From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter from Ethyl Export Corporation discussing the contents and exaggerations within a booklet about fuel additives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0298 | |
| Date | 28th June 1937 | |
| 1252 CABLEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, LONDON. TELEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, SOWEST. ETHYL EXPORT CORPORATION Incorporated in the State of Delaware U.S.A. with limited liability. THAMES HOUSE, MILLBANK LONDON, S.W.1 Telephone: VICTORIA 1441 Head Office: 135 EAST 42ND STREET NEW YORK, U.S.A 28th June, 1937. W. A. {Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Experimental Department, Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Nightingale Road, DERBY. Your ref: Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 8/R. Dear Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} , Many thanks for your letter of the 25th June. With reference to the booklet you attached from the Glico people, I personally do not take any responsibility for the statements made therein. The material in this booklet was originally published many years ago by the publicity department of our Corporation in the States, and it has since been reprinted a number of times by the various oil companies marketing Ethyl. With reference to Section 17, the first line, I admit, stretches things somewhat, but the rest of the paragraph is perfectly correct so far as the average garage man is concerned, because over eight or ten years we have had dozens of valves put up to us which are not even burned on the seat but which have been condemned by garage people because of deposits. Again, in Section 20, there are a number of exaggerations but I do not think I need explain to your goodself the methods used by publicity-mongers. I would, however, draw your attention to the lines I have marked under Section 20, and I can say with truth, after eight or ten years on this job, that whilst I have never tried to conceal the troubles one can get from the use of tetraethyl lead, at least 75-80% of these are due as much to design, production and material faults as they are to our product. As a matter of fact, the troubles for which we have been blamed are much more exaggerated than the statements made in this booklet. Perhaps one day we will be "reformed." Yours sincerely, F. {Mr Friese} R. {Sir Henry Royce} Banks P.S. I am returning the booklet herewith. FRB/BB R.B. | ||