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).
Policy and impracticality of testing all submitted brands of oil, using Shell Mex as an example.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\4\ Scan117 | |
| Date | 27th October 1922 | |
| To B.J. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Hr. Handwritten: X1588 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG27.10.22. RE. SHELL MEX. Handwritten: X1588 X976 It is quite impossible for us to test and report on all the various brands of oil we have submitted to us. At the present time we have two or three drums of oil from different suppliers waiting for test. We are always having to tell Oil people that it is too much to expect for us to run a car for 20/30,000 miles (and this is what it would mean) in order to tell them how their oil behaves on our car. We think it is up to them to devise some intensive system of testing oil so that they can show us, instead of us having to show them, that their oil is equal to the present oils we recommend. We foresee that they may not be able to reproduce all the conditions in the engine, but at least they can show us that the oil has a reasonable chance of success before we start our tests. What advantage are we going to get by using Shell Mex Oil? We are quite satisfied with the present oils we recommend - is it that it will be cheaper to the customer or is it better distributed throughout the World? - I have never seen Shell Oil for sale on the Continent. We must have an object in view before we start to test it. If we did not take a strong line against Firms sending us their goods for test, we should be doing nothing else but experimental work for outside people. We are continually getting parts sent to us free of charge in order that we shall contd:- (upside down text at bottom) R.R. 199 (500) (SD670) 19-7-17) MFB6805 | ||