November 1969

Automotive safety features are saving lives

All 1970 cars carry some 80 safety improvements over their 1965 counterparts. These range from seat belts and shoulder harnesses to such "hidden" extras as a new type of windshield glass, side-impact bars inside doors, and controlled-crush chassis frames.

Moving a stalled vehicle

In emergency situations involving pushing, towing, or lifting a stalled car, the car owner should be well versed on the correct procedures to avoid accidents and damage.

What are your rights as a jobholder?

Your employer can make "reasonable" rules regarding your job. These can apply beyond your regular working days-- and sometimes even to your next job. But very often it takes a court of law or an arbitrator to decide what is "reasonable."

Are you missing some valuable income tax deductions when you buy or sell a house?

If you've bought or sold a house recently (or are planning to), here are some tips that can help you get maximum tax savings for this tax period.

Should you set up a custodial gift account for your child?

There are times when it makes good sense to set up gifts to a minor child through a custodian. Nearly all states have laws authorizing custodial accounts for minors. The minor is considered to own the property held by the custodian, who simply manages the property.

Storage Ideas

You may think you've used up every inch of available space in your home, and that you'll never find a spot for those mushrooming possessions. Don't be too sure. Here's how to sneak storage units into all sorts of places, from the basement up.

Cold-weather barbecuing

Winter months seem long and tedious when they bring ice and snow to your doorstep. But even if the patio or back porch is snowed under, there's no reason to letyour barbecue gear hibernate.

EUROPE 25 years later

Next month it will be 25 years since an unknown Signal Corps photographer poked his camera out of a window over Bastogne's main street to record the triumphant scene (top left) of American power pouring into the Belgian town after its liberation from Nazi siege during the Battle of the Bulge.

Wild new toy box

Putting toys away won't be such a chore for your child with this new toy box (also shown on our cover). Separated into four compartments-- each one opening in a different way-- the box utilizes space much more efficiently than would a single-bin toy chest.

The right hammer

Good hammers have definite characteristics. The heads are made from drop-forged steel to prevent chipping or fracturing under hard impacts. (Cheaper hammerheads are usually made from cast iron.) The head should also be

Send your dog to school?

Making the decision. When you walk your dog, do you have a ton of whale on the end of the leash? Do you fear he'll be a victim of accidental "dogicide" because he can't resist chasing a passing car? Or that he might cause a canine crisis when a V.I.P. (hopefully not the boss!) comes to call? In short, has that fluffy puppy you've come to idolize started throwing his weight around?

Hotels and motels: all the comforts of home--and then some

People who hate to travel may eventually become extinct, spoiled out of existence by the very institutions they once dreaded-- hotels and motels. In a growing number of establishments, the average wayfarer today commands attention once reserved for celebritiesand visiting royalty.

How to put in an alarm system

With more business firms protected by alarm systems, police say criminals and vandals are turning their attention to homes. Assuming your home has strong locks and good lighting, is there more you can do?

Quiet colors that say a lot

Meet a new generation of colors: the striking subtles. They look new but actually they're offbeat gradations of colors you know. There's not a "screamer" nor a "cream-puff" among them. Instead blues, greens, yellows, and reds are frosted, minted, honeyed, or ripened into shimmering

THIS ADDITION KEEPS THE HOUSE INTACT

Enclosing altogether new space is just one way of improving the way your house functions. You'll see other methods on following pages. A really great addition isn't measured in square feet or by how closely it duplicates the original house style-- it's the added livability that counts.

Dramatic settings

On these and the following pages you'll be introduced to the total look in table settings. All the elements-- background, china, silver, and crystal-- are skillfully blended into a cohesive and dramatic composition.

Label cutouts

There's nothing old-fashioned about a pantry

Perfect roast turkey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse bird; pat dry. Stuff wishbone cavity; skewer neck skin to back. Tuck wing tips behind shoulder joints. Rub salt in body cavity and lightly fill with stuffing.

Gifts for the family

This is the place to pick those V.I.P.s (Very Important Presents)-- the ones tagged for your own family. We went through all the exciting new items available-- picked the cream of the crop-- and categorized them to fit every family member's interests. You'll find all sorts of gifts-- from corn poppers to color TV.

Your guide to "man-made" fabrics

New fabrics containing man-made fibers or blends of fibers give long wear and retain their new look. You'll also like their easy care, smart colors, and textures. "Qiana," a new nylon has rich, silk-like qualities. Nonwoven nylon upholstery "Fantasia" is computer printed and takes punishment without losing its beauty. If you come across a fabric with incredibly beautiful texture, it probably combines various fibers which react differently when vat-dyed one color.

New ideas

Timetable for thawing frozen poultry

How to get rid of it all

Do you know where 83 hours of your precious family life disappear each year? Disposing of waste-- not only leftover food but that never-ending stream of packages, jars, and papers.

Built-in vacuum systems--here are the facts

Have you ever watched while a vacuum hose silently, effectively picked up dirt and debris with no machine in sight? Or observed a hostess hold an ashtray to a small hole in the wall and heard the powerful swoosh of the suction that whisked it clean?

Winterize your mower

... a few simple steps before ... store your power mower for ... winter. You'll be rewarded ... long, satisfactory service ... save repair expense.

Adaptable storage for a multi-action kitchen

This centrally located kitchen serves multiple eating areas with the greatest of ease. It's planned for minimum upkeep and fast food fixing-- from family meals to snacks to full-fledged parties. Diversified storage includes components that can be interchanged and adjusted to fit future needs.

One of the best family ski bargains in the world!

Of all big-time ski resorts, Italy's ... is about the only one where inexperienced skiers can ride to the very top with the experts-- and still enjoy coming down. Even children can manage most of the runs. It's an ideal family playground.

A smart house for a steep lot

Cover-ups for air conditioners

How to succeed with Christmas cactus

This house kept its promise to expand

Repeat performances haven't been commonplace in Better Homes and Gardens. But back in 1958 we featured a house with a versatile plan that promised to grow with changing family needs. It did just that.

Inside story on disposers

On-the-spot disposal of garbage is hard to beat. Disposers come in sizes to fit any sink with a standard drain opening of four inches. Grease trap must be removed first or bypassed. This is no problem for a plumber or a handyman.

Fall garden countdown

Lawn. Keep leaves off the lawn. They can pack and smother grass, leaving an unsightly lawn for next spring. Use a broom rake or a lawn vacuum machine to remove all debris, including fallen leaves. If possible, grind and compost the leaves to enrich garden beds later.

How to build a better fire

For maximum enjoyment of your fireplace, follow these tips on: safety, fuels (both solid and gas), fire-starting the smokeless way, and finally, making sure the fire is out. To update that ancient ritual of a glowing fire, here's good news on fuels, colorful chemical additives, and time-saving fire starters.

Young rooms with verve

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the fun and convenience of shopping by mail! You can order with complete confidence: each company will refund your money if you're not delighted.

The man next door

If scientists ever do discover how to control the weather, I hope one of their first projects is to develop a snowstorm that will detour around the front walk, the back steps, and the driveway.