 What was the “Piltdon Effect”?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958. "But Mr. Piltdon," remonstrated Feetch unsteadily under his employer's glare, "don't you remember? Our own Piltdon opener barely manages to open a can in eight point nine without chimes. "Dignity," pronounced Piltdon, "is for museums. I want it completely developed, engineered and tooled-up, ready for production. A designer had to dream at his board, investigate, search, build, test, compare, discard. He had always wanted to devote all his time to research, but Piltdon Opener had not given him that opportunity. What had happened, to the proud dream he once had, the dream of exploring uncharted engineering regions, of unlimited time to investigate and develop? Twenty-five years of your life you put in with Piltdon, and he'd fire you just like that if you don't do the impossible. The Piltdon Company is built upon your designs and you get handed this deal!" "Piltdon ought to be rayed," he growled. What motions can we plot in the area of disappearance and what are their analytical mathematical formulae? Several days later, however, Piltdon himself charged into the drawing room and slapped Feetch heartily on the back, causing him to break a pencil point. After Piltdon had seen it his eyes took on a feverish glint.
 The can-opener causing the cans to disappear.
 The ability to meet a tight deadline.  The can-opener causing the cans to disappear.  The deluge of cans falling from the sky.  Viral interest in a new product.