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 lubricant manufacturer C.C. Wakefield & Co. discussing the science of lubrication and specific oils.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\3\ Scan140 | |
| Date | 30th March 1926 | |
| RESEARCH DEPARTMENT. Telephone: 5202 CENTRAL (4 LINES) X1583 C. C. Wakefield & Co. Limited. MANUFACTURERS of HIGH CLASS LUBRICANTS. GOVERNING DIRECTOR, SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD, BART. MANAGING DIRECTOR, W. R.{Sir Henry Royce} GRAHAM. DIRECTOR & SECRETARY, J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} BROWNE. LABORATORY: Our Ref. EAE/RGG/WJW. Your Ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG. Expl:Dept: Wakefield House, 30&32, Cheapside, London E.C.2. 30th March, 1926. Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Nightingale Road, DERBY. Dear Sirs, For the attention of Mr. E.W. Hives. We greatly appreciate your letter of the 27th inst as such information for which you ask enables us to understand your requirements more fully and for you to visualise our views upon lubrication more thoroughly. We recognise that it is imperative for one who makes a car of such high quality as the Rolls Royce that only materials of parallel quality shall be used in conjunction with it, and we shall therefore be pleased at all times to endeavour to give you all the information we can about Castrol "XL" for which you may see prudent to ask. The science of lubrication has not advanced to a state at which it is possible to formulate definite tests and draw definite conclusions. The subject is too complicated, and beset with too many difficulties. However much experience has been gained by constant observation, research, and co-operation with engine builders. Such knowledge has taught us that some mineral oils are pre-eminently good for petrol engine lubrication and some notoriously bad, and really there is very little difference of opinion upon this point. The apparent difference lies rather in the power of manufacturers to obtain the materials and market them at a competitive price. To illustrate our meaning we might quote the virtues of a Pennsylvania cylinder stock against the inferior Western Bright Stock. Both are used, but supplies of the former are the more scarce and coveted. | ||