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).
Page 2 of a letter by David J. Smith discussing experiments with graphite-based lubricating oils like Suspensol.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\3\ Scan047 | |
| Date | 11th November 1920 guessed | |
| -2- This matter is probably not one which greatly interests the owner of one vehicle; but to those running large numbers of vehicles any reduction in the consumption of lubricating oil would be a very important matter, especially as there is every probability that the price will increase very largely in the near future. There will be no mystery about this increase; it will simply be due to the shortage of supplies. I have recently been trying further experiments with lubricating oil containing a certain proportion of graphite, and which is sold under the name of Suspensol, and find it gives very remarkable results. It is a great pity that the manufacturers of lubricating oils do not give this matter consideration, and also that those firms which are supplying oils similar to those mentioned do not make them better known in the motor world. As a matter of fact I do not know whether Acheson's graphite, suitable for adding to lubricating oils, is still on the market; but in any case I think the average owner would prefer to buy his lubricating oil with the correct proportion added, as in the case of Suspensol oils. I have no interest in the matter, apart from that of automobilism in general; but I hope that the question of lubricating oils will receive early and serious consideration, otherwise it cannot fail to have a most harmful effect on the motor industry generally. David J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Smith, M.Inst.A.E. | ||