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 regarding trouble with crankshaft oilers and the potential role of Ethyl fuels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0022 | |
| Date | 11th July 1935 | |
| CABLEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, LONDON. X1282 TELEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, CHURTON, 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 5520 Head Office: 135 EAST 42ND STREET NEW YORK, U.S.A 11th July, 1935. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., Experimental Department, Rolls-Royce Ltd., Nightingale Road, DERBY. Dear Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, Very many thanks indeed for your letter of the 9th July, and I regret that you have had further trouble with your crank shaft oilers. I do not wish to appear pigheaded, but I am not absolutely convinced that this is entirely due to the use of Ethyl fuels. However, for the purpose of investigation, I am assuming that it is due to the use of lead, and I am going to have the samples of oil and sludge, which you have sent me, analysed immediately, and will let you have the full report as soon as it comes to hand. I should like to know whether you have any check results against this trouble, that is to say, are there any cars running from which you would have a fairly accurate history, but which have never used Ethyl fuels, because I would like to know if any similar troubles have been experienced. Even if no serious troubles have been experienced it might be interesting to inspect the oilers of cars which have run for about the same periods on other fuels, just to see whether there is any tendency to corrosion attack. Yours sincerely, F.{Mr Friese} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Banks FRB/BB | ||