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).
Lack of standard specification for lubricating oils for cars in America and providing guidance from Mr. Royce on selection and testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 76\4\ scan0195 | |
| Date | 7th June 1920 | |
| X.1434 To OY. from Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} (crossed out) c. to BY 1/2 c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mr. Humpston. % F.C. (handwritten) EFC JUN 6 1920 (stamped) RECEIVED (stamped) X 3614 (handwritten) Bnl/W7.6.20. X.1434 RE LUBRICATING OILS. With reference to your OY2/G21.5.20, we have no standard specification for Lubricating Oils and the choice of Lubricating oils for our cars in America must be made with extreme care. Attached are a number of notes by Mr. Royce relating to lubrication and you will gather guidance from these. You will see that as a general rule pure mineral oils should not be selected for lubricating purposes, as an appreciable percentage of animal or vegetable oil is desirable. The difficulty to be contended with is that figures for viscosity do not give a reliable indication of the lubricating properties of the oil under observation. Perhaps you could find out what oils are on the Market in America which contain animal fats or vegetable oils in an appreciable percentage. It will be necessary for sample drums of 15 gallons to be shipped over here for test before a decision is made. At present we are retaining for standard Prices' Oils, but are considering seriously the use of Castrol in the near future, but the latter has not yet, however, completed its tests. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} encs. To OY copies of R4/G21.8.19, R1/G22.8.19, R7/G4.9.19. R.9/G4.9.19, R3/G29.9.19. To R & CJ. Copy of OY2/G21.5.20. | ||