diff --git a/include/var.h b/include/var.h
index 8a5efbd0..736af29f 100644
--- a/include/var.h
+++ b/include/var.h
@@ -34,21 +34,13 @@
 #ifndef _VAR_H_
 #define _VAR_H_
 
-#define	V_MAX		255
-
 #define	PLG_HEALTHY	0
 #define	PLG_DYING	1
 #define	PLG_INFECT	2
 #define	PLG_INCUBATE	3
 #define	PLG_EXPOSED	4
 
-#define VT_ITEM		0
-#define VT_TYPE		(7<<5)
-
-#define isitem(x)	(((x) & VT_TYPE) == VT_ITEM)
-#define	unitem(x)	((x) & (VT_ITEM -1))
-
-#define	V_ITEM(x)	((x)|VT_ITEM)	/* a moveable, sellable(?) commodity */
+#define	V_ITEM(x)	(x)
 
 #define I_NONE		0
 #define I_CIVIL		1
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/show.c b/src/lib/subs/show.c
index 11fedc96..b7476903 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/show.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/show.c
@@ -685,8 +685,6 @@ show_sect_capab(int foo)
 {
     register int x, first = 1, i, j;
     char *tmpstr;
-    char c;
-    char *outputs = " cmsgpidbfolhur";
 
     for (x = 0; x < SCT_MAXDEF + 2; x++) {
 	if ((dchr[x].d_mnem == 0) || (dchr[x].d_prd == 0))
@@ -708,7 +706,7 @@ show_sect_capab(int foo)
 		&& pchr[j].p_ctype[i] > I_NONE
 		&& pchr[j].p_ctype[i] <= I_MAX) {
 		pr("%2d %c ", pchr[j].p_camt[i],
-		   ichr[pchr[j].p_ctype[i] & (~VT_ITEM)].i_name[0]);
+		   ichr[pchr[j].p_ctype[i]].i_name[0]);
 	    } else {
 		pr("     ");
 	    }
@@ -730,15 +728,12 @@ show_sect_capab(int foo)
 	    tmpstr = " ";
 	    break;
 	}
-	if (pchr[j].p_type)
-	    c = outputs[pchr[j].p_type - VT_ITEM];
-	else
-	    c = ' ';
 	pr("%-5s %3d %3d %4d %3d %3d %c",
 	   tmpstr,
 	   pchr[j].p_nlmin,
 	   pchr[j].p_nllag,
-	   pchr[j].p_effic, pchr[j].p_cost, pchr[j].p_nrdep, c);
+	   pchr[j].p_effic, pchr[j].p_cost, pchr[j].p_nrdep,
+	   pchr[j].p_type ? ichr[pchr[j].p_type].i_mnem : ' ');
 
 	pr("\n");
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/update/produce.c b/src/lib/update/produce.c
index 43acfc11..77c3527a 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/produce.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/produce.c
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ produce(struct natstr *np, struct sctstr *sp, short *vec, int work,
     product = &pchr[dchr[desig].d_prd];
     if (product == &pchr[0])
 	return 0;
-    vtype = product->p_type;
-    item = vtype & ~VT_ITEM;
+    item = product->p_type;
     *amount = 0;
     *cost = 0;
 
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ produce(struct natstr *np, struct sctstr *sp, short *vec, int work,
      * Adjust produced amount by commodity production ratio
      */
     output = material_consume * prodeff;
-    if ((vtype == 0) && (!player->simulation)) {
+    if (item == I_NONE && !player->simulation) {
 	levels[sp->sct_own][product->p_level] += output;
 	wu((natid)0, sp->sct_own, "%s (%.2f) produced in %s\n",
 	   product->p_name, output, ownxy(sp));