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 marine engineers W. & J. Tod Ltd. discussing the market for a new 8-cylinder marine engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\3\ scan0199 | |
| Date | 18th May 1940 | |
| CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY, AIR MINISTRY, WAR OFFICE, INDIA OFFICE, ETC. MARINE ENGINEERS BOAT BUILDERS Designers and Builders of MOTOR CRUISERS MOTOR LAUNCHES W.&J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} TOD LTD. SAILING AUXILIARIES HYDROPLANES TUGS ETC. Directors: J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} F.{Mr Friese} TOD D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} TOD W. & J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} TOD Ltd., FERRYBRIDGE, WEYMOUTH ENGLAND Secretary: N. W. WRIGHT Your Ref. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson}4/P. Our Ref. NWW/ER May 18th.1940. Telephone Weymouth 602 Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. Dear Sirs, We thank you for your letter of May 15th. regarding the proposed new 8 cylinder engine for marine work. There undoubtedly is a market for a light engine of the type mentioned as there seems to be no British engine suitable and the only comparable units would be those made in America, as a rule of much higher speed. Here, of course, price comes into the matter very seriously as perhaps you are aware that American engines, although not quite as good as British engines for long life, are exceedingly cheap, well designed and really have some pep in them. We ourselves have had to use American engines purely on price consideration as we find that most boat owners consider first cost to a very great extent. On the other hand we do believe that such an engine would be suitable for Admiralty purposes for many of their smaller boats as, at the moment, for the 25 footers they are using a Ford conversion. While this is a very nice engine it cannot possibly have the life of a proper marine engine. We merely make this as a suggestion. At the moment we cannot say that we are definitely interested in this engine as practically all commercial work is at a stand still and, while we have a certain amount of foreign and Admiralty work in hand, there seems little hope of doing anything like our normal trade. One thing we should like to know is what you call "safety fuel", whether this is definitely diesel fuel | ||