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).
Letter from Shell-Mex discussing the new 'Shell' petrol and discrepancies in Bentley instruction manuals regarding fuel types.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\1\ scan0020 | |
| Date | 1st August 1939 | |
| 1282. Telephone TEMPLE BAR 1234 Telegrams SHELBEPEE TELEX LONDON SHELL-MEX HOUSE VICTORIA EMBANKMENT LONDON, W.C.2 1st August, 1939. W.A.Rowbotham Esq., Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Rowbotham, Further to our conversation on Thursday, 27th July last, re the new "Shell" petrol, I have spoken to Mr. Sidgreaves, as was suggested, but as he tells me that something has now been done to his "Wraith" to eliminate the pinking there would not appear to be much point in filling it up with the new "Shell", especially as he is going away with the car at the end of this week. I have already explained to him that the new fuel will be coming to garage pumps in the course of the next few weeks, and he has said that he will let us know if he notices any change. I have just been looking through the latest Bentley 4½ litre Instruction Book in our possession, which I see is marked No.VI. and which we received on 24/10/38, and I notice that the fuel recommendation on page 22 is quite different from the one you shewed me in your office at Derby. From my recollection the book you shewed me was No.V., and I note that the one in our possession makes no mention whatever of Benzole Mixture and reads as follows:- "FUELS. Fuels containing a small percentage of Tetra Ethyl Lead, usually known as Ethyl petrol, have been specially developed for use in high performance engines and may be used in the Bentley chassis engine when it is desired to do so. Discol may be used as an alternative." Is it too much to hope that when you have had some experience of the new "Shell" we shall one day find that the Bentley Instruction Book states that there is a "clear" petrol which suits the engine! With kindest regards, Yours sincerely, L.G. Callingham | ||