Monday, June 14, 2010

Hot Water Heater Pioneers

The Pioneers In Hot Water Heaters The technological advances in heating water have really come into play just in the last two centuries. People have found various ways to get hot water to their homes , but some methods are still around in a slightly different form. The luxury of having heated water for bathing and washing dishes and other items was a strong catalyst for making improvements in water heating. Everyone loved to have hot water for baths, and those that could afford to pay for an apparatus that could produce that soothing temperature, were certainly apt to pay very well. So of course, there was a demand and a market which in turn brought many people with many ideas. Some were unreliable and didn’t work very well; some worked too well and were actually dangerous ! There needed to be a happy medium. People put their ideas into actions and the wonderful types of hot water heaters that we know and enjoy today were fashioned. This process took many years, but where would we be if they hadn’t started back then ?! Let us take a look into some of the first trials and triumphs in water heating history. The method of heating water on a stove or fire of some sort and pouring it into the desired place was not a quick one. Often it could take hours to heat enough water for bathing. Time was precious then as it is now and people longed for a better way. One of those entrepreneurial souls was Englishman Benjamin Maughan. Around 1868 he invented the Geyser. Known to work almost too well in getting the water very hot and to you, extreme caution had to be taken. There had to be more advancement for water heating as the Geyser couldn’t be a stopping point. It was too great a risk for people in residential use. Maughan’s work was not a total failure because most great inventions have had a start with the inspiration of a not so usable invention. A Norwegian immigrant to Pennsylvania named Edwin Ruud took off with the idea from Maughan’s invention. Of course the name Ruud is familiar as his ideas and inventions worked to enrich lives both poor and wealthy. He is a pioneer in America’s water heating technology and his goal is still alive today as the company he started, The Ruud Manufacturing Company is still going strong and advancing in water heating technology. His automatic storage electric water heater put him on the map and gave him a firm place etched in American plumbing all-stars. One of the most recognized and sought after names in water heaters today, when consumers and businesses alike look for quality and advancement, they look to a Ruud system. When you think of solar powered water heaters, you might believe them to be a technology that has been only recently designed. Not so, a man named Clarence Kemp from Maryland back in 1891 had the market on the sun powered technology that would change peoples lives and environment forever. In that year he patented the Climax. Sunlight, more readily available, and certainly cheaper, than oil or gas became popular for water heating especially in the western parts of the United States. There were many improvements that followed, but perhaps the most useful was in 1909 when William Baily started selling his Day and Night water heating system. Baily’s system took Kemp’s idea to a new level in which an insulated storing tank style unit was added. Producing the advent of hot water in the daytime or nightime, hence the name. The technology that these two men gave their all to is still at work today and have given great comfort to many, especially in hard economic times when other natural resources were hard to come by for the poverty levels so widespread in many eras. Another great benefit, besides financial, to the work started by these men is on the quality of life for all living creatures and the Earth we all share. Such a big benefit with such a small price to pay for the environment and the people who use the technology. You really can’t go wrong with an invention like that ! As you can see, some of the great starts started off with not so great results. Those historic inventions have been an indelible stepping stone on technology for home comfort. Water heating hasn’t been the same since men like these have put their hearts and minds to a greater purpose than themselves. They each had their heart towards making a difference in the lives of people not only in their time, but in future generations. The blessing of hot water to bathe in, wash with, and more would not have been possible without a kick-start from these first inventions. Summary : Water heating technology had to start somewhere, and succeed or fail, these men have given a jump start to water heating as we know it today.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Not So Hollow Bunny

The Not So Hollow Bunny “ Mama , why is my chocolate bunny hollow ? “ cried Tommy after biting into the chocolate bunny he received as an Easter gift from his parents. With a face full of anticipation ,Tommy awaited the answer from his mother, “ Tommy, I know you think you might have been cheated out of some chocolate, but there is a reason I gave you that hollow bunny . “ I gave you that particular type so you will remember from now on why we celebrate Easter. You see, long time ago there were some men who thought that they had been cheated out of something good too. They were followers of a certain teacher who they expected to take over the kingdom where they lived; but this teacher done the opposite of what they were expecting him to do. “ Tommy was bursting to find out the story of this teacher, so he said to his mother , “ Mama , tell me more ! “ she continued “ Well this teacher “ then Tommy blurted out “ What was his name ? “ “ Jesus , his name is Jesus, Tommy “ . Mama continued again “ This teacher, Jesus, told them of deliverance for them from all things, and that he had a kingdom ; these men who were his disciples thought that Jesus would make war with the officials in their homeland and be king. Jesus had a better plan, He planned to set men everywhere on Earth free from sin and death by dying for them.” Tommy looked sad and confused as he asked “ But how ? “ Mama reassured Tommy “ Jesus did indeed die for us to be free, but the hollow bunny will remind you of something else hollow that we celebrate at Easter, the tomb where Jesus was buried.” Tommy said “Huh?” “That’s right , Jesus is alive, the tomb where He lay is just as hollow as that bunny !” Said Mama. “Jesus rose from the dead and is in Heaven waiting to come back for us and establish His kingdom here soon !” Tommy was excited and relieved to here that Jesus is alive and will be king, just as he told his disciples. “ Mama, I love hollow Easter bunnies, they really mean more than just some chocolate to eat, thank you for teaching me about Jesus and the empty tomb !”
“ You see , Tommy, that hollow bunny is not so hollow is it ? It is filled with love, hope and faith.”

Anniversary Dress Article

A Special Anniversary Dress For Your Special Night A great reason to go shopping is to find an anniversary dress that is as special as your anniversary date. You will certainly want to keep your mates favorite color in mind for your anniversary dress, the sight of you wearing his favorite color in a stunning anniversary dress will be something the two of you will look back on with pride and warm memories. Try to plan ahead enough to book a great place that you both have shared fond memories such as the restaurant where you had your first date together; or maybe you could wear that anniversary dress somewhere that the two of you have been discussing such as a theatre performance then dinner at a new , romantic restaurant. When shopping for your anniversary dress, keep in mind where it is that you are planning to go. If you are going somewhere that requires being active, maybe a dress that isn’t draping and does not get in the way would be better. You need to take these things into consideration; you don’t want memories of embarrassing yourself and your mate while ruining your specially chosen anniversary dress. Also , you want to remember the style that your husband prefers; does he prefer a shorter, saucy style or maybe a long, elegantly flowing anniversary dress would make his heart beat faster. Take time to carefully choose a very special anniversary dress that will enchant him for years to come . A fine way to keep those memories fresh is to have someone take photos of the two of you in your best suit and anniversary dress. You can get action shots, or just arrange for portrait type photos. The process will not take all evening, but the memories will last and can be handed down to your children and their families when you capture your special night. It is important to remember to make a night of celebration where you can both look back and your love will only grow stronger. Your husband will always remember the effort you have put forth to find just the right place, activity, and anniversary dress to make him know how special that night is to you; and that shows him how special he is to you ! Planning, planning , and more planning is required, don’t wait till the last minute, it shows how little honor you have for your anniversary.

Why Professional Jewelry Cleaning

Why You Need Professional Jewelry Cleaning You may have some jewelry that has been inherited , or maybe bought at an estate sale, what do you do to make it look presentable ? Take it to a professional jeweler. Sometimes jewelry, vintage jewelry in particular, can be damaged in well meaning efforts to clean them. Whether or not the pieces are real or fake stones or metal doesn’t matter. Vintage jewelry will have special needs in cleaning. Stones are often porous and there tends to be large amounts of patina on some pieces. It is important to remember that your jeweler has been taught proper methods of cleaning jewelry and has access to the chemicals and cleaners that will do the cleaning without damage. Doing the job yourself could cost you the loveliness of the piece as well as do damage to it that cannot be repaired. The fees charged by jewelers are often not terribly expensive, still you may want to call around or make a few trips to jewelers for some estimates before settling on one jeweler for the job. So, next time you find that great piece of vintage jewelry, go ahead and buy it; but leave it to the professionals to handle after that, you’ll be glad you did.

A Yo Yoing Genius

A Yo Yoing Genius Undoubtedly, the name Tom Kuhn means advancement in the yo yo world. From winning a neighbourhood Duncan tournament in Detroit as a child to teaching astronauts how to yo yo for the Toys in Space experiment, Tom has run the gamut from player to inventor to teacher. He has revolutionized the way the world thinks about yo yos. Tom hasn’t always had the career he started in the 1970’s ; he is actually a practicing dentist ! Tom’s love of the yo yo resurfaced and he has in turn created several firsts. In 1976 he patented the No Jive 3 in 1 , the first take apart yo yo ; in 1990 he gave us the first ball bearing yo yo, the Silver Bullet 2 ; in 1999 Tom patented Turbo Disc technology. As if that wasn’t enough , he also holds the Guiness Book of World Records record for biggest yo yo. These technologies invented by Tom have put him on the map as a super star for yo yoers around the world. It seems like each time that Tom invents a technology, he is already working on it’s improvement by the time of its manufacturing. Some of Tom’s best loved yo yos along with his Silver Bullet 2 and No Jive 3 in 1 are the Sleep Machine, TomCat, and the BC Lightning . With Tom’s great advances he gave to the yo yo world, it’s no wonder that so many outrageous new tricks are being performed ! If you’re looking for a great yo yo , then look for Tom Kuhn’s name on it !

Should You Consider Dome Cameras ?

Should You Consider Dome Cameras ? Are you thinking that maybe it’s time to get security cameras for your jewelry store but don’t want to intimidate your customers ? A large majority of customers actually feel more secure doing business with a store that does have security in place. If you want to have surveillance while being non obtrusive, consider dome cameras. Dome cameras are smaller and don’t stick out from the wall or ceiling like a fixed-box camera does. The domes can be bought tinted or smoky colored for added aesthetics. They also come in vandal proof models. The small domes placed in inconspicuous places can be very helpful in identifying if something were to happen where you would need documentation. Though they are small and not easily seen, their presence will be noticed by those looking for them and perhaps deter unwanted criminal activity. Whether it be an outright stick-up type robbery or a more sly way of pick pocketing, to even insurance fraud related “ falls “ ; you can get the evidence you need and still keep your store professional without showy cameras sticking out like sore thumbs when you invest in dome cameras.

Finding Vintage Jewelry For Your Store

How To Find Vintage Jewelry For Your Store Do you know that you can find some quality signed pieces in some unusual places for stocking jewelry stores from ? You probably haven’t been “ garage sale hopping “ in your search for stock, but you might be amazed if you would. I have found many excellent pieces; signed and unsigned, that I have bought to stock my jewelry cabinet. Garage sales, estate sales, yard sales, even Good Will and Salvation Army stores hold these treasures. If a piece doesn’t look in great shape and isn’t too expensive, buy it anyway, you may need a stone or two out of it for another piece that holds more promise of a sale. Many of these pieces will require cleaning and/or repairing, but that’s no problem, you’re a jeweler ! I have found that my stash of unsaleables has come in handy when I need to repair others. When cleaning and repairing, utmost care needs to be taken because of the age of the piece. Make sure that the stones you are putting back in are identical, and the glue, well the glue needs to not be seen ! I have found some lovely pieces that have been subjected to fervent glueing, this is bad because if the type of glue used is not right for your job, it will ooze out and turn yellow around your stone or pearl. You get clouded stones and pearls that look like they were dipped in cheese sauce ! Don’t pass a nice piece by if it isn’t signed or it doesn’t have semi precious jewels or metals in it; you want to have something in all price ranges at your shop. Not everyone can pay for signed pieces; think of the small boy who comes in to buy for his mother’s birthday or the person who cannot afford something expensive but has a thought of love and need for something nice. Cater to your ENTIRE community and the people will think of you and your store for all their gift giving needs. Ebay, yes you read right, Ebay ! I have made a few good buys there, just be careful of doctored photos and terrible lighting in photos to where you cannot see flaws. Also be sure that the dealer has very good ratings in their buying and selling feedback. You can find jewelry sold in lots that are fairly decent in price and can be used to stock your repair pile. As for signed pieces, you may want to do a small report on the piece and frame it nicely to sit beside your piece in the jewelry cabinet. This will tell the potential buyer why it is a great find and let them appreciate the history behind the name on it and enable you to fetch a larger price. Include the history behind the name ( Coro, Lisner, etc. ) and also the patent number and designer so the customer can see it’s value. I have been blessed to find a few wonderful pieces designed by Adolf Katz for Coro and have researched them and found the patents, giving the potential buyer a feeling that they have found a treasure and a piece of jewelry history. So next time you see a flea market or garage sale, don’t pass by without doing some treasure hunting, you may just find enough to put a sale on at your store. All it takes is a little cleaning, repair, and research and you can present your finds to your customers.

HVAC Course Q & A

About HVAC Courses Taking HVAC courses can give you endless job opportunities, the expanse of need for heating and cooling is worldwide ! Wherever you go, there will be people needing new heating or cooling units , or maintenance for older systems. Being able to install, repair, and maintain HVAC systems will virtually ensure you of work. So, let’s have a look at some information on HVAC courses. Q. What areas of studies will be involved in HVAC courses ? A. HVAC courses usually encompass the structural as well as mechanical and electrical workings of heating and cooling units. You will not only how to install, maintain and repair these units, but to build one as well. This will involve electrical and plumbing knowledge, blueprint familiarity, etc. Math and chemistry will be relied on for much of your courses. Q. What should I look for when considering HVAC courses ? A. You should be evaluating HVAC courses on tuition, the certification of the training facility, and the certification that you will obtain after completing their program. You want to find a facility who has proven to give their students a competitive edge, research and see how previous students have fared. Also, look to see if they have training availability to you, hours, distance, and whether or not they have online programs. Q. What doors will HVAC courses open for me ? A. Potentially a whole new life ! There are many, many companies hiring trained HVAC technicians all over the world. Another great benefit of taking HVAC courses is that you can open your own heating and air unit business. Once you have the knowledge, the rest is up to you; decide which road you will take. HVAC needs can range from residential to commercial and even industrial , so you can work in various environments. Be a contractor with your own business, win bids, leave happy customers; or find your niche in a company that appreciates your skills. Q. Where can I find HVAC courses ? A. Local technical and trade schools provide HVAC courses , some even have multiple time slots. That is great if you can only attend evening or night classes due to working a job. Another option that is great for taking the courses while you work at a job is online training. It is a very valuable tool that should be considered if traditional schooling isn’t an option because of distance or obligations. Apprenticeship HVAC training means having on the job training as well as taking HVAC courses in an educational environment, this is a great option for someone currently unemployed. As you can see, there are many roads that will lead to an interesting career in heating and cooling, and with all of the programs and technologies we can utilize, it has never been easier to get there than today . Whatever the method you choose, you can be sure to find the right one for you. HVAC courses can lead to job security and a satisfying career that gives you many options.