THE CARBURETOR SHOP / Gremlins

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Eldon, Missouri 65026

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Mobilgas Gremlins

According to the R.A.F., Gremlins originally lived in caves by pools of rivers, but subsequently migrated to mountain peaks. The rarefied air at this altitude effected their personality to where they basically lived only to create mischief. While it is difficult to chart the exact timetable, it seems somewhere around the beginning of WWII, they started hitching rides on aircraft and creating havoc!

Approximately 1943, Mobilgas started published information about the Gremlins (the Gremlins were now infiltrating automobiles as well as aircraft) and issued a set of 12 stamps which were passed out at gasoline stations. The Gremlins evidently stowed away on at least one trip to Canada, as Mobilgas printed a set of 8 trading cards, again passed out at gasoline stations.

The Gremlins in the stamps set, as per a “confidential” Mobilgas document dated 1943:

(1) Major Trouble, alias Made-YOU-trouble, the chief of the Gremlins, a bold strategist and old campaigner, who directs the marauding sorties of the Gremlin army.

(2) Wastey steals precious car mileage when car owners use inferior gasoline. Mobilgas is the answer to this pilferer.

(3) Sludgy, he is the little meanie that puts sludge in your oil and makes valves stick. Draining the old oil from the crankcase and refilling with fresh Mobiloil of correct summer grade will keep this little beggar out of your crankcase.

(4) Squeaky – Oh, but that Squeaky, there’s a one! He’s the guy that puts those annoying canaries in chassis and springs. Those squeaks mean friction, and friction means wear. He runs like a startled fawn when he sees a car with a Mobilelubrication job – done with the aid of the famous Mobilgas X-Ray lubrication chart.

(5) Grindy – His charming specialty is to grind up and break gears and bearings – a costly little character. Motorists knock him silly by having their Mobil Man give them transmission and differential service with correct grades of Mobiloil and Mobilgreases.

(6) Rusty puts rust in radiators and clogs up cooling systems. Antidote: a radiator service job using Mobil Radiator Flush and Mobil Hydrotone.

(7) Flatty punctures tires, causes blowouts, and makes tires wear out before their time. Regular tire inspection with occasional tire switch knocks Flatty for a loop.

(8) Drinky drinks distilled water out of batteries. Battery inspection regularly takes care of him.

(9) Calamity is the gruesome one. He causes accidents wheels locking because lubricant dries out in front wheel bearings. A wheel pack by your Mobil Man puts old Calamity on the lam.


(10) Dirty causes dust to choke up air filters, thus wasting precious gasoline. Your Mobil Man takes care of this gremlin when you have him clean your air filter.	(11) Sparky fouls up spark plugs, cracks the porcelains, causes carbon, makes engines miss. Your Mobil Man knocks Sparky’s ears down.	(12) Scratchy mars the smooth surface of your car’s body. A good Mobilwax or Mobilgloss job settles Scratchy.

The known Gremlins in the card set, but have no documentation as to completeness of this set. Note the pictures of the same gremlin in both sets are different views.

(1) Stormy (no documentation)

(2) Draggy (no documentation)

(3) Skiddy (no documentation)

(4) Sludgy (no documentation)

(5) Squeaky – Oh, but that Squeaky, there’s a one! He’s the guy that puts those annoying canaries in chassis and springs. Those squeaks mean friction, and friction means wear. He runs like a startled fawn when he sees a car with a Mobilelubrication job – done with the aid of the famous Mobilgas X-Ray lubrication chart.

(6) Wastey steals precious car mileage when car owners use inferior gasoline. Mobilgas is the answer to this pilferer.

(7) Rusty puts rust in radiators and clogs up cooling systems. Antidote: a radiator service job using Mobil Radiator Flush and Mobil Hydrotone.

(8) Calamity is the gruesome one. He causes accidents wheels locking because lubricant dries out in front wheel bearings. A wheel pack by your Mobil Man puts old Calamity on the lam.