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 a lubricant supplier questioning a recommendation to use a competitor's oil for stored engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\1\ scan0313 | |
| Date | 11th March 1940 | |
| PRICE'S LUBRICANTS LIMITED, BELMONT WORKS, BATTERSEA, LONDON.S.W.11. JWGB/VHG. To: Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. YOUR REF: Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/Sd12/MW22.1.40. Dear Sirs, In January we had some interesting correspondence with your goodselves on the subject of precautions to be taken when laying up a car, and we wrote at some length on the question of the composition of the oil suitable for use in an engine. We satisfied you, we believe, that Motorines which contain a proportion of fatty oil are perfectly suitable for use in a stored engine. Judge our surprise, therefore, to find that a pure mineral is still advocated, and that worse still a competitor's grade is picked out for recommendation. We attach a copy of a memorandum which was received by us on the occasion of the laying up by us of a Director's car which is a Bentley. When the car was delivered to us by your people in town the memorandum was handed in with the car and some little amusement was expressed here that being the Manufacturers of Motorines we were recommended to use a competitor's oil. However, this is only incidental. What we are concerned with is:- (a) the implied advice that Motorines are unsuitable. (b) the specific reference to a competitor's oil. We should add the last paragraph of the memorandum appears to have been an afterthought. It has obviously been typed in subsequently, and is in different style of type and colour of ink. The memorandum as originally issued by your goodselves contained no reference to the type of oil to be used in the crank case whilst the car was in storage. We will be interested to hear from you. Yours truly, PRICE'S LUBRICANTS LIMITED. Sgd. J.W.G.BROOKER. Director. | ||