Document r6BBM62Gbx8Z9zOgzDjEDq4eJ

COPY Mr. J. H. Schaefer June 23, 1938 Dear John: This morning I received a visit from Mr. Erickson of Jackson Laboratory, a cousin of Margie Ware. It seems that he has a cousin in Chicago who is the owner of two racing cars and engages drivers of some repute to handle the cars in the races. The occasion of this visit was in connection with the possibility of his obtaining Fluid directly from us for his personal use in the cars. I advised Mr. Erickson to have his cousin call at our Chicago office, and possibly they could arrange to have Mr. Trelease cooperate in the treatment of his gasoline but that he could not expect us to supply him with Fluid directly. The real interest of the visit is the disclosure that Fluid has been dis tributed in obviously illegal channels. I understand that this racing owner has been purchasing Fluid in ordinary types of cans at $18.00 a quart, and the source of the material is reputedly from the West. It seems that this is a source of general distribution to any other car owners who are interested in doping their gasoline. Furthermore, although you are possibly already aware of this, lead concentrations up to 40 cc per gallon are apparently used, A second source of the material is from Eastman Kodak Company, who lists tetraethyl lead for sale among its special organic compounds and apparently sells it to any one. Purchase price of pure tetraethyl lead from this source is also said to be $18.00 a "kilo", and I assume that this is more apt to be a liter them a kilogram of tetraethyl lead. Lead purchased in this manner is added by this one person, at least, directly to the gasoline in the same high concentration without the audition of any other ingredient. The general method of handling of this "bootleg" Fluid and gasoline is by pouring into a graduate and dumping into the gasoline tank, the only precaution used being the wearing of rubber gloves. This is not only interesting news, but I thought as well that it might be an opportunity for further investigation and perhaps determining the method by which the material is being obtained on the outside. I don't know how much truth there is in the report, but I have on occasion heard that Eastman Kodak manufacture tetraethyl lead, VJe do ship them quantities of pure tetraethyl lead as well. I don't know whether we can demand that they control their sales and limit them to laboratory experimental use, or whether Eastman has no obligation and can supply tetraethyl lead upon any request. At any rate, I believe this makes interesting reading and perhaps you are in agreement with my belief that it should be reported to Oscar Lewis for his further investigation. However, I shall take no action until hearing from you. r. J. H. Schaefer June 23, 1938 Incidentally, I an pleased to report that we got our air condition, system in operation today, and I hope that it proves as satisfactory as we anticipate. 'lie should be thankful that our order was placed early enough to assure the operation of the system by July 4 rather than Christmas as it might otherwise have been. Yours truly A. P. Stover 3y C:A3 KE 0009961