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 Shell-Mex House to W. A. Robotham regarding tests on new oils and the suitability of Shell fuel for Rolls Royce and Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 145\3\ scan0253 | |
| Date | 1st July 1937 | |
| MATTHEWS - Please note & return 1227. Telephone TEMPLE BAR 1234 Telegrams SHELBEEPEE TELEX LONDON SHELL-MEX HOUSE, VICTORIA EMBANKMENT LONDON, W.C.2 1st July 1937. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., Rolls Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Robotham, I am sorry that I have delayed sending details of the cold chamber tests of our new oils and, as you probably know, telephoned you yesterday to apologise. Attached is an extract from our test report which I hope will be informative, and I can supply much further detail if it is of interest. There is not much doubt but that these new oils are excellent starters; and as bench tests with several new engines, like Talbot, S.S., Riley, Hillman and Ford, show their running in properties to be excellent and some ten thousand miles each with these makes on the road discloses no trouble, we feel that the product is going to be satisfactory, so much so that we are putting all our vehicles on it now and shall soon be piling up mileage at the rate of almost a million miles a week. Nevertheless we shall not be really happy until we know what you think, though I suppose we will have to wait some time before you can tell us anything. It is a pity we can't test oil as quickly as we can petrol, and speaking of this, would you please let me know whether you are satisfied yet that our "reformed" Shell suits your Rolls Royces and Bentleys. We do not, of course, claim that it has quite such a high anti-knock value as an ethylised, or alcohol blended, fuel but we do fondly imagine that it gives an excellent performance in your two makes, especially if the Bentley drivers make any use at all of their ignition controls. We supply a considerable quantity of Shell to your London Service Depots and as they don't complain we presume that the fuel is suitable - we should, however, feel much happier if we had your assurance, for it is only by getting the opinions of responsible parties, like yourself, that we can gauge the type of fuel we have to produce for the future. Yours sincerely, S.G. Callingham | ||