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).
Problems caused by impure benzol fuel and the lack of progress in testing to find a pure alternative for customers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\2\ B001_X 53-page46 | |
| Date | 23th November 1920 | |
| R R/ 950, s (20 T) (S.B. 972, 14-4-20) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2674 D.S. [STAMP: RECEIVED 24 NOV 1920] H5/TB/23.11.20. To BJ. from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Re - BENZOL. Last year we had a special circular printed and issued to all our customers advocating the use of benzol. I believe we were aware at the time that there were certain impure benzols on the market, but, if not, we very shortly became aware of the fact by the frequent discovery of blocked carburetter jets due to the solvent effect of the impure benzols on copper, mostly shown in the destruction of the wire gauze filter in the petrol tank. W. then informed us that they were carrying out a series of experiments with a view to the discovery of the impure benzols so that we could recommend the pure ones to our customers. Ever since hearing of these experiments my department have been forwarding to W. the name of the benzol used, especially when damage to the filter has been found. I have also in a number of cases stated to customers that we should shortly be in a position to tell them which were the good benzols, and whether they should continue to use the particular one now used. It is, therefore, somewhat disappointing to me, and will I fear be also to some of our customers, to hear that the testing of the brands of benzol chemically is not going on, and that there appear to be no results of any tests made up to date. (See attached memo Hrl/H15.11.20). Would it not be possible, failing anything more, to have a list in order of merit of the benzols which have been tried at the Works and found to have no deleterious effect on copper? H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} [Handwritten note right side:] H Please raise at todays conference J [Handwritten note bottom:] get a list of those tested & which were good. | ||