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).
Anti-freeze compound 'Prestone', its composition, and whether it could be produced in the UK.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\3\ scan0165 | |
| Date | 18th March 1932 | |
| N-W. H.S. LID{A. J. Lidsey} RECEIVED 1932 MAR 19 A4/H.18.3.32. Technical - Anti-Freezing Compounds --- C. has sent me a copy of your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lidl/MA5.3.32, having reference to the above. I notice that you are favourably disposed towards a compound known as "Prestone", but that you do not like to recommend it because it is an American product. Of course there is the point now that many of these things pay a tariff, so that if one purchases them one is helping the Revenue, even if one is perhaps not helping actual employment. Apart from this, however, I observe that you have analysed Prestone, and found it consists of Ethylene Glycol. Such being the case, is there anything to prevent one from getting these chemicals and mixing them up in suitable proportions to form the anti-freezing compound in question? I know that some while ago it was difficult to get, in England, the newer chemicals which were being produced on the Continent, but I believe that this has now been overcome. I imagine that a firm like Imperial Chemical Industries, could supply the chemicals composing Prestone. Is the compound of Prestone covered by any patent, or is its composition merely a process which cannot be patented; for example, like mixing benzol with petrol? A.{Mr Adams} Solz U.S. Prestone - Covered by Patent 1,213,368. | ||