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).
Home diesel market, yachtsman preferences, and potential engine sales opportunities.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\3\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 11th January 1940 | |
| 2. The home Diesel market is of course difficult. Doubtless makers sell enough to make it worth while, but until production goes up and prices come down - and I feel this will happen on the export results, than by any increased sale here, it is asking the private man to pay a devil of a lot for increased safety - he will still blow up his boat with Calor gas whatever precuations he takes in the engine room ! The point is, that the new yachtsman is a motorist and feels rather more at home with a petrol engine, not that he knows or need know anything about it nowadays, but unless he proposes to employ an engineer which is unlikely, he certainly stands in awe of a Diesel. He feels far safer with two petrol motors rather than one Diesel for the same money. If the engines you suggest do materialise, there is nothing I should like better than a hand in selling them. With our two yards at difference places on the South coast, and we are doubling the size of one - I think we should do some business. " You may remember that I spoke to you of a certain yard fitting a lot of Gray engines - these are the people I was referring to. It would be nice to supplant the American in their new ships. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson} | ||