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Outcome of a patent action involving The Grav-Tac Syndicate Ltd and their 'Grav-Vac' apparatus.


Identifier  ExFiles\Box 40\3\  Scan050
Date  17th December 1925
  
BT. {Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} from ROY. {Mr H. Royce - Buyer}
c. to Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
c. to Rr.

X3575

ROY {Mr H. Royce - Buyer} 1/MG17.12.25

The Grav-Tac Syndicate Ltd, of Porthcawl
----------------------------------------
You will recollect this Syndicate originally submitted an apparatus known as the "Grav-Vac", and later brought out a modified apparatus known as the "Low-Vac", and we have been expecting their representative to call with a car fitted with same.

Due to the Patent Action in question, however, this visit has been delayed, but I am expecting it will be arranged early in the New Year.

They write:-

"You will no doubt be glad to know judgment
"has been given in our favour in the case Higginson V Pyman.
"The actual finding was.
"Auto-Vac main patent remains valid"
"Grav-vac is declared a non-infringement. This
of course was our main objective!
Auto-Vac clak valve, a side issue, declared invalid.
"We have as you know been subjected to a grave amount of
"loss of time, and heavy legal expenses, but have always
"contended that our apparatus was not an infringement.
"This has now been established."

Personally I have always felt that the Autovac people have abused their position, and have charged the Motor Industry as a whole a figure considerably in excess of what was reasonable for their apparatus.

ROY. {Mr H. Royce - Buyer}
  
  
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).


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