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 Shell-Mex and B.P. Limited proposing collaborative testing of new oils and fuels in a 4 1/4 litre Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 145\3\ scan0244 | |
| Date | 28th May 1937 | |
| CONTINUATION SHEET No. 2. FROM SHELL-MEX AND B.P. LIMITED. TO W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., DATE 28th May 1937. ask you to carry out work of this sort on our behalf. I am wondering, therefore, if some plan could be devised whereby - after your laboratory is satisfied as to the physical and chemical properties of our new oils - an engine, say a 4 1/4 litre Bentley, could be built up from the raw on the oil, thoroughly run in and examined on the bench and then put into a car which we would run, under observation, any distance you like. Important points, like crankcase joints, cylinder heads etc., could be sealed and periodic samples of oil put in before and after use made. The car could be run in to your works and checked by your own people at regular intervals during the tests. When I last saw Mr. Hives I suggested the possibility of my running a car, which would be the subject of certain experiment and research of mutual interest to us both, mainly in regard to fuels, engine oils and hypoid gear lubricants - he was sympathetic and thought it might be possible to come to some arrangement whereby we paid all the costs without actually purchasing the car outright. Briefly my idea is that there are two ways of doing this: 1. By purchasing a car from you at some very special price on the understanding that it is not resold by us before you have the opportunity of taking it back at a figure agreed. 2. By our paying you an annual sum, which is agreed on as the annual depreciation rate, until you take the car back. In either case we should be entirely responsible for maintenance, insurance, licence, repairs etc., and also for any work done over and above this due to the experimental work we carried on. The car would be in my own hands all the time and I should propose replacing the 3 1/2 litre Talbot I have just commissioned with it. Will you kindly let me know what you think of this suggestion. If it can be carried out I would be glad to arrange to make observations for you on any other things than oils and fuels, like plugs, valves, brakes etc., if they | ||