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 Cleveland-Petroleum Products Co. concerning the use of their 'Discol' petrol blend in a new Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0172 | |
| Date | 11th August 1936 | |
| X1282 CLEVELAND-PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CO. PROPRIETORS: PETROLEUM STORAGE & FINANCE CORPORATION LTD. Central House, Upper Woburn Place, LONDON, W.C.1. [Left Header Section] CLEVELAND GUARANTEED [Logo] TELEGRAMS STORFINAN, KINCROSS, LONDON TELEPHONE EUSTON 2844 (8 Lines) [Right Header Section] CLEVELAND DISCOL BRITISH MOTOR ALCOHOL SPIRIT [Logo] YOUR REF. OUR REF. FHLS/DF. 11th August 1936. [Stamp] RECEIVED 12 AUG 1936 WN [Left Column] DEPOTS & OFFICES AVONMOUTH AYLESFORD BARKING BEDFORD BOSTON ELLESMERE PORT EXETER GLASGOW GOOLE IPSWICH KENDAL KILLINGHOLME LEEDS LYMINGTON MANCHESTER NEWPORT MON NOTTINGHAM OXFORD PRESTON RIPLEY SURREY SALISBURY SOUTH ALLOA SUNDERLAND TALKE TAUNTON THAMES HAVEN UXBRIDGE WORCESTER [Main Body] Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, We should like to place before you some facts which have come to our notice, and which are rather disturbing to us as marketers of a most successful blend of petrol. One of the shareholders in this Company recently wrote to you asking whether it would be quite in order to run his new Bentley car on Cleveland Discol, and he has placed before us your reply to the effect that whilst you did not object to Discol being used, you felt that the spirit might have bad effects on the petrol pump diaphragm, and the jet setting would have to be altered. Your letter went on to say that in your opinion Discol had not so high an anti-knock factor as a specified blend of ethyl petrol, and the carburettor setting would not have to be attended to if this spirit was used. The Bentley owner concerned took the matter up with us, but he will not permit his name to be brought into the matter in any way, although he has asked us, in view of his interests in this Company as a shareholder, to take the matter up with you. I should like to deal with your apparent objections in the order in which they are raised. (1) The diaphragms of both the S.U. and A.C. petrol pumps are entirely resistant to alcohol blends in any strength. I state this on the authority of the makers, who have conducted tests. (2) The knock rating of Cleveland Discol by C.F.R. Method is 79 1/2, and I do not think you will find that the ethyl petrols exceed this. On the other hand, I think that your Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Wood has expressed several times his own feeling that C.F.R. Method is not a fair method of assessment where alcohol or benzol blends are concerned. [Footer] ALL AGREEMENTS OR OFFERS ARE CONTINGENT UPON STRIKES, ACCIDENTS, DELAYS AND OTHER CAUSES UNAVOIDABLE OR BEYOND OUR CONTROL. ALL QUOTATIONS AND OFFERS ARE SUBJECT TO CONTRACT. | ||