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 a supplier discussing the composition and testing peculiarities of Motorine B and Motorine C oils.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\1\ scan0128 | |
| Date | 4th March 1926 | |
| Copy From: PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY LIMITED O/B/JB Battersea, London S.W.11 4th March 1926 Messrs. Rolls Royce Limited, D E R B Y Dear Sirs, Your Reference:- ROY{Sir Henry Royce}7/MG1.3.26 We have your favour of the 1st instant and note your enquiry as to the constituents we use in the preparation of Motorine B and Motorine C with which we have the pleasure of supplying you. The proportion of fixed oils in these two grades is 10%. In other words, they are blends of highly refined pure hydrocarbons with fatty oils in the proportion 90% of the former to 10% of the latter. We regret, however, that we do not find ourselves at liberty to divulge the nature of the fatty oils used. This is a trade secret which, much as we appreciate your interest in our lubricants, we must keep to ourselves. We can only add that, when testing the percentage of fatty matter in Motorine B and Motorine C, it is necessary to take into account the inevitable, but slight, loss during the process of saponification and subsequent separation from the hydrocarbons. For example, a compound lubricant containing exactly 10% of fatty oil will rarely show 10% on analysis. It is usually possible to find only 9.5%. We mention that as, unless your Chemists are aware of this little peculiarity, they may doubt our statement that we use 10% fatty oil in the grades in question. Yours truly, PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY LIMITED (sgd) J.W.Brooker. ENCLOSURE Nº 292 "JUSTSO" | ||