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).
History and use of lubricant labels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\1\ scan0220 | |
| Date | 13th February 1934 | |
| x967 -> S/W....Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} ----- C10/C13.2.34 LUBRICANTS. ----- I have been looking into this question of the labels with JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager}, and find that this was started in January 1931. There was quite a lot of correspondence about it at the time, and the origination of it had no connection with the Oil Companies at all. It was done with the idea of helping the chauffeur and saving constant enquiries. We, of course, have been very particular in the past to drivers sticking as far as possible to one, or at most two oils, with the possible exception of substitutes abroad, and drivers accordingly asked us what oil was in the engine, and it was for this reason the labels were adopted. I agree that you certainly do not want to stock all kinds of oils at Derby, and as mentioned in my previous memo., I do not think we need fear any trouble in this respect from the other two Companies. If, therefore, you have no further objection, and it does seem to be a real convenience to have these labels, I propose agreeing that this should be carried on as previously. We need not, of course, even then, give a definite undertaking to Wakefields and Prices that we will do this - it is only something that dropped into their laps. C. | ||