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 discussing the 'Katalite' process, its performance, disadvantages, and comparison to doped fuel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\3\ scan0375 | |
| Date | 31th July 1923 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC SPRINGFIELD, MASS. PERSONAL Oy3-W-73123 July 31, 1923. Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Mickleover, near Derby, England. Dear Hives: Re Katalite Replying to yours of June 30, we are at present rather puzzled by the Katalite process to understand what, if anything, it does. Unfortunately, the cylinders we had here which were Katalised were used on a production chassis and the dynamometer test was messed up because of the delay in getting to it, so that only regular full throttle readings were taken, and these showed no difference from standard. The car on the road was passed with the comment that it was a very "smooth" engine. This may have been a coincidence. On my Hup, after 5000 miles, I have had carbon burned and apparently some of the Katalite has burned off with it, as on getting the car back it was obviously too lean and I had to strengthen the main jet two notches on the needle. That is all I can tell you about Katalite except that Sokal (the inventor) has promised to submit quantitative results as soon as he can. If you will send us an order, we will be most pleased to sell you a pair of cylinder blocks Katalised for your experiment. I do not seriously recommend this, however, just yet, because by all appearances Katalite as compared with "doped" fuel has the following disadvantages-- 1 - It becomes obscured with carbon. 2 - It burns off partially with the carbon. 3 - It probably costs as much or more in the long run as "doped" fuel. 4 - One cannot scrape carbon to remove it. Oy. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley | ||