Evening star., 1953-11-13
Top Scientists
Back Astin in
AD-X2 Tests
Brand Battery
Additive Worthless;
Weeks in Agreement
BY jones E. Roper

A special investigating COM
mittee of 10 top scientists con-
cluded today that Bureau of
Standards tcsrs on the cortro-
versial additive AD-X2 were "eX-
cellent" and rightly proved that
the Chemical is worthless for
popping up. batteries.
The committees formal report
apparently ended the months
long controversy ever Bureau Of
Standards Director Allen V. AS
tin.
Secretary of Commerce Weeks
at one time tried to fire DR.. AS
tin. partly or grounds that the
bureau Was preiudiced against
AD-X2. The Senate Small Busi-
ness Committee investigated the
row. but DR. Astin came out so
we'll that Secretary Weeks
ordered him reinstated and had
the scientific committee review
his work on Ap-X2.
eve conclude from our studies
and Investigations" the commit
tee reported today. that the
quality of the work of the Ma
tional Bureau of Standards in
the field of lead acid storage
battery testing is excellent. This
statement is made without reser-
vation.
"Our opinion is that the quail
ity of the work of the bureau in
this field is better now than at
any time in the past"
Weeks Accepts Report.
Secretary Weeks accepted the
conclusions, and promised, II
shall do all in my power to aid
the bureau in maintaining this
high level of scientific service to
the Nation"
DR.. Detlev w. Bronx, president
of the National Academy of Sci
ences. appointed the committee
at the request of Secretary
Weeks.
1t reviewed the bureaus work
generally on lead acid storage
batteries, and specifically it's
testing of AD-X2, a product
marketed by Jess M. Ritchie.
one-time bulldozer operator who
is now a practicing psychologist
at Oakland. Calf.
Has Neutral Effect.
The scientific committee said
AD-X2 acted in batteries like
corresponding mixtures of sodi-
um and magnesium sulfates-
EPSON and Glauber's salts
land is substantially neutral in
its effect"
1--WE conclude" the scientists
said. that the relevant data
now available to us regarding
the effects of AD-X2 are ade-
quate to support the position Of
the National Bureau of Stand
ards that the material is without
merit.
1--WE were impressed with the
fact that although this additive
has been available for six years.
no tests have come to our atten-
tion which have, under proper
controlled conditions. shown ad-
vantages for AD-X2. The four
main tests on which we felt we
must rely for relevant evidence
were conducted either for Mr..
Ritchie or in accordance with
procedures which he thought
should show the merits Of
AD-X2
Recommend End to Tests.
1--WE recommend that no addi-
tional tests on the merit Of
AD-X2 be undertaken by this
committee or under it's super
vision. We could not propose
new tests which would do more
than reinforce the very consid-
cradle reliability of the conclu-
sion we have drawn from the
information now available. and
to make a substantial improve
ment in this regard would re-
quire elaborate tests involving
hundreds of cells and extending
over period of years"
The committee commented on
a series of specific complaints
Mr.. Ritchie raised at hearings
before sympathetic Senate
Small Business Committee.
The committee agreed that the
(See ASTIN, Page A-6)