The New York herald., 1922-03-06

n
the last year or two widespread gas
oline economizer fraud. The "econo-
mizer" is usually in one OF three
forins-liquid, powder or tablets
which is put into the gasoline The
use of the "economizer" is variously
described as increasing the efficiency
Of gasoline from Is to 100 per cent.
Analysis Of such "econonizers" has
shown them to be nothing more po-
tent than ordinary moth balls usually
| colored when not sold in liquid or pow
dered form, and which have no effect
whatever upon the action Of gasoline
so far as the United States Bureau of
Standards and other investigatory
agencies have been able to discover.
Strangely enough numerous users
| Of these "economizers" have testified
enthusiastically to their efficacy. That
| is, it seems strange until one takes
| a close look at the instructions for
using the "economizer," which include
advice concerning readjustment of the
carburetor.
When it is considered that nearly
every automobile driver habitually op-
crates on too rich mixture, it is per-
fectly obvious that adjustment of the
carburetor reducing the mixture will!
result In an economy in gasoline. And
therein lies the secret OF the moth balls
| Iotency.
Cut Rates In Motor Tires.
Now let's see about the cut rate tire
dealers. These, according to an ex-
haustive survey of TIL. vigilance COM
nittee of the Associated Advertising
Clubs, fail into three general classes:
Dealers in tires known various as
rebuilt" reconstructed" or double
!, tread
/ Dealers in factory seconds.
And the dealer who advertises new
and first quality tires at prices SEEM
for tires of established reputation and
known quality.
To the first two classes there can be
no legitimate objection. so long as the
public is made acquainted with exactly
what the offered goods are. The third
class usually is the perpetrator of a
gross Misrepresentation.
Double tread is a tire description
frequently seen along almost any busi-
ness street In any town and which Is
a frequent builder of false hopes in
the breast of the purchaser, for there
are undoubtedly many automobile
owners who do not understand just
what double tread tire is. Con-
trary to what the designation seems
20 convey. IL is not a tire with an ex-
ira thickness of tread. but is second
hand tire created by cutting two worn
castings in two. joining together the
less worn halves. which arc then re-
treaded and made to look like q new
tire. In other words, it is nothing
more than a reconstructed" tire. II
may give a fair amount OF service for
it's price or it may blow out on the
first twenty mile run.
Not infrequently such tires are ac-
companied by an extravagant guaran-
ty in order to increase their STABILITY.
Such guarantees are always worth
close scrutiny if the tire purchaser
takes the guaranty into consideration
as factor governing his decision to
buy the tire. First, who is back of
the guaranty and is he responsible?
Second. Of just what does the guar
anty consist?
Seconds" or tires rejected by 4
manufacturer for some defect. cannot
be objected to when sold as such. but
frauds amounting to thousands OF dol
lars are often perpetrated upon auto
mobile owners by the failure or the
dealer to make the character OF tho
tire sufficiently clear. The unscrupu-
ious dealer covers the sale OF a large
lot Of seconds" with the representa-
ton that he has been able 10 get the
lot cheaply because OF "overproduc-
tion," change OF tread" change OF
color" slight blemishes" or any num-
Der OF othec deceptions. when he
should. say frankly he is selling the
tire cheaply because 1t is defective
tire and the purchaser takes it at his
own risk.
The sale Of such tires Is enhanced by
the double price list trick, which con-
sists of displaying the standard price
list OF "flrsts" in comparison with the
prices OF the tires offered for sale. with
out stating that the offered tires are
seconds" thus creating the impression
that a 40 TO 75 per cent. saving is
possible
Or again. tho "s1 sale" trick is used
70 lure the economizisg motorist. That
trick consists OF Offering q tire for 81,
providing the purchaser buys one tire
at the full price, the full price" Of the
one tire obviously covering the cost
and profit OF both double treads" or
seconds" as the case may be.
Thus the tricks by which unwary au-
Il mobile owners are swindled every
day could be enumerated in great num-
Der, and that enumeration would in
clude such prctentious schemes as the
organization OF big associations,
wherein the members are charged
stiff membership fees: then are allowed
to buy inferior accessories at ruinous
prices under the guise OF economy. and
on top OF il all lured into buying stock
in fake accessory manufacturing COM
ranies which never manufacture any
thing. but merely pick up odd lots Of
inferior goods from jobbcrs and sell
them az their own