1302 
The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 28, 1922 
PUBLISHER’S DESK 
All letters to Publisher's Desk depart¬ 
ment must be signed with writer’s full 
name and address given. Many inquiries 
are answered by mail instead of printing 
inquiry and answer, hence unsigned let¬ 
ters receive no consideration. 
Tell me candidly if you consider the 
proposition of the Auto Knitter Hosiery 
Company. Buffalo, N. Y., a good one for 
a woman to take up, with the expectation 
of making a fair wage in spare time dur¬ 
ing the Winter? I understand one of the 
machines must lie bought (at from $45 
up) and then the concern offers to buy 
the finished knitted product, if it is up 
to their standard. Looks to me as though 
"their standard" might be so difficult or 
exacting that the knitter would realize a 
rather small return. F. c. n. 
Maine. 
We will answer the correspondent as 
candidly as requested. We have many 
reports from women, some of whom bor¬ 
row the money to buy tin* machine, only 
to find they were unable to operate it. 
One woman reported that after six months’ 
perseverance she mastered il and knitted 
a large quantity of stockings with satis¬ 
factory profit. Another, whose husband 
happened to be an export machinist, re¬ 
built the machine, and then site operated 
il successfully and with profit. But the 
general report is dissatisfaction, and the 
Auto Knitter Hosiery Company show lit¬ 
tle concern whether the machine gives 
satisfaction after the customer has paid 
for it. Judging from the amount of ad¬ 
vertising done by the firm during the 
past two years several thousand ma¬ 
chines were undoubtedly sold. If it were 
possible for women to knit as many 
stockings with the Auto Knitter as the 
company claims, and the offer to buy the 
stockings lived up to in good faith, the 
market for woolen socks would have been 
glutted long ago. It. is therefore logical 
to conclude that the company figures that 
«>nl\ a small percentage of purchasers arc 
going to he able to operate the machine 
and demand that the stockings arc pur¬ 
chased as agreed. Tina It. N.-Y. has never 
accepted this advertising, and we note its 
absence from a very prominent group of 
publications Ibis season which previously 
carried it. Two other concerns are ad¬ 
vertising knitting machines on the same 
‘‘work-at-home”hasis, which do not merit 
the approval of the editor of Publisher’s 
Desk. 
I am sending you a bill to see if you 
can collect for me. A few days ago a 
man from Philadelphia, Pa., (’. Hendel- 
man, 6025 StentOH Avenue, called at my 
place and bought 56 bushels of potatoes 
at $1 per bushel, and gave me a check for 
the same, but the check was no ..I. 
New Jersey. M, v. 
Mr. llcudelman promised to send a 
check to make good for the protested one, 
but neglected to keep his word. Baler all 
efforts to get in touch with him were 
fruitless, as he had loft Philadelphia 
without leaving any address. We had 
our attorney make a special search for 
him, hut be had closed his account in 
the bank and left for parts unknown. 
Delinquencies like this discredit the pro¬ 
ducer to consumer movement, bill where 
parties are so entirely unknown, cash in 
hand is better than checks. If any Phil¬ 
adelphia subscriber hears of this man we 
would he glad to have the information. 
I am writing you in regard to the 
Universal Auto Service Association. 
Their agent was here in July, and I sup¬ 
posed 1 had taken out insurance when I 
signed the eon tract and gave him a pay¬ 
ment for half, which was $19.75, until 
yesterday, when their man was here to 
deliver the plate and contract, lie told 
me it had nothing to do with insurance, 
just free towing for 16 miles, getting 
parts and tires, etc., at. reduced prices, 
and that if you get into any trouble you 
had the services of a lawyer free. I 
want my money hack on the grounds 
ihat I signed the contract influenced by 
false statements. The agent rend and 
explained the contract, and both Mrs. M. 
and I were under the impression it was 
insurance, and not yi-rvice protection, 
lie also said they hail 160.000 members 
and they only took selected risks. If 
you ever had an accident they would not 
take you. The agent also said that if 
you ever had an accident to telegraph 
them and mail them a diagram ami ex¬ 
planation of case, and you were relieved 
of all further trouble and expense. He 
said they would stand the liability if it 
was $50,000. which is not true. You 
only have the services of a lawyer. I 
did not accept the contract or plate, or 
pay them the other $19.75. They claim 
they will sue me for amount and costs. 
What is yotir advice in the matter, and 
what can you do for me? o. u. M. 
New York. 
We have seen a copy of the contract 
this farmer sighed and how the agent 
talked him into the idea that he was 
buying “insurance" and secured his sig¬ 
nature to the contract is beyond under¬ 
standing. Here is what the contract 
provides: 
The association has retained compe¬ 
tent detectives to aid in the recovery of 
said automobile or its equipment when 
lost or stolen. 
The association will tow for said 
turner, without chnrge , the above de¬ 
scribed machine when totally disabled 
within ten (10) miles of one of the offi¬ 
cial stations of the association to said 
station. 
The association will represent said 
owner in the adjustment of any claim or 
controversy whatsoever relative to the 
use. maintenance and operation of said 
automobile. 
The association, through the purchas¬ 
ing department, will furnish said owner 
with tires, accessories and supplies at 
wholesale prices. 
This department is maintained solely 
for owners who desire to list their ma¬ 
chines for sale or exchange. 
The influence and co-operation of the 
association will he used in all movements 
pertaining to the improvement of high¬ 
ways and (lie betterment of automobile 
conditions. 
For ourselves, we should consider the 
above service worth about 15 cents. The 
service department furnishing acces¬ 
sories at wholesale prices is an innocent 
variety of camouflage, and on a par with 
the other items of the alleged service. 
We want automobile owners to know just 
what they are buying when they sign 
contracts of this kind. 
Chicago, Oct, 12.—A receiver was ap¬ 
pointed for the Flgin Motor Car Com¬ 
pany of Argo. III., today after an invol¬ 
untary petition in bankruptcy had been 
filed in the Federal Court. Attorneys 
for the creditors stated that liabilities 
exceed $1,000,000 and that there arc 
"some assets.” The company was organ¬ 
ized in 1915 with $1,000,000 capitaliza¬ 
tion. in 1920 the capitalization was 
raised to $5,500,000, and the rated ca¬ 
pacity of the plant was listed at 100 cars 
a day.—Daily Press. 
Just one more automobile enterprise 
promoted on a basis of selling stock to the 
public gone to the wall. Advice to sub¬ 
scribers since the organization of the 
company has been justified. 
Unclosed is clipping of an advertise¬ 
ment of Hold Seal Laboratories, Chicago 
This may have been published in good 
faith by the periodical carrying it. hut 
the advertisement has the earmarks of 
a fraud. Will you give us your opinion? 
New York. c. l. s. 
Wo agree with the reader’s estimate 
of this advertising, which has been re¬ 
fused by The Tl. N.-Y r . The concern, 
which by the way. has no laboratory at 
till, advertises a virus to get rid of rats 
and mice. The virus is supposed to com¬ 
municate a disease to the rodent eating 
it. and the contagion spreads to all the 
rats and mice coming in contact with 
the animal affected. Scientists have de¬ 
veloped a virus which tinder favorable 
conditions will accomplish these claims, 
but little dependence can bo put in the 
product sold by this class of flamboyant 
advertisers. The advertisement talks 
about “triple strength virus,” which is 
plain “bunk.” Then a $2.50 bottle is 
offered for $1. which is another form of 
deception common to what we call fake 
advertisements. The above subscriber 
has a keen sense for the detection of 
fraudulent advertising. 
Personally 1 am not interested in en¬ 
closed proposition of Angola Automobile 
C}lllb. Buffalo, N. Y.. but as it is a new 
one to me at least, so will pass it along 
lo you as an apparent fraud scheme to 
got $15 and sell tires. A. it. w. 
Vermont. 
This is the old Bidwell membership 
scheme. You pay $15 yearly member¬ 
ship, and you are supposed to buy auto¬ 
mobile tires and accessories at cost of 
manufacture. Such schemes are always 
a delusion and a snare. In indwell's old 
membership scheme he contended the 
membership was perpetual unless can¬ 
celled. ami on this basis threatened lo sue 
previous members for several years’ fees, 
lie never carried out his threat, and Bid- 
well finally pleaded guilty to fraudulent 
use of the mails. 
Provides Electric Power Anywhere 
at Any Time 
— Furnishes electric light in house and outbuildings 
— Generates current to run washing machine, electric iron, churn, 
cream separator, etc. 
— Starts and stops at the press of a button 
— Is absolutely safe, no exposed operating parts 
—Costs little to operate 
—Saves time, labor and money 
IT’S A WONDER 
WRITE FOR DESCRIPTIVE BOOKLET 
Prices F.O.B. East Orange, N.J. 
12 Volt HOMEL1TE without batteries 
12 Volt HOMELITE with standard batteries 
32 Volt HOMELITE without batteries 
32 Volt HOMELITE with standard batteries 
Liberal Terms 
$174.00 
225.00 
178.00 
245.00 
MANUFACTURED BY 
The Simms Magneto Company 
East Orange, New Jersey 
Smith-Meeker Engineering Co. Walter H. Mo reton Corp. 
123 Liberty Strect.New York City 780 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 
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THE 
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Price $1.50. For sale by 
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WITTE ENGINE WORKS. 
1898 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. 
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Inquire of the Secretary-Treasurer of the National 
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The Federal Land Bank of Springfield, Mass 
