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).
Evaluation of petrol filters supplied by Sir Egerton Graeme, recommending against their standard use due to design flaws.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 44\1\ Scan029 | |
| Date | 28th December 1923 | |
| X 3701 44037 W/S. Hr. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG28.12.23. PETROL FILTERS SUPPLIED BY SIR EGERTON GRAEME. We have fitted one of these filters to a 20 HP. car and another one to the 40/50 HP. They have run 4500 and 200 miles respectively. The filters comprise of a glass tube with brass fittings at either end and with a central bolt to clamp the ends together and so make petrol-tight joints. There is a small red float in the end of each filter which indicates if there is any water in the petrol. We would not recommend this fitting as standard for RR. cars. Our chief objection is that it is not sufficiently foolproof. A petrol filter must be of such construction that it does not require any skill to take apart and clean. It must also be sufficiently strong to stand careless handling. It is very difficult to make a petrol-tight joint which can be dismantled and re-erected and yet always remain petrol-tight. In the case of these filters there are five petrol-tight joints to be made each time the filter is dismantled for cleaning purposes. If when cleaning, the glass tube is broken, it would be impossible to run the car until it was replaced. The filters were quite efficient as regards collecting dirt or water. We should like to know whether you wish for these filters to be returned. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||