Document LpY39pkeaRE4xjGpg41MVpVp3

Et h y l Ga s o l in e Co r p o r a t io n CHRYSLER BUILDING 405 Le x in g t o n a v e n u e Ne w Yo r k October 31, 1941 Colonel C* iv Hose 0. S Quartsmaster Corps Third and C* Street* Washington B. C. My dear Colonel Boast Confinning our conversation of Wednesday last, the Ithyl Gasoline Corporation hat received from time to time numerous in quiries concerning the utilisation of leaded gasoline in Arraystoves of one kind or another. These have corns to us from oil companies and universities who in turn have received inquiries from some one in the Quartermaster Corps. They oorae to us from manu facturers of stoves who State that they have been requested by some one in the Quartermaster Corps to develop this, that or the other device for burning leaded gasoline* A recant inquiry from the Jiltrol Company stated that Camp Holabird was about to begin experiments on the use of activated olay for removing lead from gasoline. In the oa.se of most of these inquiries, we have been unable to get a sufficiently detailed story to know what the problem really are. As you are aware, we obtained from your office one of the Army field ranges and our Medical Department carried out experiments upon which a report was made some month* ago* The general conclusion was that the range would function satisfactorily if directions were followed and that the removal of lead was adequate from a medical standpoint* Our Chemical Laboratory was also sent a stove from Fort Knox and came to somewhat similar conclusions. Our impression is, at the moment, -that it would be to the advantage of all parties if development work on the general problem could be under some centralised authority* The problem is two-fold* First, -there is the question of the actual physical operation of the >< 0009482 Colonel C* A* Hews Quartermaster Corps October 31, 1941 stove* Second, there is the question of sufficient removal of lead so that no physiological offsets say be expected to result from the use of this stove. The Artsy field range accomplishes both of these requirement# with-reasonable satisfaction* It is quite possible, however, to accomplish the first one without the second* Our own laboratories have studied some aspects of the problem and will be very glad, if desired, to contribute whatever thay can to the picture* If further development work on stoves to burn tetraethyl lead is being carried out or is expected to be carried out by the Army, it would appear to us -that a conference should be called which sight well include representatives of the stove ranufacturers, our own laboratories and the interested parties in the Quartermaster Corps so that the entire subject can be discuss ed and the problem laid on the table and appropriate experimental programs allocated in whatever way seems most desirable* If such a conference should be called, X would like to have present a representative of our Medical Department and one from our Hosearch laboratory* Please bo assured that we have no desire to interfere in any way with your plans on this problem and are only offering the above in the light of what seems to ue to be a constructive suggestion* Very truly yours. Sraham Bdgar BJ 0009483