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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-08-27, Page 2A Pog* 2 Times -Advocate, August 27, 1906 Drayton to manufacture electronic sa "Challenge" and "opportunity" are synonymous in the vocabulary of Jerry De Boer. The co-owner of draycoa, located on Highway 83 in the northwest cor- ner of Exeter, announced last week that his company has begun to manufacture and market Vis -a -lite, an electronic package which fits snug- ly under a vehicle's bood and automatically turns on the low -beam headlights, tail lights and parking lights six seconds atter the engine is started. The delay prevents excessive wear on both the battery and the headlight filaments. The device does not change any wiring, and allows normal use of the existing headlight switch. The electronic control is housed in a plastic case custom-designed and manufactured by another Exeter firm, Danbrie Moulded Plastics Limited. Vis -a -lite can be installed by the adept do-it-yourselfer with simple hand tools. 'The present model is for North American vehicles. De Boer is studying the feasibility of producing a model for foreign vehicles. Last year, with the burgeoning popularity of the rear window brake light, Draycon employee Mike Hunter began to speculate on what the next vehicular safety feature might be. He concluded that the light at the end of the tunnel was vebicies drivung with headlights on during daylight hours. Ontario law now requires the used headlights at least one-half hour after sunrise, and one-half hour before sunset. Legislation making daytime driving with lights on mandatory is pending. and by 1988 all new vehicles will be programmed to run at all times with their lights on. Further research disclosed that studies in Saskatchewan in 1983 show- ed that of 40,006'itiot "vehicle ac- cidents, 25,000 occurred between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00p.m. Twenty percent of these daylight accidents could have been avoided if drivers had had their lights on. EXETER PRODUCT — Jerry De Boer holds one of the Vis-a-Lites (with installation instructions) which Draycon is manufacturing in Exeter. KC DONATE TO HOSPITAL — The Exeter -Mount Carmel Knights of Columbus recently made a dona- tion to South Huron Hospital to assist in the purchase of o cold mist humidifier and o sigmordoscope. Above, Jack Hogan and Jim Glaab present o cheque to hospital administrator Don Currell. Beaver drain passes revision The third court of revision on the Beaver municipal drain was held Monday night at the Exeter municipal office and the revised report was accepted. While the assessments which were realigned after three original appeals were accepted by the revision court, one caution is to be sent to the three councils involved in Exeter and the township of Usborne and Hay. This move came about when Usborne property owners Gord Strang and Al Rundle wanted assurance that further commercial developments would not be allowed to qtr Best Interest 10 1/0/ • Guaranteed 4 0 Investment Certificates ' subject to change Gaiser.Kneale Insurance Brokers Inc. Exeter Grand Bend 233.2420 23e-34$4 Clinton HansaII Goderich 482.9747 262-2119 524-211 8 hook in the drain. Only Hensall Silo represented by Bill Rowcliffe and Dan Brie Plastics had indicated they were planning fur- ther development and they were charged for same in the original report. Strang said he felt a clause should be put into the drain bylaw excluding List results of fair crops Exeter Fall Fair director Roy Pep- per has announced winners in the fair's field crop competition. Rene Van Bruaene with 88 points was the wheat category winner. Next came Murray Rundle 86, Pete Tuckey 84, Brian Pym 82, Stan Hicks and Allan Hern 81, Tom Hern and Passmore Farms 78, Ken Oke and Allan Powe 77, Ray Cann 75, Bob Down 74, Tom Triebner 72, Bruce Shapton 70, Miller Farms 68 and Gerald Dearing 64. A score of 87 allowed Hern Farms to take the barley championship. They were followed by Ray Cann 86, Larry Ballantyne and Bob Down 85, Oke Farms 84, Rene Van Bruaene 83, John Thompson and Wayne Hern 81, Stan Hicks 77, Allan Powe 73, Passmore Farms 71, Brian Pym 63 and Bruce Shapton 47. We're glad you asked! With Iry Armstrong and Bob Fletcher of 2ed HOW SHOULD I PROVIDE FOR MY PET? We would like to address a question in this column which concerns many people, though it isn't dealt with very often. What is the best way to provide for one's pet after one dies? We hope this information will be of help to those of you who have animals you love and want to see cored for. The simplest method is to give your pet and, if necessary. sufficient funds to care of it during the pet's life to a reliable friends who wants the pet. You ,.an also setup o trust for the lifetime of the trustee (not the pet) by which you leave a certain amount of money for the support of the animal. A third method is to direct your executor to arrange for the core and maintenance of your pet after your death, leaving sufficient funds to do so. We suggest you ask your lawyer about this and other legal matters concerning your will. We welcome all your questions through this column. ONTARIO FUNERAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION This Funeral HOMO in Exeter who is o member of Me (Inceporlted) Ontario Funerol Sw►rite Association it: �fe4e/if oWid. FUNERALHOME a+owr »s k7?0 BOB FLETCHER IRV ARMSTRONG • further additional commercial buildings, but, was told by engineer Dan Pletch that he would have to start over again and it would add $300 to the cost. To this Strang replied, "I'll pay the $300 to have that clause included and Pletch retorted "That's a lot of money, but, you are already pro- tected under Section 66 of the Drainage Act." At the first court of revision in mid- July Strang, Rundle and Harry Winters on behalf of his Huron Trac- tor partners appealed their assessments and Pletch was told to make some changes. A week later he presented a revis- ed report which placed seven of 11 hectares from the Huron Tractor pro- perty to the Cann -Mitchell drain. The assessments in Hay township were revised and the town of Exeter agreed to pay an additional assess- ment of $3,600 which lowered the levies for Strang and Rundle. Bill Rowcliffe appealed his second assessment which was up by $230. At the close of the meeting, revision court member Murray Keys of Hay township asked Rowcliffe if he would still appeal and was told, "Probably not, but, I'll decide later". Other members of the court were Jim Kerslake of Osborne township and Exeter mayor Bruce Shaw and councillor Morley Hall, representing the initiating municipality. Swim pool Continued from front page prevent the couple from having a gate placed in the fence which abuts their property. Most board members thought the programs suggested for the pool would' be welcomed by local residents, expecially after Mrs. Oke doubted the pool would provide tQo much competition for the rec board's pool. Acting chairman Kathy Whiteford said that rec director Lynne Far- quhar had talked the matter over with her and had indicated there should be little effect on the board's swimming program. Stewardson wondered if the couple could make money on the project, and when other board members said they thought so, he asked,—why don't we do it?" Hearing Tests No Obligation Big V Drug Store Thurs. Sept. 4 1 to 3 p.m. Batteries, accessories, repairs to most makes HEARING AIDS J.D,FAIR Hearing Aid Service 143 Ontario St., Stratford • • -driving device The Saskatchewan government conducted an extensive advertising campaign encouraging daylight use of headlights in 1984, which received the support of over 75 percent of the -- population. Five years later, 50 per- cent of drivers still turn on in the daytime. Deicer obtained two automatic switching devices being produced in Saskatchewan, as he did not want to waste time reinventing the wheel. The one designed to fit under the dash was complicated to install, and there were reliability problems with the one which went under the hood. Draycon personnel began working on the Vis -a -lite in December, and road tests were concluded in mid- July. De Boer is convinced the locally designed and produced Vis -a -lite will stand up well to all competition. The Draycon product will retail for a sug- gested $44.95, a small price to pay for reduced chance of accidents and the resulting loss of life, injury, and higher insurance costs. A similar device on the market in Ontario sells for 179.95 and must be fitted under the dash by an expert mechanic. A com- peting switch costing $29.95 does not activate the tail lights, and the headlights run at half intensity. Market testing of Vis -a -lite is under- way, and Draycon hopes to interest companies such as Union Gas and On- tario Hydro, as well as government ministries with fleets of vehicles. Local employment will increase as production picks up. De Boer said production figures for a new product are difficult to predict, but Draycon could be turning out 150,000 units within three years, and is capable of doubling or tripling that figure. He knows from past ex- perience the company thrives on challenge, and readily adapts to change. Draycon was set up in 1980 by De Boer and partner Bob McIntosh to market a construction scraper used in oil field development. When that market was lost with the collapse of the oil boom in Western Canada, Draycon picked up the Ontario dealership to sell and service a line of laser equipment with a number of land -levelling applications, primari- ly in farm drainage and irrigation. The neophyte company designed an accessory data processor/printer not available from the equipment sup- plier which automatically records all elevation data, thus allowing one per- son to complete a mobile topographic survey of an area. The units are manufactured in Exeter, sold to the US factory, and resold throughout the world. Six units are currently in operation in the US, four in Egypt, two in South America, one in Korea and one in the Sudan. The data processor/printer pointed out another need: feeding the thousands of readings from the topographical survery (4,100 to cover '200 -acres) into a computer was a laborious task with ample opportuni- ty for human error. Drayton met this challenge by designing and producing an electronic solid-state memory device that connects to the Topo-Print II during the survey, and then transfers all data directly to a computer. Draycon is now entering a new field that holds exciting possibilities. A laser machine and accompanying ac- cessories have been sold to GM to be used to check the level of a concrete floor scheduled to be poured this week for a new automotive plant in Oshawa. Modern robotic technology requires absolutely level floors, and the laser machine will give highs and lows to within one millimeter. De Boer is confident that once the machine is proven on the job site, "further orders are in the wings." As Draycon's plans for Vis -a -lite unfold and production expands, more people will be hired and the word "Draycon, Exeter, Ontario" will receive wide distribution. r Usborne d� Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Isot r, ° NNfo iltifAlM 00 (Established in 1876) Provides Full In- surance Coverage for Town Dwellings as well as Farm Properties DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Jock Horrigon RR 3 Lucon 227-4305 Robert Gordner RR 2 Stoffo 345-2739 Lloyd Morrison RR 1 St. Morys 229-8277 tome Feeney RR 2 Dublin 345.2543 Jock Hodgert RR 1 Kirkton 229-6152 Robert Choffe RR 5 Mitchell 348-8293 Ross Hodgert John Moore Joseph Unioc AGENTS Woodham Dublin Mitchell 229.6643 345.2512 348.9012 In the event of a loss the director must see the damage before repairs are made. Cell 436-4437 Of clip 235.3434 ::tel: i 4110. t .--. gnan �;" �, mo r&kandscaping Supply Soil R.R. 2 Hensall, Ontario LANDSCAPING Your key to year round beauty • Toke advantage of our complete professiorioJ landscape design service. • Phone and our landscape designer will make an appointment to call on you and produce a detailed drawing. • Paving Brick • Fertilizing • Ground Work • Sodding • S..ding • Railway Ties • Design Service • Nursery stock planting Order your nursery stock now...or the work can be done by our landscaping specialists. CO.OP All nursfl,ry stock guarantood 234-4437 235-6434 VP ilk A, Quality is first in our business Weekly Specials Prices in effect to September 3/86 or while supplies last Model 20 Dehumidifier 22495 4 litre Muriatic Acid 419 Duration Want 3" Tablets For pool chlorinating 8 kg. 6'95 4 kg. for pools PH Down 679 Garden Insect Dusts 20% off 4 kg. for pools PH Up 495 Tufmac, high cut soft toe Work Boots (Limited Supply) 3795 All, in stock Skylites 1 % off Special Notice Exeter Co-op store and lumber yard will be clos- ed Friday August 29/86 for inventory. Feed mill will stay open as usual EXETER DISTRICT CO-OP 4 blocks west of the Fire Hall 235.2081 1