1102 
<Iht RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
August 16, 1924 
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. 
Only a handful of the nearly 7,000 
creditors of the Home Profits Hosiery 
Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., were 
present at the first meeting of creditors 
yesterday morning in Bankruptcy Court 
before Referee Nelson P. Sanford. H. 
Irving Gordon was appointed trustee 
under a $10,000 bond. Liabilities total¬ 
ing $611,507.63 were listed in the sched¬ 
ules filed with the referee, and the assets 
total $177,338.54. The buyers of ma¬ 
chines, referred to in the schedules as 
“workers,” paid $3 a week for 10 weeks 
for machines, when they were delivered 
with the understanding that the balance 
of the purchase price would be paid at the 
rate of $5 a month. Machines were sold 
to cripples, in many instances to widows 
who expected to make a living by knit¬ 
ting sock.s, and letters from creditors tell 
of instances where widows sold their din¬ 
ing room furniture to get the first pay¬ 
ment money for a machine, and similar 
stories. Liabilities listed include the fol¬ 
lowing items: Wages to workers for 
knitting, $10,500.54; amount of replace¬ 
ment yarn due workers for socks made, 
at $2.50 per lb., $21,069.05; amounts due 
workers of adjustments, as express, 
shortage of yarn, etc., $829.61; refunds 
due on machine sale deposits through in¬ 
ability to learn to operate machines, 
$5.334.29; amount due workers on ma¬ 
chine parts, $164.27; amount due to 
those who have paid less than $30 for 
machines and demand a refund, $449; 
machine orders on hand unfilled with $30 
cash on hand for each, $29,498.35; depos¬ 
its of $3 or more on a machine, $7,131.01, 
etc.—Democrat and Chronicle. 
We are not interested in the general 
creditors, newspapers, etc., which helped 
to defraud the public on this “work at 
home scheme,” but the report of the wid¬ 
ows, cripples, etc., who Dive been rob¬ 
bed of their meager savings is pitiable 
in the extreme. The home knitting ma¬ 
chine scheme has had its day. The R. 
N.-Y. denounced it from the start, and 
more recently other publications are on 
record of having refused to accept the 
advertising and help promote the delu¬ 
sion. Frantic efforts will no doubt be 
made by the two or three concerns sell¬ 
ing knitting machines on the same work- 
at-home plan as employed by the Home 
Profits Hosiery Company, but the public 
has had sufficient warning to steer clear 
of the alluring bait. 
Inclosed find stamped envelope for in¬ 
formation of the Continental Automobile 
Accident Corporation, 1775 Broadway, 
New York. An agent for said company 
was through the country insuring people 
with automobiles. I took out insurance 
for $1,000, for which he said I could pay 
$5 down and $5 a month, and would re¬ 
ceive my policy the following Friday. A 
week later another man came around 
with the policy, saying I did not get it 
until I paid the $44 in full, which is the 
amount for two years, as they were hav¬ 
ing a campaign and you paid $44 for two 
years which was the price of one before 
campaign. Could you please let me know 
by return mail if this is a reliable com¬ 
pany? G. L. B. 
New York. 
We find no record of the Continental 
Automobile Accident Corporation in 
Bradstreets. The agents are undoubtedly 
selling a “service contract” and not an 
insurance policy. We have warned our 
readers against these contracts repeatedly 
for the past two years. Such contracts 
have little value for the automobile own¬ 
er, and when sold as insurance policies 
are clearly fraudulent. 
One day last Winter, just before train 
time, a young fellow came into our office, 
stating his company, the Peerless Pro¬ 
ducts Manufacturing Company, S0-S2 
Pine St., New York City, was going to do 
a lot of advertising of a roofing product, 
and wanted to know if we would act as 
agents. I said we might if his product 
was O. Iv. I told him the galvanized roof 
on our building leaked and that we were 
puzzled to know what to do. He then 
offered to send five gallons free to test 
it if we would try it. We told him we 
would be glad to do so. He filled out an 
order and then said he was not sure his 
company would send it, but thought they 
would, and asked about a brush and won¬ 
dered if we would be willing to pay 26 
cents for one. He asked me to sign an 
order. I thought we could stand an order 
for 26 cents, and did so after reading the 
order over carefully. The. order in his 
book that I signed was entirely different 
from the inclosed orders that have been 
sent me since I wrote you, and called for 
only five gallons roofing to be free for 
trial, and one brush, 26 cents to be paid 
for. He had asked for the name of our 
association, and to save time I handed 
him our rubber stamp. As he was leav¬ 
ing, after hearing the train whistle, he 
wanted to know if we could use 60 gal¬ 
lons if it proved O. K. I said yes, no I 
could use that much on my own buildings 
alone. The price was spoken of, I be¬ 
lieve, although I paid little attention, as 
all business would depend on the result of 
the test. He left me nothing but the in¬ 
closed circular, on which you will see a 
minute made at the time. This I came 
across yesterday and inclose with all 
other correspondence we have had in the 
matter. I heard nothing more and it had 
nearly dropped from my mind when noti¬ 
fied of the arrival of a barrel and keg of 
roofing. This I refused until I received 
an invoice at least, and when that arrived 
was more than surprised and notified the 
railroad agent we would not accept it, and 
have not done so. It is still here waiting 
disposal orders. J. B. S. 
New York. 
The above story relates in plain un¬ 
vanished language one of the tricks of 
the roofing paint agents—and this line of 
business seems to harbor more than its 
share of tricksters and sharks. One 
would be reluctant to believe any concern 
selling a product of general consumption 
such as a roofing paint would resort to 
such methods, but we have similar reports 
from other farmers that the same sort of a 
game was played on them by the Peerless 
Products Manufacturing Company, also 
by the Everwear Asbestos Company, 136 
Water St., which is around the corner 
from the Peerless Products Company ad¬ 
dress and in the same building. Appar¬ 
ently the same individuals are doing bus¬ 
iness under both names. We also have 
reports of another roofing paint outfit in 
New York City carrying on practically 
the same game. There are many honest 
and reputable houses engaged in selling 
roofing paints, and we do not want to 
cast aspersions on the industry as a 
whole, 'but we do desire to. warn our read¬ 
ers and farmers generally against the 
machinations of the houses and their 
agents securing orders in the manner out¬ 
lined in the letter of J. B. S. No doubt 
the order he signed for the brush included 
an order for a quantity of paint, but such 
“sleight of hand” methods will not stand 
in court, and The R. N.-Y. is on record 
in advising farmers not to be imposed 
upon in this way through the fear of a 
lawsuit. The rule is houses resorting to 
such practices as these do not dare come 
into court, but rely upon the natural re¬ 
luctance of farmers for litigation to en¬ 
force unjust demands upon them. 
On May 31 my wife sent $65 for a 
home knitting machine from the Steber 
Machine Company of Utica, N. Y. Upon 
delivery of the machine it was unable to 
be used and I sent it back to them. They 
sent check for $32.50 and said they would 
put it in storage for us because they were 
unable to sell it at present. I wrote and 
asked them to refund as much money as 
they can, and they only sent half of it 
back. . Must we really lose half of the 
money, as my wife is sick and needs all 
the money she can get? Can you please 
do all you can in your power in this 
case? C. s * 
New Jersey. 
The Steber Machine Company flatly re¬ 
fuses to refund the balance of the money 
paid for the machine, explaining that it 
is contrary to the policy of the firm to 
take back machines after they have been 
sold and refund the purchase price. The 
work at home knitting machine proposi¬ 
tions are all in the same class easy- 
money schemes. They sell the machines 
to needy women and take their money on 
the representations that the purchasers 
will be able to earn money with the ma¬ 
chines. When the deserving women dis¬ 
cover the delusion their money is gone. 
Many papers now refuse all this knitting 
machine advertising. The publications 
that accept it, after all the publicity 
these schemes have received, virtually 
admit that the advertisers’ money is of 
more concern to the publishers than the 
interests of their readers. 
“Do you understand what is meant by 
invisible government?” “Personally speak¬ 
ing.” said Mr. Meekton, “I do. My wife 
gives me a list of errands every day by 
telephone.”—Washington Star. 
He: “How is that back tire on your 
side, Eunice?” She (looking over the 
side of the car: “Oh, it’s all right. It’s 
flat on the bottom, but it’s round on the 
top.”—London Answers. 
B ECAUSE of the “Ball Bearing’’ flywheel 
on the Advance-Rumely Silo Filler, the 
keen knives and the shear plate always stay 
in adjustment. They cut clean and uniform 
like a new pair of shears and produce a high 
grade of silage. 
Ball bearings stop both radial and end play. This 
allows the knives to be adjusted closer, cutting is easier 
and more uniform. The bearings are packed in grease; 
they wear indefinitely. This is typical of the entire Silo 
Filler, which is built to last. Steel frame, steel running 
gears, steel flywheel are a few of the features. 
All adjustments are easily made. Gears run in oil. 
Standard equipment includes auxiliary feed roll—saves 
one man’s time. 
There are many advantages in owning this Silo Filler. 
You ought to know about all of them before you buy 
any other. Let us send you complete description. 
Write for catalog. Address Dept. ZZ. 
Advance-Rumely 
Thresher Company, Inc., La Porte, Indiana 
(Incorporated) 
The Advance-Rumely line includes kerosene tractors, 
steam engines, grain and rice threshers, husker- 
shredders, alfalfa and clover hullers and motor trucks. 
SERVICED THROUGH 33 BRANCHES AND WAREHOUSES 
We think they are the best lan¬ 
terns on earth. Next time you 
buy a lantern, compare every 
detail of the Embury with any 
other. Look for improvements 
like the solid dome, rain- and 
dirt-proof; the big brass 
oil filler; the short globe; 
the extra strong construc¬ 
tion throughout. 
No. 160 is a winner — im¬ 
proved burner gives 202 more 
light and burns 35 hours; 
dust-, dirt-, wind- and rain¬ 
proof; $1.50, except in the 
far west. 
There’s an Embury for 
every purpose 
ORDER FROM YOUR DEALER 
If he has none in stock, we 
will mail on receipt of price. 
EMBURY MANUFACTURING CO. 
Warsaw Dept. IS New York 
24 
Upward CREAM 
SEPARATOR 
On trial. Easy to run and clean 
Skims warm or cold milk. Differ 
ent from picture which shows large 
size easy running New L. S. Model. 
Western shipments from Western points 
MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN 
Write today for free catalog 
AMERICAN SEPARATOR CO. 
Bex 7075 Bainbridge, N. Y. 
SAVE HALF 
Your Paint Bills 
USE INGERSOLL PAINT 
PROVED BEST by 80 years’ use. It will 
please you. The ONLY PAINT endorsed 
by the “GRANGE” for 50 years. 
Made in all colors—for all purposes. 
Get my FKEE DELIVERY offer 
From Factory Direct to You at Wholesale Prices- 
INGERSOLL PAINT ROOK —FREE 
Tells all about Paint and Painting for Durability. Valu¬ 
able information FREE TO YOU with Sample Cards. 
Write me. DO IT NOW. I WILL SAVE YOU MONEY 
Oldest Ready Mixed Paint House in America—Estab. 1842 
0. W. Ingersol! 246 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 
i ^ r 
s Grange 
(Grange Si loi 
■ i 
I Silos 
1 SPECIAL 
| DISCOUNTS 
For 30 Days 
trl| For prices write 
H Grange Silo Co. 
?r 
.fllij Red Creek 
q5 
Wayne Co., N. Y. 
SAVES 
£3022 
GetBrown'stfew 
I LOW PRICES 
W. T. Greathouse writes: 
*‘Fence received yesterday. I 
saved $30.00 in buying from 
you.” Our new cut prices are 
ay below others—and 
Brown Pays Freight 
Write for our new 1924 cut price j 
catalog — see the dollars you save j 
150 styles.Double galvanized,open f 
hearth wire. Roofing; and paints, f 
THE BROWN FENCE & WIRE CO. I 
Dept.4301 Cleveland. Ohio 
