When Were Bar Codes Invented?

“When were bar codes invented?” One of our patrons remembered when prices were stamped on all the items at the supermarket, but wasn’t sure how far back it was.

We found our answer in Ideas that Changed the World by Julie Ferris et al. and World of Invention, edited by Kimberly A. McGrath. Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver patented the bar code in 1949. They had been looking for something that would be able to quickly and easily identify products at the supermarket, considering Morse code, when Woodland was inspired by going to the beach and drawing lines in the sand.

There weren’t yet any lasers or computers that could properly read the codes, and, unfortunately, Silver died in 1963 before his and Woodland’s idea could come to full fruition. Woodland kept at it and finished developing the UPC (which stands for Universal Product Code) by the early 1970s.

In either 1973 (according to World of Invention) or 1974 (according to Ideas that Changed the World), the first item – a pack of gum – was rung up at the supermarket using its new UPC code. Bar codes aren’t only used in supermarkets, though. They were used early on to identify railroad cars and, of course, you can find them on our library books!

I'm Looking For an Electronic Thermometer Made in the United States of America

“I’m looking for one of those electronic thermometers that also gauges humidity; the kind with the sensor that you put outside.  I want to find one that is made in the United States of America.”  The Newton Falls Public Library staff located several companies which manufactured these weather stations, including Lacrosse Technologies.

Looking at the companies, we could not find any that had their factories in the United States. Our next step was to examine websites which highlight products produced here. Some of the websites are: www.hometownusastores.com, www.themadeinamericamovement.com, www.madeinamericastore.com, madeinusaforever.com, and www.stillmadeinusa.com.  The last website is interesting because you can narrow your search by state, learning about some products that are made there.

Continuing the search, our staff found an Accurite digital thermometer with humidity gauge and clock on the website www.jackscountrystore.com.  It is noted on the site that “This item proudly made in the U.S.A.” We informed our patron so he could see if this was the one he wished to purchase.

Can You Help Me Find a Product I love?

“Can you help me find who sells “product name”? The Newton Falls Public Library staff frequently has patrons looking for products they love to use. They are no longer available at the store where they always purchased it or they have forgotten where they made the initial purchase.  Recent questions have included a favorite Clairol hair coloring, cocoa and crème Tums Smoothies, and Gonzo stain remover.

Each question was answered by going to the corporate websites. For the particular shade of hair coloring, we were able to give the patron a listing of local stores which still carried her product.  She returned several weeks later to tell us that she was able to purchase it at Kmart.

The search for a local outlet for cocoa Tums was not successful. Their website no longer lists this flavor as the product has been discontinued. Sixty count bottles can still be purchased online, with the prices ranging from $5 - $18.50 before shipping and handling is added. Our patron said the price was enough to give her more heartburn.

Like the previous products, the website for Gonzo stain remover has the option of making an online purchase. Some of the online stores which appeared to carry it were Ace Hardware, Kitchen Collection, and Sears. Our patron said she was going to try to see if one of the local chain stores carried the product.

What Was the Website Mentioned on Dr. Oz?

“I was watching Dr. Oz the other day, and he was talking about saving money at the grocery store with a website named Shop Smart. I can’t seem to locate it online; can you help me?” This was a question we enjoyed researching as the Newton Falls Public Library staff members also look for ways to save money.

We began with an online search for the words “Dr. Oz smart shop.” The first item listed was “Dr Oz was joined by Lisa Lee, editor in chief of ShopSmart magazine.” We then looked for their website and found http://www.shopsmartmag.org./ ShopSmart;) is a new Consumer Reports magazine to which a subscription may be purchased. The website does have interesting articles which may be viewed online such as Hidden Discounts, Save on Groceries, How to Buy Clothes That Fit and Flatter and Get More for Less. There is also news, advice, smart ideas and a newsletter. This was the information our patron needed.

Searching websites with the words “shop smart” also brought up an interesting list of other sites for our patron to consider. One that intrigued us the most was http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/ which will deliver healthy recipes and coupons directly to your email address.

The library also has numerous resources to assist those trying to watch their spending. On Saturday, October 16 from 11 a.m.to noon attend the Coupon Clipper – How to Save $ presented by Michelle McMahon. Michelle was recently featured in the article Clipping Costs: Residents share coupon secrets by Larry Ringler (Tribune Chronicle, September 12, 2010). Discover ways to save money and to have more in your pockets for the holidays. Register today and bring your extra coupons to the event.

Unable to attend our program? The library has a multitude of materials which can help you save. The Frugal Shopper Checklist Book: what you need to know to win in the marketplace, The Frugal Senior: hundreds of creative ways to stretch a dollar! by Rich Gray and Master Your Debt: slash your monthly payments and become debt free by Jordan E. Goodman with Bill Westrom are a small selection of what can be borrowed to help save.


Careful planning for meals at home can be a great money saver. The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook: 200 recipes for quick, delicious, and nourishing meals that are easy on the budget and a snap to prepare by Erin Chase, Good Housekeeping Dinner for a Dollar: 50 family friendly recipes under $, and Chef on a Shoestring: more than 120 delicious, easy-on-the-budget recipes from America's best chefs have recipes sure to tempt.

Besides finance information, cookbooks, repair manuals, “do-it-yourself” and “make your own” books, the library has purchased two databases to help make engine repairs less expensive. The Small Engine Repair Reference Center can be accessed from any Internet computer and has manuals for all terrain vehicles, generators and other small engines, marine/boat motors, motorcycles, outdoor power equipment, personal water craft, snow machines/snow mobiles, and tractors. For those individuals working on their cars, the library has AllData, the world's most comprehensive resource for automotive diagnostic and repair information, including Technical Service Bulletins, items of Customer Interest, and wiring diagrams. Vehicles from 1982 to present may be searched, and the information is specific down to engine size. This database can be accessed only at the library.


Remember that the library is filled with great resources for those who are frugal.

How Can I Save Money Using Coupons and Cards?

“I’m trying to be more frugal this year, and I saw on the news that there are ways to save money shopping by using coupons, and AAA and AARP cards. Can you help me find out where I can use the cards?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff also likes to save money, so this question inspired a great deal of curiosity.

We first checked the websites for each of these cards and found long lists of places which give discounts either online or in the stores. Among the offerings at www.AARP.com, cardholders can get discounts on some paperback and AARP books at Borders. Walgreens has online savings. There are companies offering savings in the categories of Retail, Fitness, Health, Home & Technology, Travel, and Apparel & More. AARP has a Grocery Coupon Center that cardholders may access. Senior citizens can also take advantage of discounts using their Golden Buckeye Card. “All Ohioans age 60 or better, as well as adults age 18-59 who have disabilities as defined by Social Security, are eligible for a free Golden Buckeye Card [http://aging.ohio.gov/goldenbuckeye].” The Golden Buckeye Card’s website allows you to input the name of a town and see which merchants there offer discounts. If you didn’t receive your card upon turning 60 years old, one may be requested at the Newton Falls Public Library.www.AAA.com lists Retail & Services, Dining, Automotive, Attractions & Entertainment, Travel & Transportation, and Hotels & Lodging offering discounts. The staff was surprised to find that in our area, participating New York & Company, Payless Shoes, Napa, and Aurora Farms Outlets stores offer discounts when you show your AAA card. There are also online stores, such as Target.com, which let shoppers save with their cards.

Coupons are another way to save money. There are numerous sites available online, including www.coupons.com, www.fatwallet.com, www.thecouponclippers.com, and www.valpak.com which is specific to your community. Card holders may access these and other sites using the library’s public access computers.

For those looking for more money saving ideas consider borrowing The Frugal Senior: hundreds of creative ways to stretch a dollar! by Rich Gray, Real Simple, Consumer Reports, Heloise from A to Z by Heloise, Best Buys for Your Home, The Frugal Shopper Checklist Book: what you need to know to win in the marketplace, and Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Jennifer Thorne Amann et al. Besides borrowing books about saving money, using the Newton Falls Public Library is a very frugal step to take. We offer free access to the Internet, books, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, programs, and more.

Made in America

“I’ve been wanting to purchase new dishes . . . new stainless steel pots and pans . . . new . . . and I want to buy ones made in America. It seems everything I look at was made by our friends in China . . . Malaysia . . . Pakistan . . . Mexico . . . Is there a list somewhere of products made in the United States?” This is a question even asked by members of the Newton Falls Public Library staff who wish to support local industries.

There are strict standards which must be met in order for a company to claim that their product was ‘made in the USA.’ According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Facts for Business [www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus03.shtm], “For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be ‘all or virtually all’ made in the U.S. The term ‘United States’ as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.” It is very interesting to read this document in full, as it alerts consumers about the different ways manufacturers can imply domestic origins, including general terms such as “created in.”

As companies are bought and sold, and production locations are moved; it is often difficult for a consumer to find a product’s country of origin. Congress has attempted to deal with this on different occasions. During the 106th Congress (1999-2000), Rep. James Traficant co-sponsored a bi-partisan bill, H.R. 754: Made in America Information Act, to establish a toll-free phone number to assist consumers in determining if a product was made in the United States. He reintroduced it during the next session as H.R. 725. There was also a similar bill in 1994, H.R. 3342. All three bills were passed in the House of Representatives and were referred to Senate committees, but never became law.

There are many websites which offer listings of companies who manufacture products in the United States. This is only a sampling of all the sites and companies producing in the United States: Americans At Work [www.americansworking.com], lists by product types, includes links to the companies’ homepages, and says they check to confirm that the listings are valid; at Made In USA [www.madeinusa.org], users also submit products to the website; Shop For America [www.shopforamerica.com] is an e-commerce site; Still Made in USA [www.stillmadeinusa.com] gives very detailed information including what accessories may be imported; and US Stuff [www.usstuff.com] suggests that the consumer should double check everything, as sometimes a company formerly manufacturing in America moves production.

The company websites are also useful tools including a description and history of the company. It is also good to closely check the actual product you are considering for purchase, reading all labels and packaging, as some companies have products both foreign and domestically made.

Back to the initial questions about dishes and stainless steel cookware. Some of the American companies which still manufacture dishes are Hartstone Pottery, The Homer Laughlin Company which is famous for its Fiesta dishware, Niagara China, and Pickard China which over the years has manufactured official china for U. S. embassies, Blair House, Camp David and Air Force One. All-Clad Cookware, Diamond Craft, Kitchen Craft Cookware, and Lifetime Cookware are some of the American stainless steel pan manufacturers.

There used to be a television show on the Travel Channel [www.travelchannel.com], John Ratzenberger’s Made in America. Each week an American-made product was featured.