Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-22
COLORED moth BALLS
GASOLINE ECONOM|zERS'
Vigilance Committee OF Advertising
Clubs of World Warns the
Motoring Public.


Motorists are warped against So
called Gasoline Economizcrs" in Il
report just issued by the National
Vigilance Committee OF the Associ-
ated Advertising Clubs OF the World,
New York City. which declares such
'economlzcrs" have no effect upon
gasoiIn. efficiency, but arc. real
ity, nothing more than colored moth
balls.
bureau OF Standards. at Washing
ton. with the statement that these
moth ball econornzers have no APP
prcciabie effect in giving gasoline
more pep" and explains that testi-
monial letters used by the manufac-
turcrs OF such tablets result from
the fact that along with the tablets,
! the maker sends instructions con-
corning the adjustment OF the gaso-
| line supply for the motor. II Is a
wcll-known fact. says the report. that
most motorists use richer mixture
| of gasoline than III really necessary
! for the proper operation OF the en-
| ginc. using such mixture because
the car VIII start with greater ease
with Il carburctor adjusted for rich
| mixture.
AInny ON Market.
| The report Of the committee is ad-
dressed 10 the publishers of news
| papers md other periodicals. with
| the purpose of warming them against
~
| ali such preparations. and thus be-
| coming parties 10 a.fraud upon their
readers. 1t mentions several prcpara-
lions BY name. but adds that there
are n great many others. The re-
port proceeds:
The reason we do not know who
and how many are now selling these
miraculous narvels is because the
advertisers not only sell the stun. but
will part with the formula TO any
one who cares TO go Into the bust
ness himself, provided they get their
price for II. You pay SIS or what
ever the price may be. to find GU,
how easily people may be Eullcd anc
then you coin high sounding name
invest in quart or Two OF mott
balls and enter the Industry. Th'
PROFITS are figured by tho advertiser
as being from 700 to 500 per cent
which is fairly attractive"
Claims Win.
These products" the report states
ARE sold in liquid. powder. or table
form, usually the latter. "a small
package of 100 tablets retnils at 81
II IL advertised as a substance which
| "EliminatcS carbon;
"Banishcs ignition trouble
"Prcvcnts backhring
Gives 4 quick pickup:
"Elininates skipping and missing:
prevents overhcating OF the motor
increases gasoline efficiency any
where from IL TO 100 per cent.
These claims vary somewhat &C
corning 10 inc DEaLcNntSS OF the
vcrtiscr. but the foregoing arc typi
cal"
The United States Bureau OF Stan
dards is quoted AS follows with re
ference to products such as thos
mentioned in the report
The natural conclusion from tn
tests so far performed is that nearly
II not quite all. the seeming I'M
provemcnt in engine operation whei
these 'eliNirs.' etc. are added TO tn
; gasoline is due to the reduction !;
the proportion of gasoline used
caused by readjustment In tho car
buretor. which is nearly always re
, CONNIE nded to be made when the new
fuel 'doye' is added. 1t is of cours
n well-known fact that many engines
particularly automobile engines, ar
habitually operated on too rich
mixture, mainly for the sake OF cas-
OF starting and satisfactory opera
ton when first started, and that tn
reduction in the proportion of gaso
line to air will often produce all tn
desirable results claimed for thes
tonics,' etc, without the additic
of any foreign material whatever"