Document y582bwda3Lk9Ga04YzgQwbo4

Mr. H. W, Saley Hr. 2. 0. Jones Lake Erie Chemical Co&pany, Cleveland, Ohio Maw York Chicago May 14, 1943 Dear Harry: In talking with Hills Dochar over the phone today, I gave him a brief message for transmission to you regarding my contact with the above company, I hope you will pardon my not writing you fully before this, but train schedules and calls have bean paoked so tightly together that I have not had an opportunity. In company with Louis Slack, I called on Mr, Sdelaan, who is Director of Research for this company. They manufacture a variety of highly toxic materials, some of which go into police use, such as tear gas and so on, and others are being built for the Chemical Warfare Department. This company needs a source for the ethyl radical (Cg Eg) and have come to the conclusion that tetraethyl lead is the most convenient and prolific means of obtaining it. They seem to be in no way concerned with the toxic properties of tetraethyl lead, and also seam to feel that their experience in handling this typo o?i<^^ff%ualifies them competely. At the time of my call, they were not quite clear as to how they would handle large quantities and would be willing to accept in the main our mechanical recommendations. The estimated amount which may be needed in a comparatively few months would he possibly one 55 gallon drum per day. The laboratory and other manufacturing facilities are extremely sloppy for a concern of this type. So such so, in fact that we got quite a dose of tear gas by merely walking frosf one floor to another. This sort of condition made.me wonder wetter we ought to accept orders for large quantities without considerable investiatt ion. ' -S. ' Accordingly, T called Dr^iCehoe on the telephone (he was in Lore-tin, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, at the-time) and outlined "the situation to him. He suggested, and Mr* Hdelmaa agreed,' that Lake Hrla Chemical Company write a com plete outline of their requirements to the Kettering Laboratory, after which either Dr, Ksaoe or one of his representatives would call and discuss the medical and organ!o chemical aspects fully* I la the meantime, w sdll reoaiv a purchase order for two or three laboratory cans of tetraethyl lead for use la preliminary expex'iisents* X fool perfectly safe ia reeasseading that this small order be filled without hesitation as there are adequate numbers of small hoods, gloves and saaslcs available* I will discuss this >ho\ situation altii you more fully iAi I return to He*/ Toxic nsxt woaJc* Very truly yours, copies to