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 discussing a new fuel specification from the Air Ministry and the required Tetraethyl Lead to achieve various octane numbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\4\ Scan140 | |
| Date | 23th June 1933 | |
| CABLEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, LONDON. 81282. TELEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, CHURTON. ETHYL EXPORT CORPORATION Incorporated in the State of Delaware, U.S.A. with limited liability. ABFORD HOUSE, VICTORIA LONDON, S.W.1 Telephone: VICTORIA 5 5 2 0 PERSONAL Head Office: 135 EAST 42nd STREET NEW YORK, U.S.A 23rd June, 1933. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives Esq., Aero Engine Dept., Rolls Royce Ltd., Nightingale Road, DERBY. YNG Dear Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, I understand that to meet the proposed new specification which will be issued shortly by the Air Ministry, the Shell Company are offering a different grade of fuel to that of the old D.T.D.134, and they have given me some data on this which has been obtained on the C.F.R. engine under proposed Air Ministry conditions. When tested under these conditions the Octane number of the fuel itself is 76.5 and below is given the amount of Tetraethyl Lead per Imperial gallon to bring it up to the various Octane numbers:- 80 Octane + 0.5 c.c.'s per Imperial gallon. 84 Octane + 1.3 " " " " 87 Octane + 2.1 " " " " Therefore, should you desire to carry out development work immediately, I would suggest that you ask the Shell Company for an 87 Octane fuel with Tetraethyl Lead and to the quality they propose supplying under the new Air Ministry specification. I shall be in Denmark all next week, but will be available the week after next if you require any additional information. Kindest regards, Yours sincerely F.R. Banks | ||