
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM 3 ~ ~
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE
0 2
3
~
~
•• • ~

COOK COROVEL
DUPONT LUCITE
2
3 •• ~
~
~
~
TAU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX
3
2
~
~
•• ••
DUPONT EASY CARE 0
• • •
Pink
JEWEL COLORIZER 2 6 0 0 ~
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 3 0 0 e
SEARS EASY LIVING 6 e e 0
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 3 e 0 0
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL 4 e 0 0
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM 3 e 0 ~
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99
2
3
0
e
0
0 ••
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD 3 0 0 0
KELLEY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX 1 2 0 e ~
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT
COLONY SATIN TONE
1
2
5
6
~

•e
0
0 •
~
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVELVET 2 0
•
 LATEX WALL PAINTS 315

cfb
.,
. ...
.,~
,,,~

,0 ~ 0
~~~Ci
'8-~~ r..0 r..'li
Pink continued (('I> c,Q~,0"'·~·

BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN 3 0 0 ~

VALSPAR PREMIUM
KY ANIZE EASY CLEAN
2
3
0
0
0
0 •
0
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARATS 1 3 ~ e ~
BRUNING WALL PLATE 0 0 0 e
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE
2 6
4
0
0 • e
0 ~
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER
3
3
~
0
• • 0
0
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET
3
2 •
0 •
•
0
0
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR 3 ~ e •
e •
TRU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE 3 ~ 0
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON 5 ~ 0

•• • •e
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX 2 ~ 0
COOK COROVEL 3 0 0
DUPONT EASY CARE 2
DUPONT LUCITE 2
• ~ ~

Green
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD
KELLY-MOORE ACRY-PLEX
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY
4
2
3
6
6
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
•
0
0
VALSPAR PREMIUM
SEARS EASY LIVING
2
2
6
6
0
0
0
0 • ~
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVELVET
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE
2
6
6
6
0
e
e
0
0
0
•• 0
KYANIZE EASY CLEAN 2 6 0 0 ~
Ratings continued next page
316 LATEX WALL PAINTS

Green continued

•••e
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL 2 6 0 e
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99 5 e 0
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT 2 6 0
BRUNING WALL PLATE 6 0 0
WARDS CUSTOM COLOR
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET
3
3
6
6
0
0
0
0 •
DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX 5 0 0 e
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN 2 6 0 0
BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARA TS
TAU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE 2
3
4
6
e 0
e
e
•
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 ACRYCITE
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE
2 6
6
0
•
0
0 ••
DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER 5 0 0
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE 6 0 0 e
•••
BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM 4 0
COLONY SATIN TONE
JEWEL COLORIZER
4
3 •
0
0
0
COOK COROVEL
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON
6
6 •
0
0

PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX

DUPONT EASY CARE
4
5
••
0
•e
DUPONT LUCITE 3 0 0

For the full story

The date of the original article in CONSUMER REPORTS appears at the
head of each Ratings list. In the absence of Ratings, this date usually
appears in the text. For a more complete report, consult the original
version. (For back issues, see page 5.)
 LATEX WALL PAINTS 317
Latex wall paints: Performance judgments
(Paints listed alphabetically. See Ratings starting on page 309 for performance
judgments of individual colors.)

Very
Excellent good Good Fair Poor

@ 6 0 ~
•
Brand and model

BALTIMORE PAINT GOLDEN PREMIUM INTERIOR VINYL FLAT $17 F

BALTIMORE PAINT PREMIUM INTERIOR-EXTERIOR VINYL FLAT 13 F
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL AQUAVELVET
LATEX EGGSHELL FLAT ENAMEL 17 L e 0
BENJAMIN MOORE REGAL WALL SATIN LATEX INTERIOR FLAT 14 F e 0
BRUNING WALL PLATE SMOOTH LATEX FINISH 17 F 0 0
COLONY SATIN TONE FLAT LATEX 16 F 0 ~
COLOR TILE POLY-ACRYLON 8+8 FLAT WALL[!)
COOK COROVEL LATEX
14
16
F
F •
0
~
~
DUPONT EASY CARE LATEX FLAT
DUPONT LUCITE WALL
DURON PLASTIC-KOTE ACRYLIC VELVET FINISH
12
15
20
F
F
L
•• e
0
~
~

DUTCH BOY DIRT FIGHTER INTERIOR LATEX FLAT 17 F e ~

DUTCH BOY SUPER LATEX FLAT ENAMEL 20 L e ~
ELLIOTT'S 40 CARATS LATEX FLAT ENAMEL 17 L 0 ~
FULLER O'BRIEN FUL-SHIELD LATEX FLAT ENAMEL 18 L 0 e
FULLER O'BRIEN LIQUID VELVET LATEX 15 F ~ 0
J.C. PENNEY ONE & ONLY 15 L 0 0
JEWEL COLORIZER ACRYLIC LATEX FLAT ENAMEL 18 F 0 0
KELLY-MOORE PREMIUM ACRY-PLEX FLAT 17 F 0 e
KYANIZE EASY CLEAN ACRYLIC LATEX EGGSHELL ENAMEL 18 L e ~
MARTIN-SENOUR BRIGHT LIFE INTERIOR FLAT LATEX 17 F 0 ~
PPG PITTSBURGH MANOR HALL 18 F 0 0
PPG PITTSBURGH WALLHIDE LATEX FLAT 14 F ~ ~
PRATT & LAMBERT ACCOLADE 21 L 0 ~
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX FLAT WALL FINISH 17 F ~ ~
Performance judgments continued next page
318 WALL PAINTS, SIDING AND TRIM PAINTS

Brand and model

SEARS EASY LIVING INTERIOR LA TEX

WALL & TRIM (9100 Series)
$15+ L e ~
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CLASSIC 99 WALL & TRIM INTERIOR FLAT 16 F 0 0
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS SUPERPAINT INTERIOR LATEX FLAT 19 F e ~
STANDARD BRANDS A-1 PREMIUM ACRYCITE
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LA TEX HOUSE
TAU-TEST SUPREME SAT-N-HUE LATEX FLAT WALL FINISH
11
16
L

F
•
~
e
~
VALSPAR PREMIUM LATEX FLAT WALL & TRIM 16 L 0 ~
WARDS BEST CUSTOM COLOR INTERIOR LATEX FLAT
WALL & TRIM (4696 Series)
17 F ~ 0
[j) Prices are approximate retail per gal. for white; colors often cost about $1 more than whites;
+ indicates that shipping is extra.
(fil F-flat; L-low luster.
rn According to the company, this model has been discontinued but may be available in some
stores.

Paints for exterior siding and trim

Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1982
Because we did a formidable amount of painted with latex, you're limiting the
testing for this report, our Ratings tables choice to white latex paint. Turn to page
provide much more information than any 320, where we begin our Ratings of white
individual needs. Here's how to use our paints-latexes first, then alkyds. Note that
test results efficiently. the paints in that table are further divided
First, decide on a color for your house. between Northern formulas and Southern
Paint quality varies as much by color as by formulas. Southern formulas are supposed
brand, sometimes more so. Our judgments to contain more mildewcide. If you live in
on red paints won't help you if you want to Minnesota, say, focus on the white latex
paint your house white. paints sold in the North. lf you wish, you
Second, decide whether you want to use can narrow the choice further by choosing
alkyd (oil-based) or latex (water-based) the glossiness you want.
paint. That decision may be dictated by No single type of paint, regardless of
the paint already on the house. In general, brand or color, was equally good at every-
it's best to paint alkyd over alkyd and latex thing. Inevitably, you have to make some
over latex. compromises. Among the flat white latexes
Let's say you want to paint your house sold in the North, for example, you'll note
white and, because it was previously that the Magicolor Protect Flat tested out
 EXTERIOR SIDING AND TRIM PAINTS 319
well in everything but mildew resistance, a
quality of minor importance in the Minne-
sota climate. If you want a white latex with
a semi-gloss finish, though, you may have
to sacrifice something in dirt resistance.
If you want to trim that white house in
black, look to the Ratings of colored
paints, beginning on page 325. As you'll
see, we've separated them by type (alkyd
or latex), by color group (pastels for siding,
contrast colors for trim), and subdivided
each category according to gloss level.
Once you've narrowed your choice to
the color, the gloss level, the type, and the
brand you want, nm one last check. Go
back to the main Ratings table and look up
the brand you want to buy. The columns of
"model-related properties" show how the
paints performed in areas that aren't af-
fected by cplor-ease of bmshing, leveling,
and resistance to sagging. Paints that did
well in those tests will be easier to work
with and will look good when dry.
HIDING. Hiding ability is a very important
characteristic in any paint, alkyd or latex.
How well a paint hides determines wheth-
er or not you can do the job in one coat.
And it's largely related to brand and color,
not to the type of paint.
To interpret our judgments on hiding,
you can usually figure that a paint judged
excellent will cover most colors in one
coat. A paint judged very good won't do
quite as well; it's likely to cover in one
coat if the original paint doesn't contrast
strongly with the new paint. Paints judged
good will cover in one coat only if the old
paint is the same color or quite similar.
Those deemed fair or poor will probably
require two coats, no matter what color
you're covering.
Paint-can labels generally recommend
using two coats of paint for appearance,
durability, or both. Whether or not you
need two coats depends on the hiding abil-
ity of the paint and on the surface you' re
painting. If the surface is sound and if the
new paint goes on uniformly, you'll need
just one coat. But if the surface is badly
eroded, you may need two or even three
coats no matter what paint you're using.
The pigment used to color a paint
affects its hiding ability. Some pigments
are quite expensive, and so manufacturers
seem to stint on them. Thus, we weren't
surprised to find that most of the bright red
paints had poor hiding ability; bright red is
an expensive pigment.
FADING. Houses don't fade evenly. The side
of the house that gets the most sun will
fade fastest. And, if a tree or shmb casts a
shadow, the shadowed section of the house
will retain color longer than unshaded
areas. You may even see a difference on
individual shingles partly because of shad-
ows cast by the shingles above. The "Re-
sistance to color change" column in the
Ratings covers both fading and loss of
gloss.
Fading can cause problems with repaint-
ing later on, too. You may conscientiously
save some paint, only to find that the paint
in the can no longer matches the paint on
the house.
Generally, the alkyd paints changed col-
or under exposure more than the latexes,
hut that was partly due to their rapid loss
of any gloss that they started with.
ADHESION. The alkyd paints adhered quite
well to all mu test substrates-primed
hardboard, raw and primed cedar, and
heavily chalked surfaces. The latexes gen-
erally adhered poorly to heavily chalked
surfaces (only the Moorgard did well), and,
although they adhered to raw cedar, they
did not protect it. The cedar tended to
crack beneath the paint. It's especially nec-
essary with latexes to wash off chalking
before you paint, and to prime raw wood.
CHALKING. If you live where there isn't
much dirt in the air, you'd be happiest
with a paint judged excellent in resistance
to chalking. But if your air has smoke or
industrial emissions, then a paint that
chalks more heavily will keep its bright-
ness longer.
Turn page for Ratings

Ratings of exterior paints (white)
Listed by types, latex and alkyd ; pages that follow, give proper-
within types, listed by formulas ties relating to other colors
for North and South; within for- tested. All latex paints dried
mulas, listed alphabetically in faster than alkyds. Except as
groups according to gloss level noted, latex paints did not ad-
as determined by CU. Model- here well to heavily chalked sur-
~
f::5
rounded to nearest dollar, for
white; prices for ready-mix and
custom colors may differ. * indi-
cates that price is approximate.
Very

•
related properties apply to all faces {see story) . All alkyd Excellent good Poor

•
Good Fair
colors of each brand tested. Col-
or-related properties apply only
white paints yellowed when not
exposed to direct sunli g ht.
e 0 ~
to white. Separate tables, on the Prices are suggested retail,

Color-related
properties

,,,,.
Brand and model ~ «,•·;.
q,4..'Ci·, w
. y~·~

Latex (Northern formula)

•• •
• The following 13 are flat.
AMERITONE VINYL-BOND VINYL ACRYLIC (WOO) $19 Q 0 0 0 0 ~
DEVOE ACRYLIC [j][l) 18 0 0 0 e e ~ ~

•••
DUPONT LUCITE 19 0 0 ~ ~ e 0 0
DUTCH BOY 20 0 0 0 e 0 ~ 0
GLIDDEN SPRED ACRYLIC [j] 20 0 0 e • 0 e 0
MAGICOLOR PROTECT FLAT
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE FLAT (711)[!)
18
21
0
0 •• 0
0
0
e 0
0 e
0 •~
e
e
•••
OLYMPIC OVERCOAT ACRYLIC(I]~ 19 0 ® e e 0 e e
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEXl!Q]
SEARS WEATHERBEATER FLAT HOUSE & TRIM ACRYLIC
23
17
0
0
0
0
e 0
0 0 e 0
0
• 0
e
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100 FLAT HOUSE & TRIM
TRU-TEST SUPREME WEATHERALL ACRYLIC
18
19
0
0 •• 0
0
0
0
0 e
e e 0
0 ~
0
VALSPAR ACRYLIC 17 0
• 0 0 e 0 0 0

••
• The following 4 are satin.
DUTCH BOY SUPER
FULLER O'BRIEN WEATHER KING (661) 0]
24
19
0
0
0
0
e 0
0 0
0
0 •• 0
~ ~
J.C. PENNEY SEVERE WEATHER
MOORGARD (103) 0
• The following 12 are semi-gloss.
18
17 *
0
0 •• 0
0
e e
0 e
e
e
e
~
e
0
~
::ti
C3
::ti
AMERITONE ACRYLIC ENAMELIZED (W2500)
DEVOE REGENCY HOUSE ACRYLIC GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM
22
22
e
0 •• 0
0
e 0
0 0
e
0 •
~
0
0
~
~
FULLER O'BRIEN WEATHER KING HOUSE & TRIM (664)
GLIDDEN SPRED GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM
20
21
0
0 •• 0
0
e 0
e 0
e
0
~
e
0
0
~
:i:..
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE SATIN (713) [!)
MOORGLO HOUSE & TRIM (096) DJ
22
18*
0
0 •• 0
0
e 0
0 0
0
e
0
0
0
0
~
~
OJ Better than most latexes in adhesion to heavily chalked sur- [!) Color tested, Brilliant White, discontinued; no longer avail-
~
I""'
faces.
o• '" '"'""'
Discontinued; mayfobe•d>.,;on
available•oin,,.,;; "''""" wd•oe<
some stores.
May require 48 hours of drying between coats.
Yellowed less than most.
~

l!QJ
able.
Color tested, Outside White, discontinued; may be available in
some stores.
Color tested, One-Coat White, discontinued; may be available
in some stores.
~
~
Yellowed more than most.
Current designation: Won der-Shield Exterior Ac rylic.
ID] Color tested, White, discontinued; no longer available. ~
§ Company says paint is available in only one formulation.
~
B] Color tested, Chalk-Resistant White, discontinued; no longer t>:>
a vailable. ......
Ratings continued next page
White paint Ratings continued
Model-related Color-related
properties properties

0
~ ..
Brand and model
~
q4.'c;i ~
. ",..,~..v~..~
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF ACRYLIC
SEMIGLOSS HOUSE & TRIM (78 SERIES)
PRATT & LAMBERT AQUA ROYAL HOUSE & TRIM [ill
$20

22*
0
0
•• 0
0
e 0
e 0
0
e --
.0
e
~

•••
SEARS WEATHERBEATER GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM ACRYLIC 20 0 0 e 0 0 0 ~
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100 GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM 19 0 0 e 0 0 0 0
TRU-TEST SUPREME GLOSS ACRYLIC HOUSE & TRIM Q] 19* 0 0 e e e e e
VALSPAR GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM
• The following is gloss.
DUPONT LUCITE ENAMEL
19

19*
0
0
•e 0
~
0
0
e
0
e •
0
e e 0
Latex (Southern formula)

••
• The following 5 are flat.
DUPONT LUCITE 19 0 0 0 ~ e 0 0
OLYMPIC OVERCOAT ACRYLIC (] 19 0 0 0 e e •
e
•••
SEARS WEATHERBEATER FLAT HOUSE & TRIM ACRYLIC 17 0 0 0 0 e 0 e
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A- 100 FLAT HOUSE & TRIM 18 0 0 0 0 e e ~
VALSPAR ACRYLIC 17 0 0 0 e 0 e 0
•
• The following is satin.
MOORGARD (103) [1]igj 17* 0 0 e e e 0 ~
• The following 2 are semi-gloss.
SEARS WEATHERBEATER GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM ACRYLIC
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100 GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM
$20
19
0
0 •• 0
0
s
0
0
0
0
€)
0
0
0
0
Alkyd (Northern formula)
• The following 3 are flat.
FULLER O'BRIEN SEVENTY-FIVE LOW LUSTER (163)
MOORE'S EGGSHELL (108)
20
19*
0
0 •• 0
0
~
0
s
s
s
s
s s
~ s
VALSPAR LOW LUSTRE
• The follo wing 4 are semi-gloss.
DEVOE ALL-WEATHER[I]
20

25
0
0 0
• 0
s
0
s 0
s s
s
•
~
0
s ~~
MOORE'S HIGH GLOSS ENAMELIZED (110) 19* s 0 @ s s Oill ~ s ~
SEARS BEST HOUSE & TRIM[I] 22 0 0 s s e S[]] 0 ~ g
TRU-TEST SUPREME GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM 20 G. s @ 0 e Sill ~ e ~
~
• The following 12 are gloss.
DUTCH BOY(I] 23 0 0 ® s e s ~ 0
DUTCH BOY SASH & TRIM ENAMEL 25 e 0 e s s s 0 0 ~
FULLER O'BRIEN HOUSE & TRIM GLOSS (660) 21 0 0 e s 0 6[]] • 0 :i:..
GLIDDEN SPRED GEL-FLO HOUSE & TRIM 24 0 s 0 s ~ s 0 0 ~
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE GLOSS (710) [I] 24 s ~ 0 0 s s ~ s ~
MOORE'S DECORATIVE TRIM (111) 21* s s 0 s 0 Sill S 0 ~
MOORE'S HOUSE & TRIM HIGH GLOSS (130)
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF (1 SERIES)
21 *
23
s
0
0
~
•
0
s ~
s s
S ill S
s 0
e
0
~
~
s s s s s s ~ ~
e ~
PRATT & LAMBERT EFFECTO HIGH GLOSS ENAMEL 25
PRATT & LAMBERT PERMALIZE HOUSE & TRIM § 23 s s s e 0 0 ~
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SWP GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM[I] 23 s ~ 0 s 0 S[]] 0 s·~
Ratings continued next page
White paint Ratings continued
Color-related
properties

Resistance to

Brand and model

· t::-0,
~~ ~o., .~
e
-~~·
"° /
v~ c,O ~ ~ <)
VALSPAR GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM $20 0 e 0 e e e 0 0
Alkyd (Southern formula)
• The following 3 are semi-gloss.
DEVOE ALL-WEATHER 0 25 0 0 e e ~ e 0 0
MOORE' S HIGH GLOSS ENAMELIZED (110) § 19* e 0 0 e 0 Q C§] 0 e
SEARS BEST HOUSE & TRIM 0
• The following 4 are gloss.
MOORE' S DECORATIVE TRIM (111) §
22

21*
0
e
0
e
e
0
e
e
•
0
em o
e[§] e
0
0
MOORE' S HOUSE & TRIM HIGH GLOSS (130) §
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF (1 SERIES)
21*
23*
e
0
0
~
•
0
e
e
~
0
e[§] e
e
•
e
0
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SWP GLOSS HOUSE & TRIM 0 23 e ~ 0 e 0 em o e
 Rating of Exterior paints (colors)
Listed by types, latex and alkyd; determined by CU. This table for each brand .
within types, listed alphabetical- should be used in conjunction Very
ly in groups as noted. Specific with the table for white paint, Excellent good Good Fair Poor
colors tested are given for each
brand. Gloss levels listed are as
beginning on page 000, which
gives model-related properties • e o ~ •
Resis- Resis- Resis- Resis- Resis-
tance to tance to tance to tance to tance to
-.---r- -,---,-- --,--,.--

Brand and model

Latex siding colors

Red Gold Blue Green Yellow
• The following 13 are flat.
AMERITONE VINYL-BOND (WOO)- - - - oeeo - - - - eeeo ~~-~
DEVOE ACRYLIC e0 @e ~oe8 oeeo 8©00 000~
DUPONT LUCITE 0 e e © e00e ~000 0000 O~®e ~
DUTCH BOY LATEX~ 0 E) €) 8 00©8 oeee oooe o~---- ~
0 e 0 e oe@e ©oee oooe ~
GLIDDEN SPRED~
MAGICOLOR PROTECT -- Q 8 0 808(;) ooee e--oo
e~eo
e~•o ::0
c
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE
(711) oeoe ~oee ooee ooee e8eo ~
~
~

~
Red eroded worse than most.

~
Green eroded worse than most.
Blue eroded worse than most.
Black eroded much worse than most.
Green discontinued; may be available in some stores.
Gold discontinued; may be available in some stores.
Model discontinued; may be available in some stores. I:..:>
~
c:n
Ratings continued next page
Color paint ratings continued
Resis- Re·sis- Res is- Resis-
lance to lance to lance to lance to

Brand and model

/.~
~
Red Gold Blue Green Yellow
OLYMPIC OVERCOAT l!§I oeeo eoee ooeo oeoe e~•o
PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX ~ 0 ee0 oeoo eoeo eoeo ooe~
SEARS WEATHERBEATER ~eoe oeeo ooee ~eoe eooo
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100 oeoe eooo oeee oeoo ~eoo
TRU-TEST SUPREME
WEATHERALL oeoo ~ooe ooee - - - - ooeo
VALSPAR ACRYLIC oooe oeoe oeoe eooe ~~•o
• The following 4 are sa tin.
DUTCH BOY SUPER eeee oeoe oeeo ooee e~•o
FULLER O' BRIEN WEATHER
KING (661) oooe oeoo oeee ooeo 000~
J.C. PENNEY SEVERE
WEATHER eooo eooe eeeo 0000 eeoe
MOORGARD (103) oeoe eeo~ eeoo oeeo o~o~
• Th e fo llo wing 10 are semi-gloss.
AMERITONE ACRYLIC (W2500) ~ 0 0 8 oe~e - - - - ooee o~•o
DEVOE REGENCY HOUSE - - - - 0~00 - - - - - - - - e~•~
FULLER O'BRIEN WEATHER
KING (664) - - - - - - - - oeee oeoe - - - -
GLIDDEN SPRED GLOSS 0000 oeee oooe 0000 ooeo
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE
(713) oeoo 88oe oooe 8800 000~
MOORGLO (096) 0800 ~eoo 080 ® oeoe 008~
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF
(78 SERIES)
0e 0e ee0~ 0888 o8oe o~~~
PRATT & LAMBERT AQUA
ROYAL o8ee 880~ eeeo ~8oe 0000
SEARS WEATHERBEATER ~8oe 8eoe eo0e 8000 oeoo
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100
GLOSS 0000 8ooe oooe 0088 000~
Re sis- Resis- Res is- Resis- Res is-
lance to lance to lance to lance to lance to

Brand and model

~~£fal777£~~~
Latex trim colors
Black Green Blue Red Yellow
• Th e fo llowing is satin.
DUTCH BOY SUPER - - - - ••8e ~oeo eeo8 •e~e
~
• The fo llowing 10 are semi-gloss. ~
AMERITONE ACRYLI C
(W2500) 11§l
DEVOE REGENCY HOUSE
oo eo
ooeo
00 8 0
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
-

-
- -
- -
-

-
~
~
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE
(713) 1ill - - - - 0800 eooo - - - - - - - - S2
MOORGL0(096) ~ ooeo 0000 - - - - •~8e - - - - ~
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF
(78 SERIES)
008e. eeoe - - - - - - - - - - - - <:.:>
N>
-:i

Ratings continued next page

 R11sis- Res is- Resis- Res is- Resis-
Color paint ratings continued lance to lance t o lance to lance to lance to

Brand and mod el

C'<'(v" C"'I Q'I ( '<'(v-( '1-'[Q'( ( ~- ( v"('1'' (Q'' ( ( '<'· cc.- c~·cQ'I ( '<'"Cv'
Black Green Blue Red Yellow
PRATT & LAMB ERT AQUA
ROYAL oeee - - - - oeoe - - - - - - - -
SEARS WEATHERBEATER oeoe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SHERWIN WILLIAMS A-100
GLOSS oeoe oeoe - - - - - - - - - - - -
TRU-TEST SUPREME @ oe e o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
VALSPAR GLOSS B] ooo e eeoo - - - - •~oo - - - -
• The following is gloss.
DUPONT LUCITE ENAMEL oeeo oeeo oeeo - - - - - - - -
Alkyd siding colors
Red Gold Blue Green Yellow
• The following 3 are flat.
FULLER O'BRIEN SEVENTY-
FIVE (163) oeee eooo oeee o~ee e o e~
MOORE'S EGGSHELL (108) - - - - ee~e eeoo ••~o - - - -
VALSPAR LOW LUSTRE - - - - ~•eo - - - - o~eo - - - -
• The following 4 are semi-gloss.
DEVOE ALL- WEATHER 0~00 e~oe oeeo 0008 eeee
MOORE' S HIGH GLOSS (110) ooeo e~eo o~ee o~ee eeee
SEARS BEST o~oe - - - - o•~e oeoo e~eo
TRU-TEST SUPREME 0~00 e~oe - - - - - - - - o~ee
• The follo wing 7 are g loss.
DUTCH BOY [illj2J e--ee oeeo o--oe ooee eeeo
FULLER O'BRIEN HOUSE &
TRIM (660) 0--00 o--oe oeoe o--o .e oeoo
GLIDDEN SPRED GEL-FLO 0--00 0--00 o--oe eeoe e--oo
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE
(710) o--eo e--•o o--ee o--eo •o--e
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF 0 0 Q •
o--oe oeee 0--GQ ----oe
(1 SERIES)
PRATT & LAMBERT PERMALIZE Q. 0 8 o--eo o--eo o--eo oeeo
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SWP 0--00 e--ee oeee 0~®8 --ooe
Resis- Resis-- Res is- Res is- Res is-
lance to lance to lance to lance to lance to

Brand and model

Alkyd trim colors

~
Black Green Blue Red Yellow t;s
• The following 3 are semi-gloss. ~
DEVOE ALL-WEATHER 0 0 8 0 o--oe - - - - - - - g
SEARS BEST G• G0 - - - - - - - ·- - - - -
TRU-TEsT suPREME Goeo --•oe - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
• The follo wing 8 are gloss. ~
DUTCH BOY SASH &. TRIM o--ee Geeo oeeo --•oe - - - - ~
FULLER O'BRIEN HOUSE &
TRIM (660) o--ee o--oe - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
Nl
(.0

Ratings continued next page

Color paint ratings continued n--:- Resis- Res is- Resis- Res is-
tance to tance lo tance to tance to

Brand and model

~- c,- ~- Q'" ~- c;
Black Green Blue Red Yellow
MARTIN SENOUR GREAT LIFE
(710) 0~00 oeeo - - - - - - - - - - - -
MOORE' S DECORATIVE TRIM
(111) 0000 0~00 0~00 ~o~e - - - -
PPG PITTSBURGH SUN-PROOF
(1 SERIES)
0 0 ee ~•ee - - - - eeeo - - - -
PRATT & LAMBERT EFFECTO oeee oeee ooee •~ee ~~e~
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SWP oee-e oeee - - - - - - - - - - - -
VALSPAR GLOSS ooee e~oe - - - - ~~oe - - - -
 AEROSOL PAINTS 331

Aerosol paints
Condensed from Consumer Reports, September 1982
Aerosol paints are much more expensive
than bmsh paints, and they vary a great
deal in quality. We hesitate to recommend
them for painting anything but fairly small
areas that need a mirror-smooth coat or
intricate objects such as a wicker chair.
The price on the can isn't a very good
indicator of quality or economy. A rela-
tively inexpensive paint may tum out to be
very uneconomical because you have to
use so much of it to get good results.
Each maker charges the same price for
all the colors in a brand line, even though
the ingredients for different colors vary
considerably in price. They make up for it
by skimping on the expensive ingredients
in reds and yellows. As a consequence, you
must spray on a lot more red or yellow
paint to get the same hiding power as
blacks and greens deliver.
PERFORMANCE. Since spray paints are often
used on outdoor furniture, children's toys
and such, we tested them for color fastness,
toughness, and rust resistance. The test
results for toughness and corrosion resist-
ance were about the same through all the
colors in a brand line, so we have consoli-
dated those test results, along with drying
speed in our Listing of the brands.
METALLIC COLORS. Besides testing an array
of colored aerosols, we also took a look at
the "gold," "silver," and "chrome" metal-
lic paints the manufacturers offer. We
haven't rated them, though, because in our
tests they showed very little durability.
They may be O.K. for decoration, but not
for providing a tough coat for objects that
get a lot of daily use.
RECOMMENDATIONS. For painting metal,
our tests point to Rust-Oleum Stops Rust
Series 7700 as the clearly superior choice.
It was the best paint for resisting corrosion
when used on unprimed metal. For paint-
ing wood, wicker or anything else, the
Rust-Oleum was right up at the top again,
having excellent toughness and resistance
to color change. It was also among the
cheapest to use in most colors. Flecto
Vnrathone was also consistently among
rated highs, and its spray nozzle produces
an oval pattern, instead of round, so that
producing an even coating was easier with
it than with most others. (For the complete
Ratings of each individual color, see the
September 1982 issue of CONSUMER RE-
PORTS.)
Listings on next page

What about prices?

The Buying Guide Issue usually notes prices as given in the full
report cited at the beginning of each article. Unless otherwise
stated, prices are list or suggested retail, current at the time of
original publication. In many cases, inflation will have increased
prices, but the price relationships among models is stable enough to
be informative to consumers.
332 AEROSOL PAINTS

Listing of aerosol paints

(Judgments in the table below apply to all tested colors of a brand.
Brands are listed alphabetically. Prices are approximate retail) .

Very

•
Excellent good Good Fair Poor

@ e 0 ~

0~
~"'•"'
·~O~ ~c,0 .,,tf
·CJ"' ~ ~...o•'!<.°'""' · ~~
Brand q'-~ ..._o~ <:)..~~
c,O ._0"'

BENJAMIN MOORE UTILAC ITl

DUPONT LUCITE SPRAY ENAMELITl
$2.98
3.00 •• -- e 0 0
FLECTO LE SPRAYITlffi 3.89 0 0

• ---- ee--
FLECTO VARATHANE COLORS IN PLASTIC ITJ 4.39 0
FULLER O'BRIEN FAST DRYrn 3.39 ~
ILLINOIS BRONZE SHINING ARMOR 3.36 0
KRYLON INTERIOR-EXTERIOR RUST MAGIC 4.95 0 e-- 0
NYBCO ONE COAT
PACTRA IMPERIAL [!)
2. 15
2.45 0• •-- e
•0 ee •e--
PACTRA LATEX PLUS oom 3.49 0 e
PLASTl-KOTE FAST DRY 3.39
RED DEVIL HIGH GLOSS POLYURETHANE mm 3.89
RUST-OLEUM STOPS RUST SERIES noo 4. 10 0 0 --0
~
SHEFFIELD QUICK SPRAY mrn
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SUPERACRYLIC ITl
2.98
2.99 • •--
0 0
SPRUCE 473
VALSPAR SPRAY ENAMEL
2.35
3.79 • e
0
~ e
e
ZYNOL YTE SPEED-E-NAMEL 00
ITl Has oval spray pattern (see story) .
0 Water-based.
1.99
• --
nation of this model is Red Devil Polyure-
thane GloH Enamel.
e
rn According to the company, current desig- [!) Glossier than most when first applied.
[ID Duller than most when first applied.
 Automobiles
Buying a new car
The 1983 issues of CONSUMER REPORTS will
contain road tests and Ratings of the new
cars; the annual April "Auto Roundup"
issue will summarize our judgments on
most 1983 cars and offer general buying
advice. But to increase your odds for satis-
faction with a new-car purchase, CU rec-
ommends that you answer some questions
for yourself at home before you venture
into the high-pressure atmosphere of the
new-car salesroom.
Keeping the following ideas in mind,
make your basic decisions. How much can
you afford to spend? How big a car do you
need? And at what compromise in fuel
mileage? What body style? With what
options? With the help of the following
information you should be able to narrow
your choice considerably before you shop.
Don't be too narrow in your final choices-
leave a little flexibility in terms of alterna-
tives; you may well be better off buying
the alternative choice sold by a conve-
nient, competent, reputable dealer, than to
range far afield to find the cheapest deal on
the car of your choice. Money isn't every-
thing-within limits.
To help organize your thinking we dis-
cuss cars in three general size classifica-
tions: small, medium and large. These days
there is little or no relationship between
size and price so it is important to consider
carefully the new marketplace condi-
tions-don't just go shopping on what used
to be. There is no accepted rule for the
classification of cars by size; our method
may not agree with the car's manufacturer
or with the EPA size groups.
SMALL CARS are no longer the least expen-
sive, they range from the lowest to among
the highest priced. They have seats for
four, some even claim five. Consider that
the rear seats in most small sedans are
cramped for adults, and those in coupes are
worse. Small cars usually have four-cylin-
der engines, deliver high fuel economy,
and accelerate moderately. Small cars are
generally best-suited to manual transmis-
sions; if you cannot shift for yourself, con-
sider learning because your satisfaction
with the car will be much higher. Small
cars are generally noisier and their ride is
usually more active and stiffer than larger
cars.
MEDIUM CARS are the cars of choice if your
needs dictate the use of the rear seat fairly
often. They have seats for five or six and
the width to provide fairly comfortable
accommodations. More models of this size
are being redesigned into the more effi-
cient front-wheel-drive configuration, and,
as the cars get lighter, they are being
334 BUYING A NEW CAR
equipped with four-cylinder engines or
small V6's for best fuel economy.
LARGE CARS are less popular, but still
remain a market category. The standard
engine is usually the best buy, and an over-
drive automatic transmission, if available,
is the best choice.
BODY STYLES. Most cars, ranging from small
up to the largest size, are available in both
two-door and four-door models. The form-
er may look sportier, but where there's a
choice, CU recommends the four-door ver-
sion. In some cases, the four-door models
are slightly longer than the two-door ones
and offer more rear-seat legroom. In other
cases, the four-doors are conventional se-
dans, while the corresponding two-doors
are fastback coupes-with less rear-seat
headroom and a poorer view to the rear.
Even where seating accommodations in
the two-door and four-door versiorts are
essentially the same, CU recommends the
four-doors in medium and large cars be-
cause they're easier to get into and out of.
Some cars are available as hatchbacks in
either two- or four-door versions. The lid,
or hatch, includes the rear window; when
it's raised, it opens the whole rear end of
the car. The rear seat of a hatchback can
also be folded down, as in a station wagon,
to provide a longer cargo floor. Unfortu-
nately, the long, sloping roof lines of some
hatchbacks leave so little height that tall
cargo must be pushed inconveniently far
forward into the car before the hatch can
close. Also, cargo cannot be hidden from
sight in some hatchbacks unless a security
panel covers the cargo space behind the
rear seat. Some cars offer a security panel
as standard equipment, others as an op-
tion.
A station wagon is available in many
models covering all size classifications.
Wagons are a logical choice for motorists
who want good seating space and cargo
capacity. Though they expose cargo to the
eyes of potential thieves, they offer the
most versatile combination of maximum
carrying ability and minimum body size.
OPTIONS. To ensure you get only the
options you really want, plan your car pur-
chase well in advance. If you can wait a
month or two for delivery, you can special-
order a car instead of settling for a
"loaded" model in the dealer's stock. Ex-
travagantly equipped cars hurt your pock-
etbook in three ways: They cost more to
begin with; they cost more to maintain;
and the options you don't want may well
consume extra fuel. With imports, the
choice of options is usually limited.
CU' s views on the most common options
follow:
ENGINES. Avoid an engine that's larger than
standard unless you use your car to pull a
trailer. A standard four- or six-cylinder
engine offers adequate power, even with
air-conditioning. A larger engine almost
always consumes more fuel.
A diesel engine offers excellent drivabili-
ty and extraordinary fuel mileage-25 to
60 percent better than a gasoline engine of
similar size. However, service stations with
a diesel pump can be hard to find, so you
have to plan your refills with some care.
Diesel engines often require routine servic-
ing more frequently than gasoline engines,
and they are harder to start in very cold
weather. Diesels are also noisier and less
powerful. Diesel exhaust emissions, espe-
cially sooty particulate matter, are also a
source of some concern.
TRANSMISSIONS. On most medium-sized and
large domestic cars, the automatic trans-
mission has been changed to help improve
fuel economy. But a manual transmission
still delivers better gasoline mileage than
an automatic. That doesn't always make a
manual transmission a good choice, how-
ever.
The manual transmission is convenient
to use on most imports. But on many
domestic cars, the shift linkage and the
long-travel clutch make shifting clumsy
and awkward.
Many small cars now offer a five-speed

manual transmission as standard. The fifth
speed is often an overdrive for better gaso-
line mileage and, usually, lower interior
noise.
POWER BRAKES. Power brakes are a useful
option on those cars where they are not
already standard. The lower pedal makes
for more convenient use.
POWER STEEl\ING. It's standard equipment
on large cars and most medium-sized mod-
els. Even some small cars offer it as an
option. Power steering isn't necessary on
most small cars, but it can provide a safety
advantage on medium-sized cars. It's usu-
ally coupled with a numerically lower,
quicker steering ratio, which generally
makes the car nimbler and faster to
respond. Power steering is a help in park-
ing and has a minimal effect on gasoline
mileage. But with power steering, you will
have more difficulty telling how the car's
front wheels are responding to the road
surface.
RADIAL TIRES. Radials are standard on most
makes; where optional we recommend
buying them.
SPARE TIRE. The temporary-use spare tire,
common on many cars, is merely an emer-
gency tire that will get you to the nearest
service station. We recommend a full-
sized, conventional spare tire if it's availa-
ble.
AIR·CONDITIONING. Factory-installed air-
conditioning is an expensive item on do-
mestic cars, much more so on some im-
ports. It will increase service costs and cut
gasoline mileage. Our readers have re-
ported trouble with air-conditioning on a
number of imported cars.
However, an integrated air-conditioner
markedly improves window defogging and
fresh-air ventilation. Beyond that, air-con-
ditioning can delay the onset of driver
fatigue by providing a comfortable, quiet
environment.
Cars with factory-installed air-condi-
tioners are designed to accept the extra
load: Front springs may be heavier, the
BUYING A NEW CAR 335
engine's cooling system may have greater
capacity, tires will be oversized where
needed, and the air-conditioner will be
integrated into the car's fresh-air system.
Avoid automatic-temperature-control
units because they often do not control the
interior environment well and because
they tend to be unreliable.
TINTED GLASS helps reduce the load on the
air-conditioner on a sunny day, but also
may reduce nighttime vision. Tall drivers
may be bothered by the dark band at the
top of the windshield of some domestic
models. Domestic cars can usually be
ordered with air-conditioning and clear
glass. With some imports, tinted glass is
standard or a "mandatory option."
SEATS. Front seats are usually available in a
variety of special configurations and mate-
rials. A one-piece bench seat, standard in
most large models, offers the best overall
comfort when three people are sitting in
front. A split bench seat offers improved
side support and comfort for two, but less
comfort for three; a split bench seat can
also be adjusted to provide adequate leg
room for a tall passenger who rides next to
a short driver.
Power-operated seats offer a wider
range of adjustment at the expense of
greater mechanical complexity and
weight. Consider buying them only if you
can't adequately adjust the standard seat to
your physique.
Where possible, choose cloth uphol-
stery rather than solid vinyl. Cloth may be
harder to clean, but it won't make you feel
as sweaty in summer or as cold in winter as
solid vinyl will.
POWER WINDOWS. These extras can be con-
fusing to operate, and they might conceiv-
ably cause serious injury.
AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL. With this con-
trol you can maintain a preset speed within
a couple of miles per hour even over gent-
ly rolling terrain. (With most speed con-
trols, car speed will tend to drop going up
long expressway grades, however.) The
336 BUYING A NEW CAR
control disengages automatically when
you touch the brake or clutch pedal. The
device can help you stay within speed lim-
its and may help improve gasoline mileage
on trips, but it must be used with caution.
It may lull you into inattention and leave
you unable to react quickly enough in an
emergency. It should not be used in con-
gested areas or on slippery pavement.
CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM. Most medium-
sized and large cars offer an extra that
enables you to lock all the doors at the
touch of a button. Such systems provide
increased occupant safety in high-crime
areas: A lone driver can instantly lock out
a would-be intruder.
"COURTESY" LIGHTS. Lights that go on when
you open a door, the glove compartment,
the trunk, or the hood are useful. But they
may be sold as part of a package with
options you don't want.
DEFOGGERS AND DEFROSTERS. Unless most
of your driving is done in the arid regions
of the Southwest, you will appreciate hav-
ing a rear-window defogger or defroster.
We recommend them.
OTHER REAR·VISION AIDS. A rear-window
wiper/washer is desirable on most station
wagons and hatchbacks. If one is not avail-
able, an air defiector can help keep the
rear window clean. A defiector may de-
crease gasoline mileage slightly at express-
way speeds.
INTERVAL WIPERS. Wipers that can be set to
pause between strokes are useful in light
rain or mist.
BODY TRIM, BUMPER PROTECTION. If protec-
tive vinyl strips, also called body side
moldings, are not standard on the car you
want, consider buying them. Avoid expen-
sive exterior trim packages with ineffec-
tive metal moldings and trim around doors
and windows.
Full-width bumper facings and bumper
guards can be useful if you drive or park in
congested areas. Facings protect your
bumpers, and guards help prevent the
bumpers of other cars from riding over or
under yours. Both are sometimes part of a
deluxe bumper package.
VINYL ROOF. A frill that is becoming much
less popular. Sometimes put in a package
with other options.
SUN ROOF. Becoming much more popular
but bear in mind that head room could be
drastically reduced. That could be criti-
cal.
ROOF RACK. Available on many station
wagons and small cars. When you load up
the rack, expect fuel economy and han-
dling to suffer, especially when you drive
at expressway speeds.
RADIO. You can buy an AM, AM/FM, AMI
FM stereo, AM/FM stereo plus a tape
player, or a CB transceiver. And you can
buy it from the automaker, from the car
dealer, or at a store that specializes in
audio equipment for cars.
A power antenna can help prevent van-
dalism. The antenna is out of sight as long
as the radio is off, but when the radio is
switched on, the antenna rises automati-
cally. An exterior antenna, rather than an
antenna molded into the windshield, will
improve both AM and FM reception.
UNDERCOATING. Factory-applied under-
coating is often included in a sound-dead-
ening package, and indeed its chief value is
insulating the car's interior from road
noise. Heavy undercoating sprayed on by
dealers may have some added sound-dead-
ening effect, but its effectiveness as rust-
proofing is questionable. Sound-deadening
packages are more effective; they contain
acoustical insulation that is lighter and
more effective than undercoating.
RUSTPROOFING. CU cannot support a gen-
eral recommendation for extra rustproof-
ing. Indeed, all domestic cars and most
imports now carry at least a three-year
warranty on rust perforation.
PAINT SEALERS. Polyglycoat, Ultra Seal, and
other dealer-applied finish coatings im-
prove the gloss and protect the paint about
as well as a good auto polish, but at a price
of $150 to $250 (see Auto Polishes, page

379). You can do the same job yourself at a
small fraction of the cost.
SHOPPING. CU believes it's wisest to start
shopping in the cool and rational serenity
of one's own home, away from sales talk
and shiny enticements on the showroom
Boor. Once you have decided how big a
car you need, what body style, the price
range you can afford, and what options
you want, use the most recent CU Ratings
available to narrow your choice to a few
makes and models. Take note of corporate
twins-mechanically similar models that
differ from each other only in superficial
respects. Such twins-the Ford Mustang
and Mercury Capri, for example-are not-
ed in the Ratings. Should you decide on a
Mustang, you might plan to look in Mer-
cury showrooms, too, for a better buy or a
better dealer. Plan also to shop for the car
you want at more than one dealership, if
that's at all possible. Consider convenience
of service, and check each dealer's local
reputation.
If you arrive at the dealer knowing what
you want, little is left to decide except the
price. Your best chance of getting the rock-
bottom price lies with knowing what the
dealer has to pay the factory. To that base,
you add about $200 to $400 for the deal-
er's expenses and profit and still buy hun-
dreds of dollars below the sticker price.
Better deals may be available on cars that
have been overstocked, especially if the
factory adds a rebate to the deal. Cars in
great demand may command pretty close
to list or well over list in some cases. You
can determine the dealer's cost using the
figures and the procedure outlined in the
April "Auto" issue of CONSUMER REPORTS,
or in some auto price books available at
newsstands.
Beware of a sticker some dealers paste
on next to the official one. Such unofficial
stickers may include dealer added options
(i.e., decorative wheel covers, undercoat-
ing, body protection, Boor mats) and a ser-
vice contract. But these items are not real-
BUYING A NEW CAR 337
ly necessary and should not have to be a
part of your deal.
Though dealer preparation charges are
included in the base price of most domes-
tic models, they are listed separately for
some imports. A charge of $25 to $75 is
typical, in CU's experience, but some deal-
ers may charge $100 or even $200, espe-
cially when selling expensive or popular
models.
If you have a car to trade in or sell, try to
get some real idea of what it's worth. One
source of such information is a used-car
price book; ask your bank's loan officer to
look at his or her copy. Use the price-
adjustment tables in the price book to
adjust for low or high mileage and for spe-
cial, extra-cost equipment. Also subtract
the cost of any repairs the car may need.
Some price books tend to give unrealisti-
cally high figures, so consider the result of
your calculations just an approximation.
The real value of your old car, in the final
analysis, is only what a dealer or private
buyer will pay you.
To decide how to dispose of the old car,
first ask the dealer to quote you a price on
the new car without a trade-in. Then intro-
duce the old car and ask for a price that
includes that particular deal. The differ-
ence between the two prices is the old car's
actual trade-in value in that deal.
WARRANTIES. Among the most numerous
complaints that CU receives from readers
are those concerning poor auto-warranty
service. Since you must generally rely on
the selling dealer to perform any necessary
repairs on your new car-at least through
the warranty period-you would be wise to
check a dealer's reputation for service
before concluding a deal. Talk to friends
and neighbors who own the make of car
you want. If necessary, go to the dealer's
shop early in the morning and buttonhole
service customers as they leave. If you
learn of a local dealer who gives unusually
good service, you may be wise to buy your
car there-even if you could get a slightly
338 BUYING A USED CAR
more advantageous deal elsewhere.
Standard warranties for most domestic
cars and for many imports are for 12
months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes
first. Some offer unlimited mileage. Look
for longer warranties with some makes;
Chrysler Corp., for example, offered a 5-
year/ 50,000-mile warranty in late 1982.
Buying a used car
Although you can never eliminate all risks
when you buy a used car, you can mini-
mize them by knowing how to buy. Being
an informed used-car shopper takes work
and determination-and sometimes cour-
age and persistence in the face of a persua-
sive salesperson. But the effort can save
you a lot of money and trouble down the
road.
Narrow the f leld
We recommend buying the smallest, new-
est car that fits your needs and that you can
afford. Small, fuel-efficient cars are depre-
ciating slowly these days, so you will prob-
ably have to spend more money-at first.
That six-year-old, luxurious, mid-sized U.S.
VS may sell for several hundred dollars less
than a small import of the same year, but
the small car will save you hundreds of fuel
dollars per year. Repairs, parts, and tires
will also cost you less in the long run.
In this era of multi-car families, don't
buy an oversize car for rare large-capacity
use that could be handled by a large car
you already have in the family. And try to
choose cars with smaller engines. Fours
generally burn less fuel than Sixes, Sixes
less than VS's, and the standard VS's less
than the bigger optional engines. You will
rarely find a car whose acceleration is
inadequate with its standard engine.
Most carmakers offer limited warranties,
with legal loopholes. AMC alone offers a
"full" 12-month-or-12,000-mile warranty
that covers even expendable items such as
wiper blades and light bulbs, which are
excluded by other automakers. All makes
now also have a rust warranty as well;
most are for three years, some five years.
In return for the risk you take, a used car
is cheaper to buy and cheaper to insure
than a new car. Used cars keep their resale
value better because they don't depreciate
as quickly as new cars. Since new-car
prices have become astronomical, a used
car is all many people can afford. For all
those reasons, far more used cars are
bought each year than new cars.
Flashy cars-sports cars, coupes, con-
vertibles-depreciate more slowly than
simple sedans, so they cost more used.
Frills such as power windows can be
expensive to repair. Parts for exotic makes
may be hard to find outside of junkyards.
As you narrow the field of used cars to
buy, you can find out how specific models
tested out when they were new by check-
ing back issues of CONSUMER REPORTS.
To give some idea of a particular mod-
el's trouble spots, refer to the Frequency-
of-Repair charts in the April 1982 Auto
Issue. For an idea of the overall index of
troubles and the relative cost of mainte-
nance and repairs, see the charts beginning
on page 358 of this Buying Guide. But the
older the car, the more important its pres-
ent condition. And the more it's been used
and repaired, the less likely that it will be
in phase with its model's repair history.

Decide where to buy
People who sell µsed cars professionally
generally use a reference such as the
"NADA Official Used Car Guide," pub-
lished monthly, to set the prices of their
cars. A prospective owner of a used car can
use that guide, too. Most banks, libraries,
and insurance offices have copies. The
guide lists three prices for each make and
model: the trade-in (wholesale) price, the
loan value, and the retail price. The value
of major options such as automatic trans-
mission and air-conditioning is also noted,
as are the effects of very high or very low
mileage on ~e price of a car. (The guide
can also be very useful in establishing the
price of a car you wish to sell.)
New-car dealers who sell used cars will
probably charge close to the retail price.
But they generally reserve for retail sales
the best cars they take in trade (wholesal-
ing the clunkers). Moreover, they are usu-
ally equipped to service the ones they sell,
and may offer a warranty.
Used-car dealers generally have less ex-
tensive service facilities than new-car deal-
ers, or no service facilities at all. Often
Give the car the once-over
No matter where you buy a used car or
what kind of car you're buying, you're ask-
ing to be taken if you buy it without mak-
ing a careful inspection and taking a test
drive. You'll need about an hour altogeth-
er, and it helps to have a friend along. Do it
on a fair day-darkness or rain will greatly
hinder your ability to evaluate a car. If the
car passes, get a professional mechanic to
make a more complete inspection.
The older the car, the more wear and
tear you can expect on the interior. Check
the driver's seat and the condition of the
pedals. On a car with fairly low mileage, a
sprung seat or worn pedals can be an indi-
cation that the mileage is higher than the
odometer indicates.
BUYING A USED CAR 339
their cars are cast-offs from among those
taken as trade-ins by the new-car dealers.
Private sales opportunities can be found
by checking the classified ads. Cars sold by
private parties could be in worse condition
than those sold by reputable dealers. How-
ever, private parties do sell some perfectly
good used cars, sometimes at a good price,
since one point of a private sale is to split
the middleman's profit between seller and
buyer. But be prepared to cope with the
pitfalls. Ask if the car is registered (and
presumably roadworthy). Try to find out,
somehow, if the car has ever been in an
accident, or if the owner has an odd reason
for selling it. You'll have to handle the
legal paperwork yourself. And you'll prob-
ably have to pay cash for the car, as is.
Auto-rental agencies and companies that
keep big fleets of cars may sell used cars to
the public as they replace their vehicles.
Hertz, Avis, and National, the three big-
gest car-rental companies, do so. The cars
they sell are generally six months to three
years old and usually come with mainte-
nance histories and warranties.
Look for rust spots, especially under the
doors, in the wheel wells, and in the trunk.
Severe rust is difficult and expensive to
repair and may be enough for you to reject
the car immediate\;'.
Check the tires (including the spare) for
uneven or excessive wear. If the car is a
year or two old, worn tires (or brand-new
tires) are likely to mean that the car has
run at least 20,000 miles. If the odometer
reads, say, 10,000 miles, you should be sus-
picious. Uneven tire wear may mean me-
chanical problems: a misaligned front end,
defective shock absorbers or brakes, a
frame bent in an accident.
Look at the car in bright light and from
all angles. Where there is blistered or peel-
340 BUYING A USED CAR
ing paint, suspect rust underneath. If the
paint isn't the same color all over or if it's
rippled in places, suspect that there's been
body work.
Open and close the windows and doors.
If the windows bind, or if the doors sag and
don't close easily, the car needs repair.
Have your mechanic check the frame.
Grasp the top of each front tire and
shake it hard, in and out. Lots of free play
or clunking sounds indicate loose or worn
wheel bearings or badly worn suspension
joints. Repairs could be expensive.
Press your foot steadily down on the
brake pedal for about one minute. If the
pedal sinks slowly, have your mechanic
check for a leak in the brakes.
Check the car's controls and electrical
Take the car for a drive
If the car is still in the running after your
inspection, ask to take it for a test drive.
You'll need about half an hour. If you are
refused, forget about buying that car.
If the engine knocks or doesn't run
smoothly, especially during acceleration,
it may indicate that the car needs a tune-
up, higher-octane fuel-or very expensive
repairs.
The transmission, automatic or manual,
should shift smoothly. Check reverse as
well as forward gears. A manual's clutch
shouldn't grab or vibrate. The steering
should be quiet and firm-not sticky or too
loose.
Take the car on a rough road to see how
well it holds the road when it hits bumps.
Find a level, straight road with no traf-
fic-and with a puddle or wet patch in it, if
you can. Let your friend out of the car.
Have him or her watch the wheels as you
drive slowly away through the puddle. If
the tracks of the rear wheels don't follow
the front wheels exactly, suspect that the
car has been in an accident.
On the same road, get the car going 45
equipment. First, start the engine. While
the engine is cold, listen for suspicious
noises that could be indicative of expen-
sive engine problems. Inside the car, make
sure the indicators and lights all work.
Then ask your friend to stand outside the
car and check exterior lights.
Get down on the ground to check . the
exhaust system. While you're there, look
for dark patches on the ground or pave-
ment under the car. If you see them, sus-
pect oil or transmission-Hu.id leakage.
To check for worn shock absorbers, push
down repeatedly on each corner of the car
until it's bouncing, then let go. If the car
keeps on bouncing instead of leveling
almost immediately, suspect worn shock
absorbers.
mph and then brake fairly hard-but don't
lock the wheels·. Repeat the test three
times; the pedal should feel firm and
shouldn't sink too low. The car should stop
straight, without pulling to either side and
with no grabbing or vibration.
Head for the highway. Drive af highway
speed for a while, take your foot off the
accelerator for several seconds, and then
step down hard. In a car with a gasoline
engine, the engine probably needs an over-
haul if blue smoke comes out the tail pipe.
Black smoke means the fuel mixture is too
rich and should be adjusted.
Check for overheating. As you drive the
car, see whether the temperature gauge is
showing an excessively high reading, or
whether the temperature warning light is
glowing. If so, don't remove the radiator
cap; that can be dangerous. After stopping
the car, shut off the engine and open the
hood. If you hear hissing or see steam
escaping or coolant leaking out, that's a
sign of trouble. Again, don't remove the
radiator cap. Cooling-system problems can
be expensive and troublesome.

Take the car to a mechanic
If the car has passed your road test, arrange
with the seller to let you take it to a reli-
able, independent mechanic or a diagnos-
tic center. Expect to pay $25 to $50. Be
sure that the mechanic checks the engine
compression, brakes, wheel bearings,
transmission, cooling system, exhaust sys-
tem, and battery. Mention any oddity you
After the sale
What can you do if you've done your
homework, checked out a car, paid a
mechanic to do the same, and still wound
up with a lemon? The risk is always there,
and you don't have much protection if you
bought the car without a written warranty.
Federal law does require that used cars
have accurate readings on the odometer,
even if the seller is a private party.
If you have a problem not covered by
1982 models as used cars
On the pages that follow, we tabulate the
characteristics of the cars that CU has
tested as new cars. If a model is not listed,
it means that we have not tested it recently
enough to report on it. Remember that
these are comments about 1982 models as
used cars, not previews of 1983 models.
We have listed the models in alphabeti-
cal order within general size groups. We
have highlighted those models that we
think will be the best to choose as used
cars. These judgments are based on the
performance of the car as we tested it
when new, and on the Predicted Repair
BUYING A USED CAR 341
noticed in your inspection and test drive.
The mechanic should also look for any
signs that the car had been hit (and check
the repair job if it has been hit) and should
note any oil leaks.
Get a written estimate for all needed
repairs. It may be useful in bargaining with
the seller.
warranty and the dealer doesn't agree to fix
it, your only recourse is to complain to
your local department of consumer affairs
or to the state Attorney General. Or you
can sue the seller in small-claims court to
try to recover the cost of repairs. Of
course, there's a chance that the court
won't allow your claim-but that's just
another risk in the risky business of buying
a used car.
Incidence, which is very important, espe-
cially in a used car. Note that our informa-
tion regarding engine and transmission
availability and fuel mileage may not be
applicable in California.
The fuel mileage given is for the car
with the engine and transmission listed and
was measured on the road. The cruising
range given is computed by multiplying
the mileage obtained on CU's 195-mile test
trip by the fuel-tank refill capacity, less a
30-mile "cushion." Accommodations for
tall or short persons are noted only if
they're particularly good or bad.
342 BUYING A USED CAR

1982 models as used cars

SMALL CARS (Listed alphabetically. • designates models that deserve preference
as used cars.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

BUICK SKYHAWK No data, new model. Very comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door Very good driving position. Fairly
4-door comfortable rear seat for two,
uncomfortable for three. Moderate noise
CADILLAC CIMARRON level. Abrupt ride on pavement joints and
4-door rough secondary roads. Excellent climate
control in air-conditioned models. Gauges
CHEVROLET CAVALIER obscured by reflections.
2-door
2-door hatchback
4-door
4-door wagon

OLDSMOBILE FIRENZA
2-door hatchback
4-door

PONTIAC J2000
2-door
2-door hatchback
4-door
4-door wagon

CHEVROLET CAMARO No data, new model. Comfortable individual front seats.

2-door hatchback Uncomfortable rear seat. Fairly noisy. Stiff,
Jiggly ride especially on sharp bumps.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD Excellent climate control with powerful air-
2-door hatchback conditioner. Gauges obscured by
reflections.

... CHEVROLET For gasoline version, average In Comfortable lndlvlduai front seats but
CH EVETTE first four years. For Chevette Interior cramped for width. Uncomfortable
2-door hatchback diesel, insufficient data. rear seat. Moderate noise level. Choppy
4-door hatchback ride. Good heater but mediocre fresh-air
ventilation. Awkward and stiff climate
... PONTIAC T1000 controls.
2-door hatchback
4-door hatchback

... DATSUN 200SX Better than average in first two Fairly comfortable individual front seats.
2-door years. Low driving position with tight head room.
2-door hatchback Uncomfortable rear seat. Moderate noise
level. Taut, sometimes jerky ride. Good
climate control system.

ON THE ROAO
The 1.8-liter Four hesitated and surged
even when fully warm. The automatic
transmission shifted annoyingly. The
4-speed manual transmission shifted
stiffly. This front-wheel-drive model
handled satisfactorlly. Good brakes,
fronts lock early.
The 2.5-liter Four started quickly and
ran without hesitation . The 4-speed
manual transmission felt stiff and the
clutch had very long travel. This model
tended to skate to the side on
washboard surfaces. Handling was
competent but not particularly sporty.
Good, but touchy, brakes.
Both the 1.6-llter gasoline Four and the
1.8-liter diesel Four started easily and
ran well. The 4-speed manual
transmission in the gasoline version
shifted somewhat stiffly. The diesel 5-
speed was difficult to shift into fifth
and reverse. The gasoline model
handled very well. The diesel version
handled imprecisely. Very good
brakes.
The 2-liter Four started and ran well
( 1982 model has 2.2-liter Four). The 5-
speed manual transmission shifted
stiffly when cold. Very good handling.
Very good brakes.
BUYING A USED CAR 343
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 1.8-liter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 19;
expressway, 44. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 525.
Cruising range, 445 miles.
Mpg with 1.8-liter Four
and automatic
transmission: city, 15;
expressway, 37. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 645.
Cruising range , 360 miles.
Mpg with 2.5-llter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 16;
expressway, 33. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 650.
Cruising range, 400 miles.
Mpg with 1.6-llter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 19;
expressway, 34. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 570.
Cruising range, 370 miles.
Mpg with 1.8-liter diesel
Four and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 24;
expressway, 48. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 435.
Cruising range , 4 75 miles.
Mpg with 2-liter Four and
5-speed transmission :
city, 23; expressway, 38.
Gallons used in 15,000
miles, 505. Cruising
range, 430 miles.
COMMENTS
GM 's J-cars are too new to have
established any reliability records as
used cars, but early indications are
that they are having trouble with the
manual transmissions and trouble with
engine drivabllity in the earlier-
production models. In our tests the
J-cars did not do as well as the better
imports; neither their engine response
nor their fuel economy was impressive.
Perhaps It would be well to wait
another year before buying a used
J-car.
The new Camara and Firebird have
styling that certainly attracts attention
but we found the Camaro we tested to
be disappointing In many aspects. The
car is too large and heavy for best
economy or performance and its
manual transmission and clutch are
well below the standards established
by Imports. Buyers looking for one of
these models as a current used car
would be better off with an automatic
transmission and VS or VS engine.
The Chevette and T1000 make good
alternatives for those buyers looking
for a small, economical domestic car.
Interior space, especially width, Is
cramped. The four-door model has
better rear seating than the two-door.
Reliability has been average; along
with the Ford Escort, the best among
small domestic cars. Performance of
the Japanese-built diesel engine In the
Chevette was disappointing in our
tests.
The 200SX had a slightly larger engine
for 1982 but fuel economy and other
performance aspects should remain
about the same as the 1981 version we
tested. As with other "sporty" small
cars, consider the 200SX useful
primarily for two persons. Power
steering Is a useful option, the manual
steering can become quite heavy In
parking.
344 BUYING A USED CAR
Small cars
{cont.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
... DATSUN 210 Much better than average in first Fairly comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door three years. Uncomfortable rear seat. Fairly noisy.
2-door hatchback Jittery ride. Below par heater and
4-door ventilation.
4-door wagon

DATSUN 310 Better than average In first three Fairly uncomfortable Individual front seats.
2-door hatchback years. Low driving position. Uncomfortable rear
4-door hatchback seat. Fairly noisy. Jiggly, somewhat harsh
ride .

... DODGE-COLT Much better than average In first Comfortable Individual front seats. Tight
2-door hatchback three years. leg room for tall drivers. Uncomfortable
4-door hatchback rear seat for two. Very uncomfortable for
three. Moderate noise level. Busy ride,
... PLYMOUTH CHAMP harsh with full load. Weak heater and
2-door hatchback ventilation.
4-door hatchback

DODGE OMNI Average for first year, worse than Comfortable Individual frorit seats.
2-door hatchback average for second through fourth Awkward pedal placement. Uncomfortable
(024) years. rear seat for two, too tight for three.
(CHARGER 2.2) Moderate noise level (Miser version fairly
4-door hatchback noisy). Comfortable ride, except when fully
loaded. Inconvenient climate controls.
PLYMOUTH HORIZON
2-door hatchback
(TC3)
(TURtStMO)
4-door hatchoack

... FORD ESCORT Average for the firsryear. Comfortable individual front seats. Fairly
2-door hatchback comfortable rear seat. Fairly noisy. Firm
4- door hatchback and somewhat jittery ride. Excellent climate
4-door wagon control system with air-conditioner. Poorly
designed horn and wiper controls .
... MERCURY LYNX
2-door hatchback
4-door hatchback
4-door wagon

... FORD MUST ANG For Four, average for the first Comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door three years. For Six and VS, worse Awkward driving position for short drivers.
2-door hatchback than average. Uncomfortable rear seat. Moderate noise
level. Busy but not uncomfortable ride.
MERCURY CAPRI Excellent climate control system with air-
2-door hatchback conditioner. Poorly designed horn and
wiper controls.

ON THE ROAD
The 1.4-liter Four (" MPG" model)
started quickly but surged even when
v.arm. The 5-speed manual
transmlss!on shifted smoothly except
when cold. Good handling, but
s:>mewhat vague. Good brakes, though
somewhat spongy feeling.
The 1.5-liter Four usually stalled alter
cold starts and hesitated and surged
annoyingly even when warm. The
5-speed manual transmission shilled
smoothly except for filth gear. This
front-wheel-drive model did not handle
~~r~~~~~~~ :r::.::~~{~Za~
811
brakes.
"Tihe 1.4-llter Four started quickly, then
hesitated and surged until warm. The
4-speed manual transmission did not
shill crisply. Unique 8-speed
transmission on more deluxe models
shills well but Is largely unnecessary.
This front-wheel-drive model handled
fairly well. Good brakes, but fairly long
. stopping distances.
Both the 1.7-llter and 2.2-llter Four
started and ran well. The 4-speed
manual transmission was balky and
somewhat vague. This front-wheel-
drive model handled satisfactorily.
Charger 2.2 handled much better.
Excellent brakes.
The 1.6-liter Four started and ran well.
The 4-speed manual transmission
shilled easily; clutch was abrupt. This
front-wheel-drive model handled well
In normal driving but over-responded
In abrupt maneuvers. Fair nonpower
brakes; power recommended.
The 2.3-liter Four started fairly easily
and ran well. The 5-speed manual
transmission shilled smoothly; filth
gear Is In an awkward location. This
model did not handle crisply or
precisely, nor did It track well in a
straight line. Very good brakes.
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 1.4-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 46. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 495.
Cruising range, 460 miles.
Mpg with 1.5-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 24;
expressway, 45. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 450.
Cruising range, 470 miles.
Mpg with 1.4-liter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 23;
expressway, 46. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 455.
Cruising range, 385 miles.
Mpg with 1. 7-Iller four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 26;
expressway, 43. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 440.
Cruising range, 465 miles.
l~pg with 2.2-liter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 42. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 510.
Cruising range, 440 miles.
Mpg with 1.6-liter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 21;
expressway, 42. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 495.
Cruising range, 375 miles.
Mpg with 2.3-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 15;
expressway, 35. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 660.
Cruising range, 385 miles.
BUYING A USED CAR 345
COMMENTS
The 210's main virtues are Its
slmpllclty, reliability, and fuel economy.
In other tested areas It falls well below
other better Japanese Imports. Should
be reasonably priced as a used car
since It was discontinued In the 1982
m6del year and new '82s were being
discounted. Replaced by the new
front-wheel-drive Nissan Sentra.
The front-wheel-drive 310 has not
been entirely successful. We found its
handling and braking somewhat below
par and Its new engine ran very poorly.
Seating Is too low for best comfort. We
suspect that Its price as a current used
car will be too high In relationship to Its
functional values to be a really good
buy.
Very economical and nimble-handling
small Imports, the Colt/ Champ twins
are sold and serviced by Chrysler
Corp. dealers. Base model Is well-
equipped. Should be reasonably priced
88 used cars and have a very good
reliability record .
The Omni and Horizon have been
Improving their quality steadily to the
point - e they are now about as
reliable 88 the typical domestic car.
Miser versions offer the better highway
gasoline mileage but Is rather spartan
Inside. Charger 2.2 version makes a lot
of exhaust noise but provides a sporty
car at a low price. Should be
reasonably priced as a used car. Look
for one with the 5-year warranty.
The Escort and Lynx have developed a
fairly good first-year reputation for
reliability. That, combined with their
Improved performance, should make
the current models fairly good used
car buys. We recommend power
brakes; power steering Is not needed.
It may be possible to find some '82
models with the balance of the two-
year warranty left.
The Mustang has never really delivered
on the promise of a " sporty" car partly
because Its handling Is not among the
best. As a used car, It is best
purchased In the four-cylinder version
for optimum economy and reliability.
Mustangs with manual transmissions
are among the best-shitting of
domestic small cars but are not up to
the ease of operation of the Imports.
 346 BUYING A USED CAR
Small cars
(cont.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Iii> HONDA ACCORD No Data , new model. Previous Very comfortable individual front seats.
2-door hatchback Accords have been much better Very good driving position . Fairly
4-door than average. comfortable rear seat for two,
uncomfortable for three. Moderate noise
level. Fairly comfortable ride, occasionally
harsh. Very good climate control system.
Excellent controls and displays .

... HONDA CIVIC Much better than average in first Very comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door hatchback two years. Uncomfortable rear seat. Moderate noise
4-door level with manual transmission, fairly noisy
4-door wagon with automatic. Busy, sometimes jerky ride.
Fairly weak heater.

... HONDA PRELUDE Much better than average in first Comfortable Individual front seats. Low
II
2-door three years. driving position. Uncomfortable rear seat.
Moderate noise level. Fairly comfortable
ride. Very good climate control system.
Excellent controls and displays.

Iii> MAZDA 626 Much better than average In the Very comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door first three years . Tight leg room for tall drivers. Fairly
4-door comfortable rear seat in sedan,
uncomfortable In coupe. Moderate noise
level. Stiff and busy ride. Very good climate
control system .

... MAZDA GLC Better than average for the first Very comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door hatchback year for sedan and hatchback. Fairly comfortable rear seat. Moderate
4-door Much better than average for the noise level with manual transmission, fairly
4- door wagon first four years for wagon model. noisy with automatic. Jittery and abrupt
ride. Convenient controls .

... NISSAN STANZA New model, no data. Previous Very comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door hatchback Nissan/ Datsun models have been Short on driver leg room . Comfortable rear
4-door hatchback better than average. seat for two, fairly comfortable for three.
Moderate noise level. Choppy ride on poor
roads , satisfactory on expressways.
Excellent climate control system. Excellent
controls and displays.

I
ON THE ROAD
The 1.8-llter Four often stalled after a
cold start, then ran well. The 5-speed
manual transmission shilled very
crisply. This front-wheeled model
handled very well, especially In abrupt
maneuvers. Very good brakes.
The 1.5-llter Four usually stalled after a
cold start, then hesitated slightly even
when warm. The 5-speed manual
transmission shifted easily. The
automatic transmission shifted
abruptly at times. This front-wheel-
drive model handled very well.
Excellent brakes.
The 1.8-llter Four started and ran well.
The 5-speed manual transmission
shifted smoothly. This front-wheel-
drive model handled precisely and
predictably. Excellent brakes.
The 2-liter Four started and ran very
well. The 5-speed manual transmission
shifted crisply except when cold. Very
good handling in normal driving; a little
tricky In abrupt maneuvers. Very good
brakes.
The 1.5-llter Four hesitated and
surged, even when warm . The 5-speed
manual transmission shifted well,
except when cold. The automatic
transmission shifted abruptly at times.
This front-wheel-drive model handled
very well. Very good brakes,
The 2-llter Four started quickly and ran
well. The 5-speed manual transmission
shifted easily; rather wide gear pattern.
This front-wheel-drive model handled
very well . Excellent brakes.
BUYING A USED CAR 347
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 1.8-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 22;
expressway, 40. Gallons
used in 15,000 mlles, 490.
Cruising range, 540 mites.
Mpg with 1.5-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 26;
expressway, 45. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 435.
Cruising range, 430 miles.
Mpg with automatic
transmission: city, 22;
expressway, 36. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 520.
Cruising range, 355 miles.
Mpg with 1.8-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 23;
expressway, 38. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 495.
Cruising range, 415 mlles.
Mpg with 2-liter Four and
5-speed manual
transmission: city, 18;
expressway, 37. Gallons
used in 15,000 mites, 580.
Cruising range, 430 miles.
Mpg with 1.5-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 21 ;
expressway, 45 . Gallons
used In 15,000 mites, 485.
Cruising range, 380 miles.
Mpg with automatic
transmission: city, 21 ;
expressway, 33. Gallons
used In 15,000 mites, 550.
Cruising range, 315 mites.
Mpg with 2-liter Four and
5-speed manual
transmission: city, 23;
e•pressway, 45. Gallons
used In 15,000 mites, 465.
Cruising range, 485 miles.
COMMENTS
The Accord was redesigned for '82
and has emerged as a very desirable
car. It suffers slightly In rear seat
accommodations; but the front seats
are very comfortable. Unfortunately,
Accords are In such high demand that
their used car prices are very high.
The Civic Is an extremely popular small
car and as such commands a high
price as a used car. The 4-door sedan
is the most luxurious but even the base
models are fairly well-equipped. The
FE model offers the highest gasoline
mileage.
The Prelude Is Honda's "sporty"
model and , as such, has a very
uncomfortable rear seat. Like the other
Honda models It has been very reliable
and will command a high used car
price.
The 626 wears two hats; the sedan is
family-oriented and conservative while
the coupe is more of a "sporty" car.
Standard equipment level Is high;
steering may be somewhat heavy
without power steering. The 626 is
somewhat slow in acceleration but
handling and reliability have been very
good.
The GLC is certainly one of the more
desirable small cars; It handles well
and delivers very good gasoline
mileage. The station wagon version
continues as a rear-wheel-drive model
and Is somewhat more reliable than
the front-wheel-drive sedan and
hatchback models.
The Stanza ls new for '82 and tested
out to be one of the best small cars
available. Gasoline mileage ts very high
and rear seat accommodations are
quite good among small cars. The XE
model, with Its higher level of
equipment and trim, Is more desirable
than the base model. Reliability has yet
to be determined but the Stanza
should follow the good records of
other Datsun/Nissan products. The
Japanese Nissan company is phasing
out the Datsun name, which It has
been using on Its cars sold in the
United States.
348 BUYING A USED CAR
Small cars
(cont.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

RENAULT 18i Insufficient data for prediction. Comfortable individual front seats. Tight
4-door driving position for tall drivers.
4-door wagon Uncomfortable rear seat for two or three.
Moderate noise level. Smooth, well-
controlled ride . Disappointing climate
control system. Unorthodox controls.

SUBARU Much better than average In the Comfortable Individual front seats.
2-door first two years. Awkward driving position for tall drivers.
2-door hatchback Uncomfortable rear seat for two or three.
4-door Fairly noisy; engine growl and throb most
4-door wagon noticeable on acceleration. Busy but not
Also 4-wheel-drive harsh ride. Good heater but weak
models ventilation .

... TOYOTA CELICA New model, no data. Previous Very comfortable individual front seats.
2-door models have been much better Very good driving position. Uncomfortable
2-door hatchback than average. rear seat. Moderate noise level. Somewhat
busy ride but competent over larger
bumps. Very good climate control but air-
conditioner does not work at idle .
... TOYOTA COROLLA Much better than average in the Very comfortable individual front seats.
2-door first four years. Very good driving position. Fairly
2-door hatchback comfortable rear seat. Moderate noise
4-door level. Well-controlled ride. Convenient
4-door wagon controls .

... TOYOTA COROLLA Much better than average in the Comfortable individual front seats. Very
TERCEL first two years. good driving position. Fairly comfortable
2-door rear se.at for two, uncomfortable for three.
2-door hatchback Moderate noise level. Somewhat busy but
4-door not harsh ride. Very good climate control
system. Convenient controls .

... TOYOTA STARLET Much better than average in the Comfortable individual front seats.
2- door hatchback first year . Cramped driving position for tall drivers.
Uncomfortable rear seat . Fairly quiet. Fairly
comfortable ride. Heater Is hard to
regulate .

... VOLKSWAGEN JETTA For gasoline version, better than Very comfortable individual front seats.
and JETT A DIESEL average In first two years. For Fairly comfortable rear seat. Moderate
2-door diesel, Insufficient data for noise level. Taut, firm ride. Very good
4-door prediction. climate control system. Convenient
controls.

VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT For gasoline version, average in Very comfortable individual front seats.
and RABBIT DIESEL the first year, worse than average Fairly comfortable rear seat. Moderate
2-door hatchback in the second through fourth noise level, diesel noisy at idle. Fairly
2-door convertible years. For diesel, better than comfortable ride.
4-door hatchback average In the first four years.

ON THE ROAD
The 1.6-liter Four started and ran well.
The 5-speed manual transmission was
somewhat balky, very close gear
pattern. This front-wheel-drive model
handled well. Poor brakes; required
excessive break-in.
The 1.6-liter Four started easily but ran
raggedly until warm, then surged
lightly to throttle changes. The 4-speed
manual transmission shifted easily
except when cold. This front-wheel-
drive model handled unsteadily in
emergency maneuvers. Good brakes.
The 2.4-llter Four started easily and
ran well. The 5-speed manual
transmission shifted easily. Smooth
clutch . This model had excellent
handling. Very good brakes.
The 1.8-liter Four started easily and
ran well. The 5-speed manual
transmission shifted crisply. This
model handled well, but steering was
somewhat heavy in parking. Very good
brakes.
The 1.5-liter Four started and ran well.
The 5-speed manual transmission
shifted very easily. This front-wheel-
drive model handled very well . Very
good brakes.
The 1.3-liter Four hesitated during
warmup, then ran well. The 5-speed
manual transmission shifted smoothly.
This model handled very well. Very
good brakes.
The 1. 7-liter Four started and ran very
well. The 1.6-liter diesel Four .... iso
started and ran well but sho"• at idle.
The 5-speed manual transmi ~s ion
shifted smoothly but reverse gear often
balked. This front-wheel-drive model
handled very well In normal driving; a
bit unsteady in hard turns. Very good
brakes .
The 1.6-liter diesel Four started quickly
and ran well but shook and vibrated
annoyingly at idle. The 4-speed manual
transmission shifted smoothly. This
front-wheel-drive model handled very
well. Very good brakes.
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 1.6-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 36. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles. 540.
Cruising range, 455 miles.
Mpg with 1.6-liter Four
and 4- speed manual
transmission: city , 20;
expressway, 38. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles. 535.
Cruising range, 395 miles.
Mpg with 2.4-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 21;
expressway, 40. G allons
used in 15,000 miles, 520.
Cruising range, 485 miles.
Mpg with 1.8-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 21 ;
expressway, 39. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 515.
Cruising range, 420 miles.
Mpg with 1.5-liter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmissi on: city , 23;
ex pressway, 42 . Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 470.
Cruising range, 420 miles.
Mpg with 1.3-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city, 26;
expressway, 46. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 430.
Cruising range, 385 miles.
Mpg with 1.7-llter Four
and 5-speed manual
transmission: city , 20;
expressway, 40. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 530.
Cruising range, 320 miles.
(See Rabbit for diesel
mileage.)
Mpg with 1.6-liter Diesel
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 31 ;
expressway, 57. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 350.
Cruising range, 465 miles.
(See Jells for gasoline
mileage.)
BUYING A USED CAR 349
COMMENTS
The 181 has not caught on In this
country and so there is not enough
data to determine Its reliability. Ride,
seat comfort in front . and gasoline
mileage are all quite good. We found
problems with the brakes on our
tested model. Although the price as a
used car may be fairly low, we would
not consider the 18/to be a good
used-car buy.
The Subaru has not been one of the
better small cars that we have tested .
Its engine is rough and noisy and its
handling has not been among the best.
We feel that there are equally reliable
Japanese models that deserve
preference as used cars.
A very good performer In all respects.
the Ce/lea shares with all " sporty" cars
an uncomfortable rear seat. Expect
high used car prices on this desirable
model.
The Corolla Is a conservative, old-
fashioned , rear-wheel-drive car , which
may explain its excellent repair record
and low costs of ownership. Corollas
are among the best used car buys, but
their prices may be high.
The front-wheel-drive Tercel, In spite of
its newer design, has developed a
similar repair record to the Corolla.
Peppy and responsive, the Tercel Is
also a very good used car buy.
The rear-wheel-drive Starlet is the mpg
champ of the Toyota line. It Is quite
small and does not offer an automatic
transmission. Starlets may be very
hard to find as used cars.
The Jetta appears to enjoy a better
reliability record than the very-similar
Rabbit. Front seats have automatic
safety belts; trunk is very large for a
small car. Relatively expensive as a
used car .
The Rabbit has had some chronic
reliability problems of late; the 1982
model may be somewhat better.
Delivers the highest mileage In the
diesel version but the engine is
annoyingly rough at Idle. Gasoline
version is very peppy. A chancy used-
car buy.
350 BUYING A USED CAR
MEDIUM CARS (Listed alphabetically. ""' designates models that deserve prefer-
ence as used cars.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

AMC CONCORD For Four, worse than average In Individual front seats comfortable for two,
2-door first two years; for Six, a-age In uncomfortable for three. large drlvellne
4-door first lour years. tunnel positions pedals too far left for most
4-door wagon drivers. Uncomfortable rear seat for two or
three. Moderate noise level. Comfortable
ride. Heater and air-conditioning not fully
Integrated, and performance Is below par.
Operating controls are generally outdated.

AMC EAGLE For Four, lnsulllcient data; for Six, Individual front seats comfortable for two.
2-door worse than •-age In first two large drlvellne tunnel positions accelerator
4-door years. pedal too far left. Accelerator too far
4-door wagon forward for short drivers. Fairly
comfortable rear 1eat for two,
uncomfortable for three. Moderately noisy.
Comfortable ride- much better than that
of other lour-- drive vehicles. Healer
and air-conditioner not up to current
standards. Operating controls are generally
outdated.

BUICK CENTURY No data, n- model•. Individual front seats ~ comfortable for

2-door two. Very good driving position .
4-door Comfortable rear seat for two or three.
Usually quiet diesel engine is noislar at low
CHEVROLET CELEBRITY speeds. Comfortable ride but rear
2-door suspension bottoms too easily. Excellent
4-door climate control system. Some glare and
rellecilons from Instruments.
OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
CIERA
2·door
4-door

PONTIAC 8000
2-door
4·door

BUICK REGAL Generally a-age, but have major Spill bench front seats comfortable for two,
2-door problems with automatic fairly comfortable for three. Good driving
4-door transmi1aion and fuel system. The position. Comfortable rear seat for two,
4-door wagon d~ ve h1a ~ high fairly comfortable for three. Fairly quiet;
maintenance and repair coeta. diesel-engined cars noisier altar starts and
CHEVROLET MALIBU at low speeds. Comfortable ride, but rear
4-door su-nalon bottoms too eaaily. Excellent
4-door climate control system. Buick gauges hard
4-door wagon to read; all others good.
OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
SUPREME
2-door
4-door
4-door wagon

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE G
4-door
4-door wagon

ON THE ROAD
The 2.5-liter Four usually stalled after a
cold start, and hesitated often during
warmup. The automatic transmission
shifted abruptly at times. This model
handled adequately but felt sluggish.
Fair brakes; long stopping distances.
A 2.5-liter Four Is standard. The
optional 4.2-liter Six often stalled once
after a cold start, then ran well. The
automatic transmission shifted
smoothly; the four-wheel-drive system
worked well. This four-wheel- drive
model handled well In normal driving,
but Is unsteady In emergency
maneuvers. Very good brakes.
The 3.0-liter V6 started easily, but
stumbled a bit during warmup or when
decelerating slightly. The 4.3-liter
diesel V6 started and ran flawlessly.
The automatic transmission shifted
very smoothly and has efficient "lock-
up" feature. These front-wheel-drive
models handled very well. Good
brakes.
The 3.8-liter V6 started and ran well.
The automatic transmission shifted
fairly smoothly; the "lock-up" feature
worked well. This model handled
competently but did not feel nimble.
The 5.7-liter diesel VS started and ran
very well. The automatic transmission
shifted smoothly. Very good brakes
with gasoline engine; diesel models
gave longer stopping distances.
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 2.5-iiter Four
and automatic
transmission: city, 14;
expressway, 27. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles. 760.
Cruising range, 475 miles.
Mpg with 4.2-liter Six and
automatic transmission:
city, 10; expressway, 20.
Gallons used in 15,000
miles, 1030. Cruising
range, 355 miles.
Mpg with 3.0-liter V6 and
automatic transmission:
city, 15; expressway, 32.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 690. Cruising range
360 miles. Mpg with 4.3-
liter diesel V6 and
e.utomatic transmission:
city, 19; expressway, 45.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 505. Cruising
range, 600 miles.
Mpg with 3.S-llter V6 and
automatic transmission:
city, 14; expressway, 2S.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 765. Cruising
range, 375 miles. Mpg
with 5.7-liter diesel VS
and automatic
transmission: city, 17;
expressway, 32. Gallons
used in 15,000, 645.
Cruising range, 495 miles.
BUYING A USED CAR 351
COMMENTS
The Concord Is not up to its peers in
gas mileage, braking , acceleration,
climate control system, and
accommodations. Though frequency-
of-repair data for 19S1 Concords has
been Insufficient , Sixes have shown
Improvement In 1980 models, while
earlier models were much worse.
Concords offer a five- year warranty
against rust. As a late- model used car,
depreciation is likely to be relatively
high, and resale commands a limited
market.
The Eagle Is one of the few four-wheei-
drlve cars that Is civilized as a
passenger car, though gas mileage Is
not good and Its room for passengers
or cargo is limited by medium- sized
sedan or station wagon standards.
Reliability of its engine and
complicated drlveline has not been
good. Should be considered as a used
car only ii off-road or bad-weather
capabilities are essential. Like the
Concord, on which it's based, the
Eagle will be likely to depreciate
relatively fast , and resale commands a
limited market.
These four GM front-wheel-drive cars
did very well on CU's tests, but their
predicted repair incidence is suspect.
Check with GM dealers for price on a
new unsold '82 before buying a used
'82; there were so many of these cars
In dealer stock late in 19S2 that you
might find a very favorable deal. The
diesel version of any A-car would be
particularly desirable in terms of fuel
mileage and cruising range , but carries
even more uncertainty about durability.
CU tested A-cars with two of the
optional engines available, the gasoline
VS and the diesel V6; the standard
engine Is the 2.5-iiter Four; In CU's
opinion, A-cars equipped with the Four
would be a reasonable buy.
These older-design, rear-wheel-drive
cars have been a popular size for fleet
or private ownership partly because
they have good resale value as used
cars and offer six- passenger capacity.
They do not handle as well as the
newer A-cars, and latest repair data
from CU's annual questionnaire shows
distinct deterioration. The dlesel-
engined versions give better fuel
mileage than gasoline cars, but the
trouble index for 5.7-liter VS diesels
has been bad. The V6 diesel's
durability Is as yet unknown.
352 BUYING A USED CAR
Medium cars
(cont.)

PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

BUICK SKYLARK Much worse than average in first Bench or individual front seats very
2-door two years. comfortable for two. Very good driving
4-door position. Fairly comfortable rear seat for
two or three. Moderate noise level.
CHEVROLET CITATION Generally harsh ride but good control on all
2-door but big bumps. Excellent climate control
2-door hatchback system. Good operating controls, but some
4-door hatchback reflections from gauges.
OLDSMOBILE OMEGA
2-door
4-door

PONTIAC PHOENIX
2-door
4-door hatchback

CHRYSLER LeBARON No data, new model, but basically Bench front seats comfortable for two or
2-door similar to K-cars, which have been three. Driving position for tall drivers is too
4-door worse than average In first year. high and close to wheel. Rear seat fairly
comfortable for two or three. Fairly quiet
DODGE 400 (better Insulated than Aries or Reliant).
2-door Comfortable ride In general, but gets much
4-door worse with full load. Excellent climate
control system. Operating controls ok , but
tall drivers can't see all Instruments easily .

• DATSUN MAXIMA Much better than average In first Individual front seats comfortable for two;
4-door year. very short on head room and leg room for
4-door wagon tall drivers. Good driving position for short
4-door diesel drivers. Fairly comfortable rear seat for
4-door wagon diesel two , but cramped for three. Moderate
noise level. Generally comfortable ride,
though jerky at times. Excellent climate
control system. Excellent operating
controls .

• DODGE ARIES Worse than average in first year. Bench front seats very comfortable for two,
2-door a bit tight for three. Very good driving
4-door position for tall drivers; accelerator hard to
4-door wagon reach for short drivers; comfortable rear
seat for two or three, though shoulder
• PLYMOUTH RELIANT room is tight. Moderate noise level; some
2-door vibration noticeable. Fairly comfortable ride
4-door but suspension often slams on small sharp
4-door wagon bumps. Excellent climate control system.
Very good operating controls but
reflections obscured gauges at times.

DODGE DIPLOMAT For Six, worse than average In first Bench front seats comfortable for two,
4-door four years; for VB, average In first fairly comfortable for three. Very good
four years. driving position for most drivers.
PLYMOUTH GRAN FURY Comfortable rear seat for two, fairly
4-door comfortable for three. Fairly quiet. Good
ride; relatively firm . Excellent climate
CHRYSLER NEW control system. Very good operating
YORKER controls.
4·door

ON THE ROAD
The 2.5-llter Four often stalled after a
cold start, but then ran well. The
automatic transmission shifted
smoothly. This front-wheel-drive model
handled very well. Very good brakes.
The 2.6-liter Four started well, but
hesitated occasionally during warmup;
floods on hot starts at times. The
automatic transmission shifted
smoothly. This 'ront-wheel-drlve model
handled very well. Very good brakes.
The 2.4-llter fuel-Injected Six coughed
and stumbled after a cold start, but
ran all right after that. The automatic
transmission shifted fairly smoothly;
some vibration was noted on · miles, 715. Cruising
acceleration. This front-wheel-drive
model handled very well. Very good
brakes. '
The 2.2-liter Four started well, but
usually stalled once, then surged at
times even when warmed up. The
automatic transmission shifted
abruptly at times and banged or jerked
when shifted Into gear at fast idle
during warmup. This front-wheel-drive
model handled smoothly In normal
driving, but lacked crispness In sudden
maneuvers. Excellent brakes.
The 3. 7-liter Six stalled during cold
starts, and hesitated even when warm.
The automatic transmission shifted
smoothly. This model handled well;
power steering somewhat was lacking
in precision and feel . Very good
brakes.
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 2.S-llter Four
and automa11c
transmission: city, 16;
expressway, 34. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 645.
Cruising range 350 miles.
Mpg with 2.6-liter Four
and automatic
transmission: city, 16;
expressway, 29. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 675.
Cruising range, 310 miles.
Mpg with 2.4-llter Six and
automatic transmission:
city, 15; expressway, 28.
Gallons used In 15,000
range, 365 miles.
Mpg with 2.2-llter Four
and automatic
transmission: city, 18;
expressway. 34. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles. 595.
Cruising range, 345 miles.
Mpg with 3.7-liter Six and
automatic transmission:
city, 10; expressway, 23.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 1010. Cruising
range, 285 miles
BUYING A USED CAR 353
COMMENTS
The X-cars did well In CU' s tests, but
are very trouble- prone , according to
subscribers' reports. Reliability has not
shown any Improvement through 3rd
year of production. There are many '82
X-cars In dealer's stocks at close of
year; '82's should be available at very
low prices on the used-car market. If
you 're prepared to take a chance on a
good specimen, cars with automatic
transmissions are the better bet.
The LeBaron feels smoother and
quieter than its K-car brothers; the
automatic transmission Is a mandatory
option with the 2.6-llter engine. The
2 .2-liter engine gives better fuel
mileage, without serious sacrifice In
performance. Rear pillar badly
hampers rearward vision. Some '82
Chrysler Corp. cars were sold with a 5-
year/50,000-mile warranty; If you can
find one of those. It could have some
very worthwhile coverage left.
Though sold as a medium-sized, five-
passenger car. the Maxima's seating Is
tight for head room and width. Has
very complete equipment; good
frequency-of-repair record for first
year. CU has had no experience with a
Maxima Diesel.
The predicted repair incidence for the
'82 K-cars Is worse than average In the
first year , but not the worst among
U.S. cars, and some '82's may be
covered by Chrysler Corp's. 5-year/
50,000-mile warranty. If you can find
one, it would be worthwhile for any
remaining coverage. The K-cars scored
high in CU' s tests; the engine was
responsive, and gave high mpg; they
seat six comfortably, have excellent
brakes and climate control systems,
and easy servicing.
These deluxe versions of the
discontinued Dodge Aspen/ Plymouth
Vo/are twins are only a little more
reliable than their predecessors In Six-
cylinder form , but are up to average
predicted repair Incidence with V8's.
These cars are much thirstier than the
newer front-wheel-drive K-cars.
354 BUYING A USED CAR
Medium cars
(cont.)

PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Iii>- FORD FAIRMONT For Four and Six, average In first Bench front seats very comfortable for two,
FUTURA . lour years. For VS, worse than uncomfortable for three. Comfortable rear
2-door average In first lour years. seat for two or three. Moderate noise level.
4-door Fairly comfortable ride; suspension
bottoms noisily over bumps. Excellent
.. MERCURY ZEPHYR climate control system in cars with air-
2-door conditioning. Operating controls are poor
4-door to fair; horn Is on end of turn-signal stalk,
and reflections obscure gauges at times.

FORD GRANADA Average for the first year of Spilt bench front seats very comfortable for
2-door ownership. two, uncomfortable for three. Very
4-door comfortable driving position for most
4-door wagon drivers. Fairly comfortable rear seat for
two; cramped in width for three. Moderate
MERCURY COUGAR noise level. Comfortable ride In general,
2-door but thumps and shudders over broken
4-door pavement. Excellent climate control
4-door wagon system. Operating controls are confusing
and Inconvenient.

Iii>- PEUGEOT 505 Insufficient data; letters from
TURBODIESEL owners of recent-model Peugeot
4-door 505's Indicate more-than-average
electrical system problems.
Individual front seats exceptionally
comfortable for two. Comfortable driving
position for all but tall drivers, who found
accelerator pedal too close and too far left.
Comfortable rear seat for two or three.
Fairly quiet. Very smooth and comfortable
ride, even on roughest roads.
Disappointing climate control system,
especially for such an expensive car.
Inconvenient horn control.

Iii>- SAAB 900 Average In first and second years. Individual front seats exceptionally
2-door hatchback Turbocharged model appears to comfortable for two. Very good driving
2-door have more problems In the second position. Comfortable rear seat for two or
year. three. Moderate noise level. Still ride,
sometimes jerky. Excellent climate control
system. Operating controls very good,
except for awkward Ignition switch, located
on floor between front seats .

.. TOYOTA CRESSIDA New model; no data, but likely to Individual front seats very comfortable for
4-door be reliable as other Toyota models two, but head and leg room very tight for
are. tall drivers. Very good driving position for
most drivers. Fairly comfortable rear seat
for two, uncomfortable for three. Fairly
quiet Comfortable ride except with lull
load. Very good automatic climate control
system. Operating controls very good .
.. VOLVO For Four, much better than Individual front seats exceptionally
2-door average In first four years. For V6, comfortable for two. Very 8ood driving
4·door average in first four years. For position for most drivers. omlortable rear
4-door wagon diesel, much better than average seat for two, fairly comfortable for three.
In first year. Moderate noise level; some diesel clatter
Iii>- VOLVO DIESEL on cold starts and Idle; cooling Ian roars at
4-door high engine rpm. Firm, well-controlled ride;
4-door wagon no loss of comfort when fully loaded.
Excellent climate control system. Very
good operating controls.

ON THE ROAD
The 2.3-llter Four started quickly and
ran reasonably well. The automatic
transmission shifted smoothly. This
model handled fairly well; Its power
steering lacked feel and precision.
Very good brakes.
The 3.8-liter V6 usually started and ran
well. The automatic transmission
shifted smoothly. This model handled
sluggishly and vaguely, and Its rear
wheels stepped sideway occasionally
on choppy bumps. Very good brakes.
The 2.3-llter turbodlesel Four started
easily after glow plugs worked, but
engine then smoked and ran weakly
for up to a minute. The automatic
transmission shifted very smoothly, but
slippage was noted for the first few
minutes after cold starts. This model
handled very well. Very good brakes.
The 2.0-llter Four often stalled after a
cold start, then ran well. The 5-speed
manual and the automatic
transmission shifted smoothly. This
front-wheel-drive model handled very
well. Excellent brakes.
The 2.8-llter Six started and ran very
well. The 4-speed-overdrive automatic
transmission shifted smoothly. This
model handled somewhat vaguely and
sluggishly, especially in sudden
emergency maneuvers. Fair brakes-
touchy.
The 2.4-llter diesel Six started fairly
easily after glow plugs worked, and ran
well thereafter. The 4-speed manual
transmission shifted crisply, and a slide
switch on the shift knob electrically
engages an overdrive 5th gear. This
model handled very well; traction on
slippery roads was unusually good for
a rear-wheel-drive car. Excellent
brakes.
BUYING A USED CAR 355
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 2.3-llter Four
and automatic
transmission: city, 14;
expressway, 28. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 745.
Cruising range, 355 miles.
Mpg with 3.8-llter V6 and
automatic transmission:
city, 19; expressway, 26.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 795. Cruising
range, 320 mlles.
Mpg with 2.3-llter
turbodlesel Four and
automatic transmission:
city, 20; expressway, 35.
Gallons used In 15,000
miles, 575. Cruising
range, 475 miles.
l~ot tested; should be
similar to that of the
Toyota Cresslda, below.
Mpg with 2.8-llter Six and
automatic transmission:
city, 16; expressway, 30.
Gallons used in 15,000
miles, 685. Cruising
range, 405 miles.
Mpg with 2.4-llter diesel
Six and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 36. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 545.
Cruising range, 455 miles.
COMMENTS
The Ford Fairmont Futura/ Mercury
Zephyr twins offer an average
Frequency-of-Repair record which, for
a domestic car, is commendable; but It
did not score well In CU's tests. Below-
par ride, handling, rear seating, and
confusing controls were weak points.
They are not outstanding In quality, but
are viable cars; best version would be
Four-cylinder engine with automatic
transmission .
The Granada/Cougar Is an older
design, but the 3.8-liter V6 Is new for
1982; we have no data yet for Its
reliability. Handling, fuel economy, and
accommodations are below par among
medium-sized cars. When equipped
with the standard 2.3-liter Four, the
Granada/Cougar would perform about
the same as the Fairmont/ Zephyr Four,
above.
Peugeot 505 Turbodlesels will be rare
as used cars and relatively expensive,
but offer unusually good ride, seating,
and handling. Its air-conditioning
system, however, is out of date, and
service Is not as widely available as for
more popular makes. Performance of
the turbodiesel Is satisfactory; 505
diesel models without the turbo feature
are underpowered.
The Saab 900 provides many virtues
expected of a " sporty" sedan: It has
very comfortable and versatile front
seats, very good handling, and
excellent brakes. Gas mileage and
noise level are better with the 4-speed
or 5-speed manual transmission .
Another Incidental benefit: a huge
trunk / hatchback capacity.
Cresslds 's are very well equipped,
including automatic safety belts In
front . On the small side for passenger
accommodations among medium-sized
cars-like the Datsun Maxima,
above- and expensive. Should be a
reliable car like other Toyotas.
The Volvo 's body has looked basically
the same for many years- it 's tall,
boxy, and solid-looking; a no-
nonsense, practical car. It's expensive,
but now has a respectable frequency-
of-repair record, Its seats are high
class, braking Is excellent, and It has a
good climate control system.
356 BUYING A USED CAR
SMALL PICKUP TRUCKS (Listed alphabetically. ~designates models that
deserve preference as used trucks.)
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE
DODGE RAMPAGE N- model. no data; likely to be
similar to that of the Dodge Omni/
Plymouth Horizon, which Is
average for first year, declining to
worse than average after that.
VOLKSWAGEN PICKUP Worse than average for first two
years for both gasoline and diesel
versions.
MEDIUM PICKUP TRUCKS
PREDICTED REPAIR INCIDENCE
CHEVROLET S-10 New model, no data.
FORD RANGER New model, no data.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Individual front seats comfortable for two,
though a bit low and too reclined. Good
driving position for most drivers, but clutch
pedal too high. Moderate noise level. Fairly
comfortable but active ride; sometimes
harsh and jolting. Very good climate
controls, but ventilation weak without air-
conditioner. Good operating controls.
Some reflections from gauges.
Individual front seats comfortable for two.
Uncomfortable driving position for average-
or-taller drivers; seat will not go back far
enough-pedals and steering wheel too
close. Very noisy with diesel engine,
especially over 50 mph, and engine shook
car badly at Idle. Harsh and active ride; a
bit moderated when fully loaded. Very good
climate controls, but heater slow to warm
up, and slow to respond to desired
temperature changes. Excellent controls,
but cold-start knob for diesel out of sight.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Bench front seat comfortable for two;
cramped in width for three, and middle
occupant bothered by tunnel and gearshift.
Short drivers could barely reach
accelerator, and clutch too high for tall
drivers. Moderate noise level.
Uncomfortable ride; taut and jittery on
expressways, bounded sharply on back
roads. Fairly good climate controls; poor
design- can 't deliver hl·lo warm air In cold
weather. Good operating controls, but has
step-on parking brake with a manual
transmission , which is awkward, and clutch
must be fully depressed to crank starter.
Bench front seat comfortable for two; for
three, middle occupant cramped , others
were comfortable. Short drivers could not
reach the gearshift or clutch easily.
Moderate noise level. Fairly comfortable
ride; snappy and choppy only on worst
roads. Very good climate controls, but
ventilation weak without sliding rear
window. Fairly good operating controls; but
horn Is on the end of the turn signal stalk,
and step.on parking brake awkward to use
with manual transmission.

ON THE ROAD
The 2.2-liter Four started raggedly
when cold or hot; It stumbled and
sputtered during warmup; ok when
warm. The manual four-speed
transmission shifted vaguely,
sometimes balking into second or
reverse . Handling of this front-wheel-
drive model was excellent. Very good
brakes.
The 1.6-llter diesel Four started well,
then usually stumbled a bit during
warmup; after that It ran well, but was
a weak performer. The lour-speed
manual transmission shifted smoothly.
This front-wheel-drive model handled
extremely well. Very good brakes.
ON THE ROAD
The 1.9-liter Four usually started and
ran well from cold , though some
surging noted during warmup - good
when warm. The four-speed manual
transmission shifted crisply through
forward gears, but blocked out of
reverse. This model handled fairly well;
wheels sometimes chattered over
sharp bumps, causing step-off at either
end; somewhat sloppy in sudden
maneuvers. Fairly good brakes; hard to
brake evenly, and rear wheels locked
too easily.
The 2.0-liter Four started and ran well.
The four-speed manual transmission
shifted stiffly, and sometimes blocked
shifts. This model handled fairly well;
the manual steering was heavy and
slow, the steering wheel kicked over
sharp bumps, and the rear end
stepped off on bumpy turns. Fairly
good brakes; the power brakes were
touchy; the rear wheels locked too
easily.
BUYING A USED CAR 357
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 2.2-liter Four
and four-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 38. Gallons
used In 15,000 miles, 540.
Cruising range, 385 miles.
Mpg with 1.6-llter diesel
Four and manual
transmission: city, 30;
expressway, 45. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 390.
Cruising range, 630 miles.
FUEL MILEAGE
(ESTIMATED)
Mpg with 1.9-liter Four
and lour-speed
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 33. Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 565.
Cruising range, 380 miles.
Mpg with 2.0-llter Four
and 4-speed manual
transmission: city, 20;
expressway, 31 . Gallons
used in 15,000 miles, 590.
Cruising range, 445 miles.
COMMENTS
The Rampage gives both good gas
mileage and acceleration; Its brakes
are also good, and It has some storage
space behind Its seat. But predicted
repair Incidence does not bode well for
used-car, long-term ownership.
While the diesel VW Pickup gives
outstanding fuel economy, it is
painfully slow on acceleration,
especially when loaded. It's also very
noisy, and shakes at Idle. A VWplckup
with the gasoline engine would be a
better used-car buy for most people.
The VW's cab Is cramped, even for
average-sized adults; check to be sure
you can drive It comfortably. The VW
pickup's repair record Is not
encouraging with either the diesel or
gasoline engine.
COMMENTS
Most owners would be most satisfied
with an S-10 equipped with automatic
transmission and power brakes. It
would still ride badly, handling would
be mediocre, and acceleration weak.
Reliability will be uncertain.
Rangers with power steering are
desirable, even though It must have
the larger engine. It rides well among
smaller trucks, with or without a load ,
and its cab Is reasonably sized and
comfortable. Its cargo box is very
useful and versatile (it has a clever
arrangement that makes It possible to
carry 4X8-foot sheets flat), but its
brakes are not up to par.
358 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES
Trouble and cost indexes
for 1976· 1981 automobiles
Charts on the following pages give used-
car buyers some idea of how trouble-prone
a specific model has been compared to all
cars of the same year, and whether its
maintenance and repairs have been rela-
tively costly or cheap. The information is
based on 350,000 readers' replies to CU's
1981 Annual Questionnaire.
If the Trouble Index shows much-worse-
than-average woes, you'll want to look
much more closely at a prospective used
car. You can check the Frequency-of-
Repair records in the April 1982 issue of
CONSUMER REPORTS to find out which com-
ponents on the car were the source of most
trouble and inquire if they have been
repaired. The real worth of a used car
depends more on its present condition than
on the repair history of the breed. How-
ever, the certainty of determining that con-
dition falls off rapidly with the age of the
car.
Both indexes are adjusted to account for
differences in mileage. Costs increase
quickly with the number of miles driven
each year. High-mileage cars showed an-
nual maintenance-and-repair costs that
were about twice as high as those of low-
mileage cars.
To be labeled much worse than average
(or much better) in our chart, a model's
maintenance-and-repair costs had to be at
least 35 percent higher (or lower) than the
adjusted average of all cars reported on for
that year. The average costs increased
gradually for each year of a car's age-
from $115 for 1979 models to $335 for
1975 models. Costs for 1981 cars were not
included since much of their repairs would
have been done under warranty.
A blank vertical space on a chart shows
that the model didn't exist that year. An
asterisk means that we lacked the data nec-
essary for statistical evaluation.
 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES 359
~~~ ~~~~~u ~~~~~u ~~~~~u

AMC Concord, AMC Eagle 6 AMC Pacer 6

Hornet 6
Trouble Index •~o~o
Cost Index oooee ··~
00*
Audi Fox Audi 5000
(gasoline)
~oe

BMW3201 ··~
Buick Century V6
(except turbo)
Trouble Index oeee 00000•
Cost Index

Buick Century VS
••••
Buick Electra 225,
Electra VS (gasoline)
eoeee
Buick Le Sabre V6
Trouble Index 0000~ oeeoo eoeoo
Cost Index oeoee ooeoo eoee
Buick Le Sabre VS Buick Regal V6 Buick Regal VS
(gasoline) (except turbo)
Trouble Index 00000• 0000~
Cost Index ooeee oooeo
Buick Skylark 4 Buick Skylark V6
Trouble Index
Cost Index
Cadillac De Ville, Cadillac Eldorado VS Cadillac Seville VS
Fleetwood (gasoline) (gasoline) (gasoline)
0 8 8 0 0 • o o~•• ooo~•
*••
Trouble Index
0 0 0 0 0 )~
~····
Cost Index
Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Caprice,
(4WD) Chevrolet Camaro VS Impala 6, V6
Trouble Index ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cost Index *0 ~ 0 *
Chevrolet Caprice,
Impala VS (gasoline) Chevrolet Chevette Chevrolet Citation 4
0 8 8 8 0 0
~·
Trouble Index 000000
Cost Index 8 0 8 8 0 eeeee e
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '7S '79 'SO 'Sl '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
360 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
Chevrolet LUY
Chevrolet Citation V6 Chevrolet Corvette pickup (2WD)
eo~•• ooeeo
Trouble Index
Cost Index ...._...._...._.........,...;:;...;__, )~ * ):c e >:< *****
Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevelle 6, V6 Chevelle V8 V6 (except turbo)
Trouble Index 00 ~ 00 ~ ee~e~o oo••
Cost Index 8 8 0 8 8 eeoeo eee
Chevrolet
Monte Carlo V8 Chevrolet Monza 4 Chevrolet Monza V6

Trouble Index
Cost Index
8 0 ~0 •
8 8 0 0 8 •••••
00000 •••
00*
Chevrolet Nova, Chevrolet Nova, Chevrolet pickup truck
Concours, Custom 6 Concours, Custom V8 6(2WD)
Trouble Index 0 0 ~e 00~ eoeo~o
Cost Index 8 8 8 0 eeo ,~,~,~ee

Chevrolet pickup truck Chevrolet pickup truck

V8 (2WD, gasoline) V8(4WD) Chevrolet Sportvan V8

Trouble Index eee0 ~e ooo~•

Cost Index e e e 00 0000*
Chevrolet Suburban V8 Chevrolet Vega Chrysler Cordoba VS

Trouble Index ~ 0 0 ~~
Cost Index 0000 )~

Chrysler Le Baron 6 Chrysler Newport,

Chrysler Le Baron V8 New Yorker V8
Trouble Index ~~~ eooo o~o~o
Cost Index 0 0 8 ~00* 0000*
Datsun 200SX Datsun 210, 8210 Datsun 280Z, 280ZX

Trouble Index oeeooo eeoooo

Cost Index
~:::::::!::::::!:::::!:::::::~
eeeee 00000
Datsun 310, f·lO Datsun 510 Datsun 710

Trouble Index 0 ~0 880 8800

Cost Index
MODEL YEAR
*0 0 8 8
'76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
ee8
'76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
 TRO UBLE AND COST IN DEXES 361
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 'SO '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
Datsun SlO, Datsun
Maxima pickup truck (2WD) Dodge Aries

Trouble Index oee o 000800

Cost Index 00 ):c oeeee
Dodge Colt (except
Dodge Aspen 6 Dodge Aspen VS front-wheel drive)
Trouble Index ~• • ~0 ~ - ~~ eooo
Cost Index e0 0 00 0000 eeeo
Dodge Colt Hatchback
Dodge Dart 6 Dodge Diplomat 6
(front-wheel drive)
Trouble Index 0 0 0
Cost Index 0 0
Dodge Diplomat VS Dodge Omni

Trouble Index
Cost Index
e ooo
~oo):c
•--o--
oee
Dodge Sportsman
Fiat 131, Brava Fiat Strada
Wagon (van) VS
Trouble Index ~ • • • •
Cost Index 0 0 0 0 ):C
Ford Club Wagon Ford Fairmont,
(van) VS Ford Escort Futura 4

0 0 -- -- -- 0000
Trouble Index
Cost Index 0 0 0 0 * eeo
Ford Fairmont, Ford Fairmont,
Futura 6 Futura VS Ford Fiesta

Trouble Index 0 00 0 oeo

Cost Index 088
:=:::==========: eeo
Ford Granada 6 Ford Granada VS Ford LTD II

Trouble Index 0 0 0 -- 0 0 0000-- 000

Cost Index 0 8 888
Ford LTD,
0008 * eoo
Custom, Landau Ford Maverick 6 Ford Mustang II 4

Trouble Index 8 8 0 -- -- 8 --00

Cost Index
MODEL YEAR
8 8 0 00
'76 '77 '78 '79 '80 'Sl
----
00
'76 '77 '7S '79 'SO 'Sl
ooe
'76 '77 '7S '79 'SO 'Sl
362 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
Ford pickup truck
Ford Mustang 4 Ford Mustang 6, V6 6(2WD)
Trouble Index
Cost Index
00 0
.__.__.__'""'8'"'"""'8......__,
••o
00
0800~0
88808
Ford pickup truck Ford pickup truck
Ford Pinto 4
V8(2WD) VS (4WD)
Trouble Index 000~~0 00000
Cost Index 0088* 88808
Ford Thunderbird VS Honda Accord Honda Civic

Trouble Index 0800~0 888000 ~008

Cost Index >:C 0088 00088 0000
Honda Civic CVCC Honda Prelude Lincoln Continental

Trouble Index 000800 000 80880

Cost Index 00088 88 )~~~O~'<
Lincoln Continental Mazda GLC
Mark IV, V, VI Mazda 626 (front·wheel drive)
Trouble Index 000 8
Cost Index 80
Mazda GLC Mercedes-Benz 2400
(rear-wheel drive) Mazda RX·7 4 (diesel)
Trouble Index 8800 0 000
Cost Index *000
:==::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~
00
Mercedes-Benz 300D
Mercury Bobcat 4 Mercury Capri 4
5 (diesel)
Trouble Index 00000 00000 000
88808 88
~····
Cost Index

Mercury Capri V6 Mercury Cougar XR·7 Mercury Lynx

Trouble Index ee0 0800~0

Cost Index 0 0 *0088
:=========~
Mercury Monarch, Mercury Monarch,
Mercury Marquis
Cougar& Cougar VS
Trouble Index 8 8 8 ~0 8 000~00 0000~
Cost Index 00000 08888 0008*
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81
 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES 363
MOOEL YEAR '76 '77 '7S '79 '80 'Sl '76 '77 '7S '79 '80 'Sl '76 '77 '7S '79 'SO 'Sl

Mercury Zephyr, z.7 4 Mercury Zephyr, z.7 6 Mercury Zephyr, z.7 VS

Trouble Index 000 0 0000

Cost index .._..__"""e. . . e.._._o~
.. .. oee
Oldsmobile 88 VS Oldsmobile 88 Oldsmobile 98
(gasoline) (diesel) (gasoline)
Trouble Index 8 8 8 Q0 0 0000 oeeeoe
Cost Index 8 8888 •~o 00800
Oldsmobile 98 Oldsmobile Cutlass VS
(diesel) Oldsmobile Cutlass V6 (gasoline)
Trouble Index 000 0 0000• eooeo~
Cost Index *• ~ eeee eeeee
Oldsmobile Cutlass VB
(diesel) Oldsmobile Omega 4 Oldsmobile Omega V6

Trouble Index 0 • 0
Cost Index ~~

Plymouth Champ

Trouble Index e 000

00
Cost Index

Plymouth Horizon
* Plymouth Reliant Plymouth Valiant 6
Trouble Index •~o~
Cost Index oee
Plymouth Volare 6

Trouble Index ~ e e ~0 ~-~~

Cost Index 8 0000 0000
Pontiac Catalina, Pontiac Grand Prix V6
Bonneville VS (gasoline) Pontiac Flreblrd VS

Trouble Index 8 8800 0

eost1n11ex e eeee
Pontiac Grand Prix VS Pontiac Le Mans 6, V6 Pontiac Le Mans VS
Trouble Index 0 0 0 ~ e 000~ 0000•
Cost Index 0 8 0 8 )le eee 0000*
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 'SO 'Sl '76 '77 '7S '79 'SO 'Sl '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 'Sl
364 TROUBLE AND COST INDEXES
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81

Pontiac Phoenix 4 Pontiac Phoenix V6 Pontiac Sunblrd 4

Trouble Index
Cost Index

Renault 5, Le Car Saab 99

Trouble Index
Cost Index * 0)!< 80
~

Subaru (except 4WD) Subaru (4WD) Toyota Celica

Trouble Index 088000 88000 800000

Cost Index 08888 ):<088 88088
Toyota Corolla
(except Tercel) Toyota Corolla Tercel Toyota Corona
Trouble Index 000000 000000
Cost Index 00008 88008
Toyota pickup truck Toyota Starlet
Toyota Cressida (2WD)
Trouble Index 0000 000000
Cost Index 8 0 0 80008
Volkswagen Bus, Volkswagen Dasher Volkswagen Dasher
Vanagon (gasoline) (diesel)
Trouble Index 00000 880
Cost Index ~ ~ 0 08 00
Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Rabbit Volkswagen Rabbit
(gasoline) (diesel)
Trouble Index 88800
Cost Index 0000
Volkswagen Rabbit
pickup true~ (gasoline) Volkswagen Scirocco

Trouble Index ~
Cost Index

Volvo 240 series Volvo 260 series Volvo 6 (diesel)

Trouble Index 800000 0 000 0

Cost Index ~ 000 ~ e ):c ):c ):c
MODEL YEAR '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81 '76 '77 '78 '79 '80 '81

Auto clubs
Condensed from Consumer Reports. August 1982
Auto clubs have been around almost as
long as the auto itself. The American Auto-
mobile Association (AAA) was founded in
1902. The ALA Auto & Travel Club (origi-
nally the Automobile Legal Association)
came along in 1907. Now there are about
10 major clubs and several minor ones.
More than 30 million of the 145 million
U.S. drivers belong to auto clubs. Two-
thirds of those club members belong to the
AAA, a nonprofit federation of some 180
local chapters and about 800 branch of-
fices in the U.S. and Canada. Although the
headquarters staH in Falls Church, Va.,
sets standards for the association, the chap-
ters operate fairly independently.
Most of the other large clubs are owned
by oil companies, such as Amoco and
Exxon, or by retailing chains, such as Sears
and Montgomery Ward. Also among the
majors are two regional clubs-the Nation-
al Automobile Club, for CaHfornia resi-
dents, and the ALA Auto & Travel Club,
for residents of the six New England states.
There's also a club for members of the
National Retired Teachers Association and
the American Association of Retired Per-
sons (NRTA/AARP).
At first glance, all the clubs seem to be
about the same, charging an annual fee
that runs, for an individual membership,
from $23 to $45. But there are important
differences.
ROAD SERVICE. "Full-service" clubs, such as
AAA, have networks of affiliated garages
or service stations that have agreed by con-
tract to send a repair truck to your rescue
if your car breaks down. The driver will try
to get your car back into operation on the
spot or will tow it to the garage if neces-
sary. The club picks up the bill for that
basic service, but you pay for parts and any
extensive repairs.
AUTO CLUBS 365
If you belong to a full-service club and
your car breaks down in a place where
there is no nearby affiliate, you'll have to
contact a nonaffiliated garage. In that case,
you'll have to pay the bill and forward it to
the club for later reimbursement, usually
up to a preset limit.
"Limited-service" clubs, such as the
ARCO and Montgomery Ward clubs, gen-
erally don't provide road service. What
they do is reimburse you, up to a preset
limit, after you've made your own arrange-
ments for service. (The Allstate Motor
Club, a limited-service club, has road-ser-
vice arrangements in some cities.)
OTHER SERVICES. All the major clubs offer
road maps and advice about which routes
to take. Most also publish travel magazines
and guides to hotels and restaurants. A few
will make reservations for you, cash
checks, and provide traveler's checks with-
out a fee.
Most clubs will cover certain kinds of
losses that might occur on a trip. The pri-
mary insurance is for accidental death or
dismemberment, but other coverages may
also come into play. For instance, if you're
arrested for a traffic violation, most clubs
will provide bail money and reimburse-
ment for legal services. Some will pay a
reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of anyone who steals
your car.
Some clubs offer a variety of peripheral
services, such as car-rental discounts, mo-
tel discounts, merchandise discounts, cred-
it-card registration, film-developing, lost-
key reh1rn, tours, travel atlases, and hospi-
talization coverage. You may also be able
to buy life, homeowners, and auto insur-
ance through your auto club, although
those should be weighed carefully against
policies from standard sources.
Text continued page 368
 ~
Costs and services of major auto clubs Cl'>
Cl'>

Listed by types; within types, no club charges extra for road- noted, all clubs provide a maga- :i,.
listed alphabetically. All clubs service coverage of additional zine. For limitations, other ser- C::
provide maps/ routing service . cars. Annual fees are rounded to vices, and explanatory informa- cs
Except for the chapte rs of AAA, the nearest dollar. Except as t ion, see footnotes. ~
t-<
§
en
Plann ing
Annual fee Road service services Travel insurance

. b.~
.c; Cl~

~ "...
b~
.,1/$ ;; . . efl' •"'
~($~'Ii
Club and address
,fl' ~~
.!'-!>
"'~·.+-.,,
Full-service club$
ALA AUTO• TRAVEL CLUl [j]
888 Worcester St .
Wellesley . Mass. 021 8 1
$30 $10 $10 M 1200 $15
"" "" $20.000 $5000 $200

AMERICAN AUTOMOllLE ASSN .~ 23- 12- 12- 1500- 200-

8111 Ga tehouse Road
Falls Church. V a . 22042
45 20 20 M 15.900 25
"" "" 3000
5000 500

AMOCO MOTOR CLUI [§]

P.O . Box 2828 1 30 Incl. 20 M 7000 25 2000 1000 500
Raleigh. N.C. 27696
NATIONAL AUTOMOllLE CLUI ~ No limit
One Market Plaza
San Francisco. C a lif. 94105
28 12 12 M 469
in Calif .
"" "" 3000
NRTA/AARP MOTORING PLAN ill Not
P.O. !fox 390
Long Beach. Calif. 90801
25 Incl.
avail.
M 7000 25
"" 1000 500

Limited-service clubs
ALLSTATE MOTOR CLUB [§]
Not
30 Allsta te Plaza
Northbrook. Ill. 60062
25 Incl.
avail.
M 50
"" 10,000 500 500

ARCO TRAVEL CLUB [I]

P.O . Box 10017 24 27 32 M 35 2000 5000 200
Atla nta. Ga . 30348
EXXON TRAVEL CLUB [§]
Not c
4550 Dacoma St .
Houston. Texas 77092
42 Incl. av all. 30
"" 20.000 5000

GULF AUTO CLUB @]

Not
c
P.O . Box 946
Houston, Texas 77001
33 Incl. avail. 30
"" 5000 5000 100

MONTGOMERY WARD AUTO CLUB IRi!

P.O. Bo x 60248
Chicago, Ill. 60660
39 Incl. 12 M 60
"" "" 5000 10.000 500

DJ For residents of six New England states. Road-service cover-
age applies to member driving any car or to anyone driving
member's car (s) . Reimbursement for legal fees is unlimited
if ALA-affiliated lawyer is used; otherwise, $1050. Check-
cashing service. Theft reward, $500. No-fee traveler's
checks available.
(1) Fees and compensation vary by chapter. Most chapters
charge an additional $2- 10 initiation fee. Annual fee for each
additional car, $11-15. Legal fees. $200-$500. Theft reward,
$200-500. No-fee traveler's checks available.
[l] Legal fees, $700. Theft reward, $3000. Check-cashing ser-
vice.
8] For Calif. residents. Club also charges a $12 or $15 enroll-
ment fee. Membership fees for N. Calif. given. For S. Calif.:
$30, individual; $15, spouse; $15, child. Road-service reim-
bursement unlimited in Calif.; $25 elsewhere. No-fee travel-
er's checks available.
ffi For members of National Retired Teachers Association and
American Association of Retired Persons. Managed by Amo-
co Motor Club. Legal fees, $700. Theft reward, $3000.
Check-cashing service; no magazine.
[§] A division of Sears, Roebuck. Annual dues vary by locality.
Provides road service in a few major cities, but generally only
reimburses for road-service expenses. Legal fees. $750.
Theft reward, $5000. Check-cashing service. :i:..
0 Annual dues for driver child is $26, if member is single par- c:::
ent. Legal fees. $500.
[§] Without road-seryice coverage, annual fee for individual is
$27. Basic membership does not include insurance for
cs
spouse, only road-service coverage. $20, 000 insurance is for
accidental death; no coverage for dismemberment. Theft
~
reward, $1000. §
ill Legal fees , $500. Theft reward, $1000. ~
[QI $12 membership fee for driver child includes any number of
c hildren. Legal fees, $500. Theft reward, $5000. ~
O'>
-:i
368 AUTO CLUBS
RATING THE CLUBS. Do some clubs perform
better than others? CU Ratings are based
on members" satisfaction with each club's
performance related to road service, as
reported by more than 185,000 respon-
dents to our 1981 Annual Questionnaire.
We've rated the 27 largest chapters of the
AAA as if they were separate clubs, along
with eight competitors.
Judging by the response of AAA mem-
bers who had breakdowns, we'd say your
chances of being satisfied with the AAA's
emergency services depends greatly on the
chapter you join. In Northern California,
for example, only about 6 percent of AAA
members who responded were dissatisfied
with AAA's emergency service. But in the
Chicago area, nearly 25 percent of respon-
ding AAA members expressed dissatisfac-
tion. For other, smaller auto clubs, the
variation was almost as wide. Only a very
small percentage of respondent-members
were dissatisfied with the Montgomery
Ward Auto Club or the ARCO Travel
Club, for example, while about 18 percent
of our respondent-members were dissatis-
fied with the Amoco Motor Club and the
NRTA/AARP Motoring Plan.

Ratings of U.S. auto clubs

Listed by groups in order of satis-
faction with each club's perfor-
mance related to road service,
based on answers to questions
about such service included in CU's
1981 Annual Questionnaire. Per-
centages are the average for each
major group. Within each group,
the clubs are essentially similar in
percentage of satisfaction and are
listed alphabetically. The difference
between a club in one group and a
club in an adjacent one should not
be considered very significant.

Satisfaction
Number of with emergency
Club respondents road service

•
l Auto Club of Oregon
Callfornla State Auto Association
435
3296
• loulsvllle Auto Club 233
•L Motor Club of Iowa
Peninsula Motor Club (Tampa, Fla.)
189
501 940/o
Tidewater Auto Association (Norfolk, Va.) 280
ARCO Travel Club 176
Montgomery Ward Auto Club 862

l Auto Club of Missouri 606

Auto Club of Rhode Island 365
•
••L
Auto Club of Southern Callfornla 4438
Auto Club of Washington (State) 555
Cincinnati Auto Club
Minnesota State Automoblle Association
352
416
89°/o
Allstate Motor Club 1363
Exxon Travel Club 200
Gulf Auto Club 179
 AUTO CLUBS, ANT/THEFT DEVICES 369
Satisfaction
Number of with emergency
Club respondents road service

I Auto Club of Maryland

Carolina Motor Club
Connecticut Motor Club
710
307
778
-c Massachusetts Division 1240
=
l Ohio Automobile Club
Potomac Division
Texas Division
West Penn Motor Club
Wisconsin Division
636
736
842
600
510
85°/o
ALA Auto • Travel Club 223
Natlonal Automobile Club (San Francisco) 410

I Auto C lub of Michigan 1154

-c Auto Club of New York 2329

L-c East Florlda Division

Keystone Automobile Club (Phlladelphla)
Ohio Motorists Association
838
1013
402
820/o
Amoco Motor Club [lJ 3564

I. ;::::: 76°/o
Chicago Motor Club 613
ffi Includes members of NRTA I AARP Motoring Plan.

Auto antitheft devices

Condensed from Consumer Reports. September 1982
More than a million cars in the U.S. are
stolen each year. Some are practically beg-
ging to be stolen; their careless owners
leave doors unlocked and keys in the igni-
tion switch. But even a locked car isn't
much of a challenge for a determined thief.
With readily available tools and hardware,
an expert can unlock a car door, pull out
the ignition/steering-column lock, insert a
substitute ignition switch, and start the
engine-all in a few minutes.
The tested devices fall into three basic
categories.
SYSTEM INTERRUPTERS. These disable the
ignition, the fuel supply, or some other
vital automotive system to prevent the car
from being driven away. A thief must first
guess that the car won't start or run
because of an antitheft device, not a
mechanical malfunction. Then the thief
must spend time in looking for a hidden
switch or in tracking wiring under the
hood to disable the device. The hope is
that the thief, feeling conspicuous, will
abandon your car.
ALARMS. These rely on a thiefs unwilling-
ness to attract attention. The presumption
is that a loud siren will make the thief pan-
ic and run. Each of the alarms we tested
relies at least in part on pin switches to
trigger the siren. The switches work very
much like the ones that tum on the inside
370 AUTO ANTITHEFT DEVICES

light when the car door is opened. When a
thief opens the hood-or, with some sys-
tems, a door-the pin switch sets off the
alarm.
IGNITION LOCK. The one we tested is the
Lock Technology GML-1 (Vaslock Corp.,
78 Kingsland Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11222).
It is essentially a pick-resistant Medeco
lock cylinder, with a hardened, free-turn-
ing protective face. The CRL- I version fits
all non-tilt-wheel Chrysler models; the
FLJ -B fits older Ford models, those with a
metal steering-column housing; and the
FLI -A fits newer Ford models, which have
a plastic housing. All of the Lock Technolo-
gy models and the older GML-1 are each
priced at $75, not including installation.
The GML-1 was judged to provide excel-
lent security in GM, AMC, and Chrysler
tilt-wheel models with a metal steering-
column housing. The CRL-1 provided
good protection for pre-1979 Chrysler
non-tilt-wheel models with a metal hous-
ing. For Ford models with either a metal
or a plastic housing and for all other mod-
els with a plastic housing, the Lock Tech-
nology cylinder was judged easy to re-
move. We can't recommend its installation
in those models.
RECOMMENDATIONS. As a class, the system
interrupters provide the best antitheft pro-
tection. The Genereal 7827 and the Gard-
A-Car, which interrupt the ignition system,
were judged especially effective in our
tests. And their low prices-$31 and $30,
respectively-prompted us to rate each a
Best Buy.
For increased security, consider install-
ing more than one device. A system inter-
rupter plus an alarm such as the Paragon or
the General 7119 would probably discour-
age most thieves.

Ratings of auto antitheft devices

Listed, except as noted, in order of estimated overall quality, based on
CU's judgments of security and convenience. Except as noted, all are sold
at retail for installation by car owner. Unless otherwise indicated, prices
are suggested retail, rounded to nearest dollar; discounts may be avail-
able.
GENERAL 7327 (Harrison Systems Corp., 447 New Grove St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18702),
approx. $31 . A Best Buy. Interrupts ignition system. Hidden switch must be pressed momen-
tarily to start car. Advantages: Judged easy to install. Engages automatically when ignition is
switched off. Disadvantages: In Ford cars, switch must be depressed until engine starts.
Comments: Not for diesels.
GARD-A-CAR (Gard-A-Car Inc., 9505 Groh, Grosse lie, Mich. 48138), $30. A Best Buy. Inter-
rupts ignition system several seconds after engine has been started. Advantages: Judged very
easy to install. Disadvantages: Hidden switch must be turned on to engage device. Comments:
Not for diesels.
FUEL-LOC K200 AUTOMATIC (CAHS Inc., 540 S. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10550),
approx. $80. Interrupts fuel flow. Advantages: Engages automatically when ignition is switched
off. Switch allows temporary operation of car in attended parking area; buzzer sounds with
switch In that position . Disadvantages: Judged difficult to install. If device should fail and
Immobilize car, roadside repairs could be very difficult.
FUEL-LOC K100 (CAHS Inc.), approx. $50. Similar to Fuel-Loe K200, preceding, except that
hidden switch must be turned on to engage device, a disadvantage.

• The following 4 models were judged approximately equal in overall quality. Listed in order of
increasing price.
 AUTO ANTITHEFT DEVICES 371
SILENT SYSTEM (Falls Enterprises Inc., 17096 Chillicothe Rd ., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022). $49.
Interrupts starting system . Advantages: Easy to Install. No switch to press to engage device.
Diaadvantages: In order to start car, magnet must be held against dashboard until engine
starts, an inconvenience. Thief can start car by hot-wiring. Magnet must be given to attendant
or taped to dashboard in attended parking area.
PARAGON VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM (Paragon Security Systems Inc., P.O. Box 255344,
Sacramento, Calif. 95865), approx. $150. Warbling electronic siren alarm. Uses pin switches for
doors, hood, and trunk. Advantages: Fully automatic operation ; alarm Is armed by removing
Ignition key and leaving vehicle, disarmed by turning ignition switch to " on " or " accessory"
position . Has 3-position switch for automatic, disarmed, or " panic" (continuous sounding)
mode. Disadvantages: System may be difficult to install in some cars. Pin switches for model
CU tested must be purchased separately for $1.50 to $3 each ; according to the company, newer
version of this model uses pin switches already in the car. Comments: Alarm automatically
shuts off and is rearmed after sounding for about 4 min.
GENERAL 7119 (Harrison Systems Corp.), approx. $198. Essentially similar to General 7109
(tested in 1979), which it replaces. Warbling electronic siren alarm. Uses pin switches on hood
and trunk, plus current sensor. Advantages: Fully automatic operation; alarm is armed by
turning ignition switch to " off" position , disarmed by turning ignition switch to " on " or " acces-
sory" position. Comments: Alarm automatically shuts off and is rearmed after sounding for
about 4 min.
CHAPMAN-LOK TOTAL PROTECTION SYSTEM (Chapman Industries Corp., 2638 United la.,
Elk Grove Village, Ill. 60007), usually sold by car dealers, approx. $335 including installation.
Interrupts ignition system, locks hood, and arms mechanical siren alarm. Uses switches on
doors and trunk , plus current and vibration sensors. Disadvantages: Device does not engage
automatically. Conspicuous lock mechanism inside car (used to disengage Chapman-Lok)
betrays location of device, which is vulnerable to assault. Tubular-key lock judged inadequately
pick-resistant. Hood lock judged vulnerable to assault. Comments: Alarm automatically shuts
off and is rearmed after sounding for about 3 min.
372 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES
Five-year listing of
Consumer Reports monthly issues
This back index lists major articles that appeared in CONSUMER
REPORTS from January 1978 to October 1982, excluding articles
that have been summarized for this Buying Guide Issue.
Acne ......................................................... Aug 81
Advertising, children's ........................... Aug 78
Advertising, FTC regulations ................ Mar 82
Advertising, utilities ................................. Jul 78
Air conditioning & insulation ............... Aug 78
Air travel, deregulation ......................... May 79
Air travel, fares ....................................... Mar 78
Air travel, standby .................................. May 79
Alarms, doorknob ...................... Mar 79,Mar 82
Aluminum wiring ....................... Jan 81,Mar 82
Amniocentesis ......................................... May 79
Antenna, FM , roof... ................................Feb 81
Antenna, TV ........................................... Nov 79
Anti-litter law ......................................... May 82
Antiperspirants ....................................... Nov 79
Appliance labels, energy..,fliciency ........ Jan 79
Appliance remote controller ..... Sep 79,Mar 80
Appliance repair kit.. ............................... Jan 82
Appraisals, personal property ............... Aug 80
Arthritis ............................................... Jun.Jul 79
Aspirin ............................................... Jul,Aug 82
AT&T ................................................. Jul.Oct 82
.:\udits, energy, home .............................. Oct 79
Automobiles & automotive equipment:
air bags ................................................. Apr 80
batteries, buying advice ....................... Jan 79
battery charger ................................... Mar 81
brake light ............................................ Apr 82
bumpers, standards ............................... Jul 82
Car Book, NHTSA .............................. Sep 81
crash tests, HTSA ................................ Apr 82
diesel emissions .................................... Jun 80
emissions control.. ...............................Apr 82
engine switcbing ..................................Apr 78
equipment, emergency ....................... Aug 80
flat-rate manuals ..................................Apr 79
fuel economy ....................................... Apr 80
gasohol .................................... Apr 79,Apr 82
gasoline conservation .......................... Apr 78
gasoline container .............................. Mar 81
headlights ............................................. Sep 82
import quotas ....................................... Jul 81
jack stands ............................................ Jun 80
lemon law ............................................. Sep 82
loans ...................................................... Apr 81
loudspeakers ..........................................Jan 82
passive restraints .............. Apr 80,Jan,Aug 82
polishes .................................................. Jul 81
recalls ................................................... Oct 81
repair problems, new models ............. Jun 81
safety, Nader vs. Claybrook ............... Apr 78
safety restraints, children's:
Apr 78,Apr,Aug 82
testing, explanation of CU's ............... Apr 82
tire pressure gauges .............................Feb 80
voltmeter ............................................. Mar 81
warranty repairs ................................... Jul 81
Bacon substitute ..................................... Mar 78
Bahamas, travel ....................................... Oct 80
Bank accounts, checking ........................ Aug 79
Bank accounts, dormant ..........................Jan 81
Bank accounts, savings options ............... Jan 82
Banking, money-management .........Sep.Oct 82
Banking reform law ................................. Jun 80
Barbecue pit, indoor ............................... Feb 82
Barter club ................................................ Jul 79
Batteries, auto, buying advice ................. Jan 79
Battery booster cables ..............................Jan 79
Battery charger, auto ............................. Mar 81
Battery testers ......................................... May 78
Beer:
imported, brewed in U.S.....................Apr 78
legislation ............................................May 82
Bicycles:
locks ....................................................... Jul 80
motorized ............................................ May 81
10-speed .............................................. Nov 80
3-speed ................................................. Nov 81
Binoculars ................................... Mar 78,Mar 80
Blankets, electric ..................................... Oct 78
Blood pressure kits ................................. Mar 79
Blood pressure & salt ............................. Mar 79
Blow dryers ............................................. Aug 80
Board games, children's ......................... Nov 81
Bologna .................................................... Aug 80
Bone meal ................................................ Sep 82
Bottle bill legislation .............................. May 82
 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES 373
Bowls, fruit-ripening ... .... ....................... May 78
Brealcfasts, frozen .... ................ ................ Oct 80
Breast cancer ............................................. Jan 81
Brokerage firms ........................................ Oct 82
Budget, Federal Government.; .............. May 81
Butter substitute ...................... ................ Feb 79
Calfeine ................................. ..... Oct 81,May 82
Calcium supplements .......... .................... Sep 82
Calculator stand .. .. .. ............................... May 78
Calculators, solar-powered ...................... Jan 79
Calorie computer ................................ .... Oct 79
Cameras:
autofocus ...................................... Jan,Nov 80
film , instant-print .................................. Jan 81
instant-picture ............................. .........Feb 78
movie, instant ....................................... Jul 78
movie, sound ........................................ Oct 78
Polaroid Sun Camera ........................ .. Jun 22
Campbell, Persia, biography ................... Jul 82
Cancer & DES ......................................... Sep 80
Cancer & ftuoridation ...................... Jul,Aug 78
Cancer, breast ........................................... Jan 81
Candy bars ............................ ................... Sep 82
Captioning, closed ....................... ........... Mar 81
Carpet sweeper ....................................... Aug 82
Cassette tape equipment:
players, mini, TV / radio ..................... May 81
players, walkaround ........................... Nov 81
recorders, portable .............................. Sep 80
recorders, portable radio ... ....... ......... Nov 79
Caulking compounds, foam ... ....... .......... Apr 79
Center for the Study of the Consumer
Movement ................... .. ....................... Sep 79
Cereals, advertising ................................ Mar 78
Cereals, FTC antitrust case ........... Nov,Feb 81
Chairs, folding ........................................ Nov 78
Checking accounts ...................... ........... Aug 79
Checks & funds availability ................... Feb 81
Children's board games .............. ........... Nov 81
Chinese style foods ................................... Jan 81
Chocolate bars ......................................... Sep 82
Cleaners, dishwasher detergents ......... ... Jun 80
Cleaners, glass .......................................... Sep 80
Cleaners, scouring .................... Mar 78,May 79
Cleaners, toilet bowl.. ............................ May 80
Cleaners, ultrasonic ................................ May 79
Clock radios, AM / FM ........................... Nov 80
Closed captioning ...... ............................. Mar 81
Colfee alternatives .............. ..... .. ............. Feb 78
Coffee bags ... .. .. ................. ................. ....... Jan 78
Colfee instant ........................................... Oct 79
Coffee makers, drip .......................... ........ Jan 80
Cold cuts, kits to make ........................... Oct 80
Computer, calorie ................................... Oct 79
Computer schools, guide to .................. Mar 80
Condoms .................................................. Oct 79
Condos/co-ops .. ........ ................................ Jul 81
Contact lenses .................................. May.Jun 80
Contact lenses, extended wear .............. May 81
Contracts, home improvement ..............Feb 78
Contracts, readability of... ..................... May 78
Cooler chest, electric .. .............. ......... ... . Aug 78
Cooler chests .......................................... May 79
Cost/benefit & regulations ..................... Jun 81
Credit, car loans .. .................................... Apr 81
Credit, cooling-olf period ... ............ ....... Nov 79
Curling irons, electric .......................... ...Feb 80
Dehumidiliers .......................................... May 81
DES .......................................................... Sep80
Detergents, dishwasher ........................... Jun 80
Diabetes home tests ........................ Jun,Aug 82
Diet & heart disease ................... ............May 81
Diet, kit ................................................... May 78
Diet pills ................................................... Jan 82
Diet program, Pritikin .................... ........ Oct 82
Diets, liquid protein ................................Feb 78
Dinner, dehydrated, pepper steak ........ Mar 81
Dishwasher detergents ............................ Jun 80
Dishwashers, built-in ............................... Jun 80
Divorce ..................................................... Jun 81
Dolomite .................................................. Sep 82
Door locks .............. ................................. Mar 79
Door openers, garage ................ Nov 78,Apr 80
Drill guides ............................................... Jan 81
Drugs, FDA's ratings ... ... ........................ Oct 78
Drugs, for menstrual pain ...... .................Feb 81
Dryers, blow .. ... ...................................... Aug 80
Egg mold ................................................... Jul 78
Egg thermometer .................................... Oct 80
Electric test meter ............ ....... ................ Oct 78
Electricity use monitor .......................... Mar 78
Electronic funds transfer ........................ Feb 79
Electronic games .................................... Nov 80
Enamel paints .......................................... Oct 80
Energy conservation:
audits, home .. ........ ............................... Oct 79
bulb life extender ............................. ... Sep 80
electricity use monitor ....................... Mar 80
Federal programs cutback .................. Oct 81
fireplace energy savers .........................Jan 81
furnaces, derating ................................ Sep 79
gas-saving products ............................. Feb 80
heat circulators ................................... . Sep 78
insulating paint .................................... Feb 80
ins':'lation & air conditioning ............ Aug 78
374 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES
power-factor controller ..................... May 81
sealing a house, health effects ............ Oct 81
Equalizers, audio ..................................... Jun 79
Escape ladders, fire .................................. Oct 79
Escrow accounts ..................................... Aug 82
Facial tissues ........................................... Aug 78
Fasteners, plastic .................................... Nov 80
Fats & oils, cooking ................................ Feb 78
Federal Trade Commission:
Mar.Aug 80,Jan,Mar 82
Fellowship, Colston E. Warne ............... Sep 81
Film, instant-print.. .................................. Jan 81
Fire escape ladders .................................. Oct 79
Fireplace energy-savers ........................... Jan 81
Fishing tackle, spinning ......................... Mar 78
Flashlight, batteryless ............................ Aug 79
Floor tiles, self-stick ................................ Oct 80
Flue dampers, gas & oil... ................ Jan,Oct 80
Food labeling, " low-calorie" ................... Jan 79
Food labels, consumers' wants ............... Oct 79
Foot problems & care ............................ Mar 81
Frauds, mail-order .................................. Nov 80
Freezers, compact .................................... Jul 78
Fryers, mini ...............................................Jan 78
Funerals, FTC rule .................................. Oct 81
Furnaces, de rating ................................... Sep 79
Furniture polish ....................................... Sep 79
Games, board, children's ........................ Nov 81
Games, electronic ................................... Nov 80
Garage-door openers ................. Nov 78,Apr 80
Garbage/trash bag holder ...................... Oct 82
Gasohol... ..................................... Apr 79,Apr 82
Gasoline .................................................... Apr 79
Gasoline containers ................................ Mar 81
Gasoline, leaded, premium ..................... Apr 81
Gasoline savers, ad claims for ................ Apr 81
Gas-saving products ................................ Feb 80
Gauges, tire-pressure ............................... Feb 80
Get-rich-quick schemes .......................... Nov 80
Glass cleaners .......................................... Sept 80
Gloves, rubber ......................................... Sep 78
Guarantees, Chrysler ............................... Apr 80
Hair dyes, safety ..................................... Aug 79
Hamburger makers ................................. July 78
Hand warmers, portable ........................ Mar 81
Headphones, stereo ................................. Oct 79
Health maintenance organizations ....... May 82
Health products, mail-order .................... Jan 79
Health spas .............................................. Aug 78
Heart disease & diet.. ............................. May 81
Heart-rate monitors .................................. Jan 80
Heat circulators ....................................... Sep 78
Heater, wall-mounted ............................. Oct 78
Heaters, electric portable ...................... Nov 80
Heating, oil vs. gas .................................. Feb 81
Heat-Joss detector ................................... Mar 82
Helmets, motorcycle ............................... Jun 81
HMO's ..................................................... May 82
Home selling, MLS directory ................. Sep 81
Hoses, garden, compact ........................ June 80
Housing ..................................................... Jul 81
Hypertension & salt ............................... Mar 79
Igniters, gas-range ................................... Feb 78
Individual retirement
accounts: .................................. Jan 80,Feb 82
Infants & lead ......................................... May 80
Inftation .................................................... Feb 79
Insurance:
cancer ................................................... Jun 78
commission rates ................................. Sep 81
credit ..................................................... Jul 79
homeowners ................................. Aug.Sep 80
life ................................................. Feb,Mar 80
life, adjustable ..................................... Aug 78
life, children's ....................................... Jan 82
life, industrial, for poor ..................... Nov 78
life, mortgage .............,........................ May 81
life, sales chart .................................... Aug 81
life, universal ........................................ Jan 82
mail order .............................................. Jul 81
organization ........................................ May 81
VA, Korean War vets ........................ May 79
Iron supplements, need for ..................... Sep 78
Irons, curling, electric ............................. Feb 80
Irons, steam ............................................. May 80
Jack stands ................................................ Jun 80
Jackets, insulated .................................... Nov 81
Kettle, whistling ...................................... Oct 82
Labels, appliance, energy-elliclency ....... Jan 79
Labels, food, consumers' wants ............. Oct 79
Ladders, escape .......................... Oct 79,Feb 82
Land sales ......., ........................................ May 78
Lawnmower safety standard ...... Feb 81,Jul 82
Lawnmowers .............................. Aug 81,Aug 82
Lawnmowers, rotary .............................. Aug 79
Lawn spreaders ........................................ Jun 78
Lead & calcium supplements ................. Sep 82
Lead & evaporated milk ........................ May 80
Lead poisoning conference ..................... Sep 81
Leasing, auto ........................................... Apr 79
Legal services .......................................... Sep 79
 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES 375
Lenses, camera, zoom ............................. Sep 79
Light bulb life extender .......................... Sep 80
Light, fluorescent ................................... Aug 80
Lights, remote controller .......... Sep 79,Mar 80
Litter legislation ..................... ................ May 82
Loans, auto .............................................. Apr 81
Lobbying, business .................................. Sep 78
Locks, bicycle ............... .......................... .. Jul 80
Locks, door ............................................. Mar 79
Locks, magnetic ...................................... Feb 78
Locks, window ........................................ Mar 79
Loudspealcers, auto ..................................Jan 82
Loudspeakers, high-priced ..................... Oct 78
Loudspealcers, mid-priced ...................... Sep 81
Luggage, airline handling ...................... Aug 81
Mail-order frauds .................................... Nov 80
Mail-order insurance ................................ Jul 81
Margarine ................... .............................. Feb 79
Marketing orders ..................................... Feb 82
Mattress sets, innerspring ....................... Jun 78
Measurer, spaghetti ................................. Jun 81
Measuring device, lcitchen ...................... Jun 78
Meat tenderizer ...................................... Nov 79
Meat, vegetarian ...................................... Jun 80
Memorial societies ................................. Aug 79
Menstrual pain, drugs for ....................... Feb 81
Menus, truth in ....................................... Mar 79
Microphones ............................................. Jul 78
Microscope/telescope, miniature .......... Feb 82
Millc .......................................................... Jun 82
Mille, evaporated, and lead .................... May 80
Mille, raw, controversy ............................ Sep 78
Money-management plans ............... Sep,Oct 82
Money-market mutual funds ...............•...Jan 82
Mopeds .................................................... May 81
Mop to remove grease •..•......•.....•..••....... Sep 80
Mortgage life insurance ......................... May 81
Mortgages ................................................. Jul 81
Mortgages, escrow accounts .................. Aug 82
Mortgages, low-payment ......................... Jan 79
Motorcycle helmets .......... ...................... Jun 81
Motorcycles ......... .'................................... Jun 81
Movers, household .................................. Jun 81
Musical instrument, electronic .............. Sep 81
Natural food ...... ....................................... Jul 80
Nitrite ........................................ May 80,Mar 82
Nutrition guide ......................................... Jul 78
Nutritional therapy .................................. Jan 80
Oil meter ................................................. Nov 81
Oils & fats, coolcing ................................. Feb 78
Organic food ............................... .............. Jul 80
Padlocks, magnetic .................................. Feb 78
Pain relievers .............. ................. ..... Jul,Aug 82
Paint pouring spouts ............................... Jun 81
Paint removers, powdered ....................... Jul 82
Paints, enamel.. ........................................ Oct 80
Paints, energy-saving ............. ................. Feb 80
Paints, latex house .................................. Aug 79
Pajama's, children's, safety of ............... Aug 80
Parkas, insulated ..................................... Nov 81
Peanuts, defatted .................................... Mar 78
Peeler, electric .......................................... Jan 78
Pension plans .......................................... Mar 82
Peterson, Estber .. ..................................... Feb 81
Physicals ......... - ... ........ ............................. Oct 80
Pilchard, fish ............................................. Jan 82
Playpens .................................................... Jan 82
Poisoning accidents, home treatment... .. Jan 78
Poisoning, lead, conference .................... Sep 81
Polishers, tooth ......................................... Jul 80
Polishes, auto .......................................... .. Jul 81 ·
Polishes, furniture ................................... Sep 79
Polishes, silver ......................................... Feb 78
Pot scrubber, electric .............................. Jun 80
Potato baker ............................................ Oct 81
Potatoes, instant ...................................... Sep 78
Po•ring spouts, paint .............................. Jun 81
Power-factor controller ......................... May 81
Pre~ancy test kit ................................... Nov 78
Pressure gauges, tire ....................... ........ Feb 80
Pretzels, no-salt ....................................... Jun 78
Price-6xing, consumer suits .................... Feb 80
Pritilcin diet program .............................. Oct 82
Product liability .................................. ..... Jul 78
Projectors, movie .................................... Nov 78
Psoriasis ................................................... Mar 82
Pulse monitor ........................................... Jul 81
Radios:
AM stereo claims misleading .............. Jul 78
antenna, FM, roof ................................ Feb 81
cloclc, AM/FM .... ....................... ....... .. Nov 80
multiband, portable ............................ Aug 78
portable cassette .................... .. ........... Nov 79
portable, wearable ................................ Jul 80
scanner ................................................ . Aug 78
shortwave .............................................. Jul 80
TV & cassette ..................................... May 81
weatberband ........................................ Aug 78
Ramps, drive-on car ................................ Oct 78
Range guard ............................................ Nov 80
Ranges, electric & gas ............................ Aug 79
Ranges, gas, igniters for .......................... Feb 78
Real estate brokers fees .................. Mar,Sep 80
Real estate, MLS directory ..................... Sep 81
 376 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES
Recalls, product ........................................ Jan 81
Receivers, stereo, low-priced ................. Oct 79
Recorders, cassette tape, see Cassette tape
equipment
Reels, spinning ........................................ Mar 78
Refrigerator/freezers .......................... v .. Sep 80
Refrigerators, side-by-side ..................... Nov 78
Regulations & Cost/benefit .................... Jun 81
Retort pouches ....................................... Nov 81
Rice fries ................................................. Nov 81
Riveting tools .......................................... Aug 79
Roasting pin ............................................ Mar 82
Rods, spinning ......................................... Mar 78
Rust treatment ........................................ Mar 82
Safes, wall ............................................... Aug 80
Safety restraints, children's .....................Apr 78
Salmon, canned ....................................... Aug 81
Salt & high blood pressure .................... Mar 79
Sanders, finishing ..................................... Jun 78
Sanitary pads & tampons ....................... Mar 78
Savings accounts, options ........................ Jan 82
Scales, bathroom, digital ....................... Nov 78
Schools, computer, guide to .................. Mar 80
Scouring products .................... Mar 78,May 79
Scrubber, pot, electric ............................ Jun 80
Sewing machines:
hand-held ............................................... Jul 82
zigzag .................................................... Feb 78
Sharpener, tool ........................................ Jun 82
Shavers, electric, men's .......................... Nov 79
Shavers, electric, sharpener for ............ Mar 80
Sheets, bed-warmer ................................. Oct 79
Shortwave radios ...................................... Jul 80
Showers, conserving water .................... May 78
Silver, tarnish preventer ........................ Aug 82
Sleepwear, children's safety .................. Aug 80
Snack food .................................................Jan 80
Soaps, toilet ............................................ Mar 81
Social Security ......................................... Sep 81
Solar kit, passive ...................................... Oct 82
Soup mixes, dried ................................... Nov 78
Soups, Campbell's, & nutrition .............. Apr 82
Soups, canned, oriental ........................... Apr 81
Spaghetti, high-protein ........................... Feb 81
Spaghetti measurer .................................. Jun 81
Spinning tackle ....................................... Mar 78
Stain removers .........................................Feb 80
Starches, spray ......................................... Feb 82
Steam irons ............................................. May 80
Steamer, cookware .................................. Apr 78
Stereo components, mid-priced ............ Nov 81
Stereo headphones ................................... Oct 79
Stereo receivers, low-priced ................... Oct 79
Stoves, electric & gas ............................. Aug 79
Stoves, wood ............................................ Oct 81
Stud finder ................................................ Oct 82
Sugar, import quotas ................................ Jul 82
Suitcases, airline handling of ................. Aug 81
Sunburn .................................................... Jun 80
Sunscreens ................................................ Jun 80
Tables, folding ........................................ Nov 78
Tape recorders, cassette, see Cassette tape
equipment
Tarnish preventer ................................... Aug 82
Taxes, income, Federal ...........................Feb 79
Taxes, propety, Proposition 13 .............. Sep 79
Telephone:
adapters ............................................... Aug 81
answering machines ............................ Jun 79
buy vs. rent ........................................... Jul 82
dialers, automatic ................................ Oct 79
junk calling ........................................... Feb 78
long-distance service .......................... Mar 81
service ....................................................Jan 78
transmitter, noise-reducing ................. Sep 79
wireless ................................................. Oct 80
Telescope/microscope, mini .................. Feb 82
Televisions:
black & white, battery ....................... Mar 78
cable & VCRs ....................... May 81,May 82
captioning, closed ............................... Mar 81
picture enlarger ........................ Oct 79,Jul 80
picture resolution claim .................... Mar 79
remote controller ................................Feb 78
trade restrictions ................................... Jan 78
tuner .................................................... Aug 79
video disc player ................................. Oct 79
Tenderizer, meat .................................... Nov 79
Tennis elbow ........................................... May 78
Tennis racquets ....................................... May 78
Thermometer, egg ................................... Oct 80
Tiles, floor, self-stick ............................... Oct 80
Timer, kitchen .......................................... Jul 82
Tire-pressure gauges ............................... Feb 80
Tires, comparison of ................... Apr 79,Jul 79
Tires, recall .............................................. Apr 79
Tires, spare, temporary .......................... Mar 78
Tissues, facial .......................................... Aug 78
Toasters ................................................... Aug 79
Toilet soaps ............................................. Mar 81
Toilet-bowl cleaners ............................... May 80
Toilets, conserving water ...................... May 78
Tool sharpener ......................................... Jun 82
Tooth polishers ......................................... Jul 80
Trade restrictions ..................................... Jan 78
Translator, electronic ............................. Aug 79
 WHERE TO LOOK IN BACK ISSUES 377
Trucking regulation ................................ Jun 79
Tuna mix ................................................... Jan 81
Turkeys .................................................... Nov 81
Underwear, long .......................................Jan 78
Usury ....................................................... Nov 81
Utilities" advertising ................................. Jul 78
Utilities, share purchasing ..................... Mar 78
Utility rate reform .................................. May 79
Vacuum cleaner, battery ........................ Jun 79
Vaporizers, electric .................................. Jan 80
Vegetarian meat ...................................... Jun 80
Vegetarianism .......................................... Jun 80
Video cassette equipment: · Wood stoves ............................................ Oct 81
anti-copy tape problem ...................... Jun 81
cable TV ................................ May 81,May 82
Cameras ............................................... Nov 80
commercial eliminators ...................... Feb 81
Video disc players ............................. Apr.Jul 81
Video tape eraser ................................... Mar 79
Videotaping, legality of ......................... May 82
Voltmeter, auto ...................................... Mar 81
Warne, Colston E. .................................. Feb 80
Warne, Colston E., Fellowship.............. Sep 81
Warranties, auto ...................................... Oct 79
Warranties, Ford ..................................... Apr 80
Warranties, borne ..................................... Jul 81
Water conservation ................................ May 78
Welding kit, aluminum ......................... Nov 79
Wills .......................................................... Jul 80
Window locks ......................................... Mar 79
Wiring, aluminum ...................... Jan 81,Mar 82
Wood 6nisbes .......................................... Feb 79
Work platform .........................................Jan 82
Workbencb/vise ...................................... Feb 79
Yogurt ........................................................ Jan 78
Zoom lenses ............................................. Sep 79
 Index
to1983 Buying Guide
Aerosol paints .... ... ... ......... ....... 331 hi-fi, shopping guide .. ...... .... 254
Air conditioners: mini ................. .... ...... ........... 270
cooling-load estimate form ..... 150 glossary of terms .................... 257
high-effici&ncy ..................... ... . 149 loudspeakers:
Alarms, burglar ........................... 183 low-priced ....... ......... ............ 263
Auto antitheft devices ................ 369 mini ............ ... ......... ... ........ .. . 274
All-purpose cleaners .................. 175 phono cartridges .... ... .... ....... ... 266
Antennas: receivers, stereo:
FM, indoor .... ........................... 278 mid-priced .......... ................. 259
Antitheft devices, auto .. ............. 369 turntables ................. ............ .. . 275
Appliances: Automobile clubs ......... ... .......... .. 365
broilers, countertop ................ 25 Automobiles:
can openers .. .............. ............ 36 buying advice:
ceramic cooktops .. ... .. .. .......... 29 new cars .............................. 333
coffee grinders ........................ 49 used cars ............................. 338
convection ovens ............. .. ..... 21 trouble and cost indexes .. .. .... 358
dryers, clothes .................. ...... 12 used:
food processors ...................... 40 1982 models as used cars .. 341
freezers .................... ................ 51 Automotive equipment:
frying pans, electric ........ ... ...... 37 antitheft devices ... ........ ....... .... 369
microwave/convection ovens . 21
popcorn poppers ............ ........ 44
pressure cookers .................... 34 Bacon ... ...................................... 72
rice cookers ............................ 32 Baked beans, canned ........... ... ... 101
toaster-ovens .. ........................ 25 Bed sheets .......... ....................... . 179
vacuum cleaners ..................... 165 Beef stews ....... ... ... ... .............. .... 88
washing machines .. ............... .. 8 Beverages:
woks, electric ..................... ... .. 37 " fruit'' drinks ...... .. .... .. ... .. ........ 64
Audio equipment: milk flavorings ...... .................. . 66
antennas, FM , indoor .............. 278 orange juice ..................... ....... 60
cartridges, phono .................... 266 water, bottled .......................... 107
cassette decks, low-priced ..... 285 Bicycles, exercise .... ............ ... .... 207
compact stereo systems ......... 289 Bookpacks, children's ................ 213
component systems: Boosters, laundry ........... .. .......... 16
 INDEX 379

Bread .......................................... 55 Clothes dryers ............. .... ........... 12

Broilers, countertop .................... 25 Clothes washers .......... ............... 8
Bug killers, electric ..................... 192 Coats, trench, men's & women 's 195
Bulbs, light ...... .... .. ......... .. ....... ... . 190 Coffee, grinders ... ... .................... 49
Burglar alarms .. ... .. ................. .... 183 Component systems, stereo:
Burners, oil and gas, hi-fi, shopping guide .. .... ... .. .. .. 254
high efficiency ....... .. .... .. .......... 134 mini .......................................... 270
Consumers Union:
Ratings, explanation of ......... .. 6
Cake mixes ... ..... .. ........... .......... 77 testing, methods of .............. ... 6
Calculators, low-cost ............... ... 205 Convection ovens .......... .... ......... 21
Cameras: Cooktops, ceramic ... ... .. ........... .. 29
film processing , color-print.. .. . 220 Cookware:
glossary of terms .................... 241 microwave-oven .... ... ... .. ....... .. . 24
lenses: pots & pans ............................ . 30
SLR " normal" lenses .......... 238 Corn poppers .................... .. ... ..... 44
teleconverter lenses ............ 236 Cottage cheese .......... ....:............ 111
pocket 110 .............................. 232 Creams, cleansing ...................... 212
single lens reflex .................... . 226
tripods .. .......... ... .. ....... ............. 249
Can openers ............................... 36 Dairy products:
Carpet shampoos ....................... 201 cottage cheese ........................ 111
Cars, see Automobiles; ice cream ................................. 105
Automotive equipment ice milk .................................... 105
Cartridges, phono .... ................... 266 Detectors, smoke ....................... 179
Cassette tape equipment: Detergents, hand-laundry .. ......... 18
decks, low-priced ............ ........ 279 Detergents, laundry boosters ..... 16
video cassette recorders ........ 243 Diapers, disposable .............. ...... 199
Caulking compounds, exterior .. . 138 Dishwashing liquids .................... 47
Ceramic cooktops ............ .......... 29 Disposable diapers ..................... 199
Cereals, breakfast ...................... 81 Dressings, salad .................... ..... 104
Cheese, cottage .... ... ........ ... ........ 107 Drills, electric ................. .. ........... 282
Chicken: Dryers, clothes ....... ...... .. ............. 12
fresh ....... ........................... .. ... . 113
frozen fried ......... ..................... 89
Children's bookpacks ................. 213 E1ectric water heaters ....... .. ... .... 129
Cleaners: Enamel paints .................... ... .. .... 329
all-purpose .. .. .. ...... .... ............ .. 175 Energy conservation:
dishwashing liquids ...... ... ........ 47 air-conditioners,
oven ......................................... 29 high-efficiency ................... ... 147
rug shampoos ......................... 201 burners, oil & gas,
upholstery ............................... 174 high-efficiency ...................... 134
Cleansing creams and lotions .. .. 212 caulking compounds, exterior 138
380 INDEX

fans: hot dogs ..... .. .... .. ... .................. 67

ceiling ... ................................ 156 ice cream ........................... .. .... 105
portable electric ...... .. ....... .. . 157 ice milk ...... .. ............................ 105
whole-house . .. .... .. .. .. ... ... ... .. 146 milk flavorings ............... .. ..... ... 66
home fuel saving ..... ............. ... 121 nutrient content, tables of:
insulation ........................ .... .. ... 139 comparison of some foods . 7 4
for water heaters .. .. .. . ... .. .... . 131 orange juice: frozen, refrigerated,
storm windows ........ ... .. ........... 142 canned ................................. 60
sun controls, window .............. 146 pancake mixes .... ................. .. . 76
thermostats. ... ... ......... .. ........... 136 pancake syrups ..... .......... ...... .. 71
weather stripping .................... 139 peanut butter . .. ... ... .... ....... .. ... . 69
window insulators, indoor ....... 144 pizza, frozen ................ ..... .. ..... 83
Exercise bicycles ........................ 207 potatoes:
Extinguishers, fire ...................... . 190 fresh ............. .. ... ................... 114
frozen trench fries . ..... ... .. .... 115
pot pies, frozen ..... .... ............ .. 87
Face creams & lotions ............... 212 salad dressings. ...................... 104
Fans: soups, canned .......... .. ............. 95
ceiling ........ .. ............................ 156 spaghetti sauces ................. .... 93
portable electric ...................... 157 tuna, canned ........... ................ 110
whole-house .. ... .... .. ..... .... .. .... .. 146 turkeys, frozen ........... .. ........... 118
Film processing, color-print ....... 220 Food processors ......................... 40
Fire detectors ............................. 179 Frankfurters .............. ..... .. ........ ... 67
Fire extinguishers ....................... 190 Freezers ...................................... 51
Fish: thermometers.......... ............ .. .. 51
frozen. ............ .. ....... ................ 83 French fries , frozen ............ ... ...... 115
tuna, canned ...................... .. .. . 119 Fruit drinks ................................. 64
Flavorings, milk .......... .. .............. 66 Frying pans, electric ................... 37
Floor polishes. ................ ............ 171 Fuel saving , home ....................... 121
Food: Furnaces:
bacon ........... ... ......... .. ...... .. ..... 72 burners, oil & gas,
baked beans, canned ............. 101 high-efficiency.................. .... 134
beef stews . .... .... ... .... .... .. ... ..... . 88 Furniture, upholstery cleaners ... 174
breads ........ .. ............ ..... .......... 55
cake mixes ....... ... .................... 77
cereals, breakfast ................... 81 Garbage/trash bags ................. 162
chicken : Gardening equipment:
fresh.. ........ .. ......................... 113 hedge trimmers, electric ......... 299
frozen fried ................ .. ........ 89 pruning tools ........................... 297
cottage cheese. ....................... 111 string trimmers ........................ 293
fish , frozen ............................ .. . 83 Garment bags ............................. 217
frankfurters ..................... .. ........ 67 Gas burners, high-efficiency ... ... 137
fruit drinks ... ............................ 64 Gas water heaters ............. ......... 129

Glossaries:
audio ....................................... 257
photographic.............. ............. 241
Grinders, coffee. .... .. ... ............. ... 49
Hammers ............... ...... .. ... ......... 287
Heat pumps, electric .................. 130
Heaters:
kerosene. ..................... ............ 122
solar water.. ... ......................... 125
water, gas, electric,
heat pump ........................... 129
Heating pads .............................. 210
Hedge trimmers, electric. ........... 299
Hi-fi equipment,
see Audio equipment
Hot dogs..................................... 67
Ice cream... ................................. 105
Ice milk.. ... .. .. ............................... 105
Insect killers, electric.......... ...... .. 192
Insect repellents ...... ................... 206
Insulation ............................. .. ..... 139
for water heaters .. .. .... ............. 131
Jackets, life ....... .. ...................... 202
Juice, orange .......................... .... 60
Kerosene heaters ...................... 122
Kitchen equipment, see
Appliances; Cleaners; Cookware
Ladders, stepladder................... 292
Latex wall paints .... .. ................... 308
Laundry boosters ....................... 16
Laundry equipment:
boosters... ............................... 16
INDEX 381
clothes dryers.. ......... ............... 12
detergents, hand-laundry ....... 18
washing machines... ................ 8
Lenses, cameras:
Single lens reflex ..................... 238
teleconverter .. ... ... ... .. .... ... ... . ... 236
Life jackets ................. ................ 202
Light bulbs .... .. ............................ 190
Linens, bed sheets ..................... 179
Lotions, cleansing ....................... 212
Loudspeakers:
low-priced ... ... .... ... .. .... .. ... ... .. .. 263
mini ........................... ............... 274
Luggage, carry-on ..... ....... .. ........ 217
Meat:
bacon ...................................... 72
chicken:
fresh .. .. .................. ............... 113
frozen fried .. ... ... .... .. ... ... .... .. 89
hot dogs. .. ............................... 67
turkeys, frozen ........................ 118
Microwave/convection ovens ... .. 21
cookware for microwave
ovens ......... ................. ............. 24
Milk flavorings ............................ 66
Mixes, cake ............ .. .................. . 77
Mixes, pancake .. ..... .................... 76
Nutrient content, tables of:
comparison of some foods... .. 74
ice cream & ice milk ................ 66
Ou burners, high-efficiency.... .. 134
Orange juice ... ............................ 60
Ovens:
cleaners ................................... 29
microwave/convection... ......... 21
toaster /broiler .... ...... ............... 25
382 INDEX

Paint removal tools ................... 305 Rice cookers. .......... .. .. .. .. ........ .... 32
Painting tools .............................. 301 Rug shampoos ... ... ... ................... 201
Paints:
aerosol. ............... .. .. ................. 331
enamel ........... ............ .............. 329 Salad dressings. ........................ 104
exterior siding & trim ....... ...... . 318 Sauces, spaghetti ............... ........ 93
latex wall ..... .... .. ... ....... .. .... .. ... . 308 Shampoos, rug ........................... 201
Pancake mixes ............. .. .. ...... .. .. 76 Sheets, bed ... .. ... .... ... ... .... ........... 179
Pancake syrups. .... .. .. ......... ... ..... 71 Smoke detectors ... ... .. .... .... ...... .. 179
Paper towels .......................... ..... 49 Socket wrench sets ... .... .. .. .. ...... . 290
Peanut butter. ............................. 69 Solar water heaters ............. ....... 125
Phono cartridges ............:........... 266 Soups, canned.... ........................ 95
Phono turntables ... .. ................... 275 Spaghetti sauces. ............... ... ..... 93
Photographic equipment: Speakers:
cameras: low-priced ... ... .... ... ... ...... ... ... ... 263
pocket 110 .... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... . 232 mini ..... ..... .. ... ... .... .. ..... ......... .... 274
SLR ...... ... ... ... ... ... ................. 226 Stain removers .. ... ... .. ................. 54
film processing, color-print..... 220 Stepladders .. ... .. ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... 292
glossary of terms ..... ............... 241 Stereo equipment:
lenses: cartridges, phono .................... 266
SLR, " normal "...... .. ............. 238 cassette tape decks, low-cost 279
teleconverter .... . ... ..... ..... ... .. . 236 compact stereo systems ......... 289
tripods ........... .......................... 249 component systems:
Pizza, frozen ...... ... ... ... ....... .. .... ... 83 hi-fi shopping guide .. ....... ... . 254
Polishes, floor ...................... ....... 171 mini ................ .... .................. 267
Popcorn poppers ........................ 44 glossary of terms .................... 257
Potatoes: loudspeakers:
fresh. ....................................... 114 low-priced . ... ......... ... ..... .. ..... 263
frozen french fries . .... ....... .. .... . 115 mini ..... ...... ............ ... ........ .... 274
Pot pies, frozen ........................ ... 87 receivers, stereo, mid-priced .. 259
Pots & pans, cooking ................. 30 turntables. .. ... .. ....... ................. 275
Pressure cookers ........................ 34 Stew, beef. ... .. ................ ...... ....... 88
Processors, food . .. ... ..... ............. 40 Storm windows .. ... ...................... 142
Pruning tools ................. ............ . 297 Stoves, ceramic cooktops .......... 17
I.
String trimmers. ... ............... ... ..... 293
Suitcases, carry-on.. .... .......... ..... 217
Raincoats, men 's & women 's .... 195 Sun controls, window ................. 146
Ranges, ceramic cook tops. ........ 29 Sunscreens ...... .... ............. ........ .. 220
Receivers, stereo, mid-priced .... 259 Syrups, pancake ............ ............. 71
Recorders, see Tape equipment
Refrigerator /freezer
thermometers........ ....... ........... 51 Tape equipment, cassette:
Repellents, insect ...... ... .. ........ .... 206 decks, low-cost .. .............. ... ... . 279
 INDEX 383
video cassette recorders ........ 243 Upholstery cleaners ................... 174
Televisions: Used cars:
black & white, small screen .... 249 buying advice .. ... ....... ........ ...... 338
color, small screen .................. 248 1982 models as ....................... 341
Thermometers,
refrigerator /freezer ... ... ... ..... ... 51
Thermostats, energy-saving....... 136
Toaster-oven/broilers................. 25 Vacuum cleaners...................... 165
Tools: Video cassette recorders ........... 243
drills, electric ........................... 282
hammers ..... .... ...... ... ... ... ......... 287
hedge trimmers, electric......... 299
painting ................................... 301 Washing machines ................... 8
paint removal .......................... 305 Water, bottled............................. 107
pruning .................................... 297 Water heaters............................. 129
socket wrench sets ... ....... .... ... 290 heat pumps, electric ............... 130
string trimmers.. ...................... 293 insulation................................. 131
Towels, paper......... .................... 49 solar. ........................................ 125
Trash bags, plastic ..................... 162 Waxes, floor.:.............................. 171
Trench coats, men's & women's 195 Weather stripping.. ..................... 141
Trimmers: Windows:
hedge, electric.............. ........... 299 insulators, indoor .................... 144
string ....................................... 293 storm ....................................... 142
Tripods, camera ......................... 249 sun controls ............................ 146
Tuna, canned .............................. 110 Woks, electric..... ........................ 37
Turntables................................... 275 Wrench sets, sockets ................. 290
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