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).
Use of BP, Shell, and Pratts petrol for testing cars and aero engines, including the introduction of tetra ethyl lead.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\1\ Scan104 | |
| Date | 15th November 1926 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X1555 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG15.11.26. ANGLO PERSIAN B-P. PETROL. X1555 / X985 X3113 We use quite a quantity of BP. petrol on the production testing of cars. Wherever possible, preference is given to BP. The tendency to detonate is no worse than the standard Shell petrol but it is worse than Shell Aviation. As regards aero engines, we use Shell Aviation with benzol added. We have however recently received some Pratts Aviation spirit. This fuel is doped with tetra ethyl lead. This mixture has been standardised by The Anglo American Co. They anticipate it will only be a matter of time before all their petrol is treated with a certain percentage of this dope. We understand that tetra ethyl treated fuel is being used on most of the super high compression stunt engines. As soon as we have an opportunity we shall be carrying out tests with this. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||