The Misappliance Of Science

Previous legend || The Misappliance Of Science || Next legend

Card Eeler

The story showed up on the RISKS list in 1988 (RISKS-FORUM Digest Thursday, 11 February 1988 Volume 6 : Issue 25). After several days of speculation over the possible causes (ranging from "colloiodal goo" from eel glands to magnetic residue from the tanning process), a report on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" programme quoted a spokesperson for the distributors of eelskin wallets on the "magnetic clasp" explanation. (Cited in a followup message in the RISKS list: RISKS-FORUM Digest Wednesday 11 January 1989 Volume 8 : Issue 4)

Debunked: Eelskin wallet demagnetizes bank cards

Eelskin has no inherent magnetic properties, so it could not be the culprit. The real culprit is probably the large magnetic clasp on the wallets. The manufacturers of the wallets are substituting smaller magnets or snap closures instead, as a result of the complaints about damaged bank cards.

References:

• http://tafkac.org/science/eelskin_wallets.html