Document 6RxGo311qbpz4Y446j7VzMv59

August 10,1927 Mr, 1. Vi* e b b , , The Ethyl Gasoline Corp, 25 Broadway, Hew York, H Y* - . My dear Mr Uebb: ' ' Vvhen I was In Wilmington a few days ' ' ago I spoke to Mr Stocker and to John Schaefer about the- possibility of the use, of our can filling machine there . in filling their different types of cans, having in mind the possibility that vio may be called upon to* furnish the Anglo American Company with small cans of Fluid for distri bution to the Air Ministry and Imperial Airways You will ' remember that we discussed this subject, and it was thought that if the small cans could be avoided so much the better I believe, however, that it might be a good idea to got a sample can from Mr Tognor, made up in accordance with speci fications of the British Air Ministry, and seo what it is like This would be a $>o& idea for two reasons First of - all, I am not satlsfied-|i^e4f the cans we are supplying the United States Havy are sS.fev They strike me as being rather fragile, and I think the ncaps are none to certain- to remain in place If the Air Ministry have decided upon a can which is a groat improvement over our own we ought to know it, and we ought to copy it Subsequently if we should find it neces sary or advisable to supply them'with small cane, vie will - have to do it on the specifications of the British Air Minis- s try, unless we can modify those specifications by conference with them* It would be advisable to know what they are like and who ther they can be filled satisfactorily with our own can filling machine at Deepwater* I trust that you will be - able to settle the whole matter without distributing any more cans, and I shall bo intqreoted as to the outcome of r- your correspondence on this subject* N, Since my return I have been giving very serious consideration to another matter My assistants are. definitely dissatisfied with the conduct of our mixing plants in the state of Pennsylvania, with the exception of the one , plant in Philadelphia The Pennsylvania plants are unsatis factory, and in one or two cases there is a very definite laxity in carrying out our rules and regulations. For these reasons I am planning a trip myself into this territory in the very near future I a m going to visit these points with out informing them in advance of m y coming, and I cea going to fKc 000131} Mr. B. W . W e b b . Aug, 10,1927 ffltk definite), recommendations to you as to what should be done* I am inclined to believe that In installing these plants too great a compromise has been made in the carrying out of our specifications and rules, and 1 believe that some one of ms? engineering staff has inadvertantly perhaps given tho impression that it is hot necessary to go through with all the details of our requirements* 1 hope that ay assistants have make a mistake on the side of criticism, but I a m going to as sure myself of the facts before X make any recommendations. At tho same time I am planning to visit Mr. Jordan in Chicago to discuss with him in as much detail ns possible the situation of the Standard Oil Company of Indiana " . as regards three of their points that now have to our point of view quite unsatisfactory installations of equipment* As things now stand we find it necessary to visit three or four points in th country twice as often as it Is necessary to visit other points which we regard as satisfactory. If it were not for those ' three or four points we could definitely plan to visit our mixing equipments fc:roe times annually* and'wo could be perfectly cer- . tain that everything would go well* It does not seem to me to b justifiable from the point of view of traveling expenses, and from the point of view of safety to permit the existence of a few definitely unsatisfactory Installations X have no intention to - make any radical recommendations or criticismsfor I understand fully the position of the Standard-Oil Company of Indiana In a business way, and their spirit of friendliness and cooperation ' are of such a sort as to make it very embarrassing to be too stringent with them. I am not at all certain, however, that we will not be able to effect some, sort of arrangement with them that will servo 0001308 both their ends and ours. You may rest assured that I will not create any fOelingjof undue-criticism on bur part* I merely wish to determine for myself whether w cannot do something to help , f.i our this problem. I believe that Mr* Jordan undertancls perhaps bettor than anyone!els the immediate problems of th Standard . - Oil Company Of Indiana* Perhaps wo can together w o r k o u t some , - scheme to get around thes difficulties* If you have any sug n gestions as to methods of procedure, or if you hav any objection ~ Ut to either of those,two trips in the immediate future please let me know at once. , . With kindest regards. ^ , ery truly yours*-.,' ..