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).
Engine oil specifications, a visit by Air-Commodore Holt, silent engine development, and Vee engine carburetter status.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan232 | |
| Date | 26th March 1930 | |
| Rx. 2/LW. 26.3.30. Contd. -2- that we should have to type test the engine ourselves with Castor Oil to enable us to get away with the engines for Japan, and of course to specify to the Japanese that they must either use Pure Castor Oil or Wakefield's Castrol "R". Air-Commodore Holt paid us a surprise visit this morning and he asked me if we had any troubles. I told him that we looked like having quite a lot of trouble with Mineral Oil. I was somewhat surprised that he did not take at all the attitude I expected, and he said that he must stop the D of E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} withdrawing the Castor Oil supplies as it would be a great nuisance to get them all withdrawn and then have to replace them. His visit was quite informal and he did not seem to be at all so difficult, and when talking of the development Programme seemed very anxious to help us to get the matter straight. He said if there was any difficulty in making a Programme covering the whole year, why not split it up and make it for six months - in fact he seemed quite anxious to help us. Visit of Air-Commodore Holt. Referring again to D.T.D.'s visit, the question was raised of carrying out development work to obtain a silent engine. We pointed out to him that this was very much a question of his asking for it, and that we did not think that the difficulties of the silent exhaust were very great, but that when this was done, there would be many other noises of the engine which we should have to deal with such as silent valve gear and pistons, but that until the question was put to us and whilst engines were flown with open exhausts there was no incentive for us to try to produce a silent engine. It seems likely that he will make arrangements for a machine fitted with one of our engines to be flown a Farnborough for us to do development work of this kind on. We do not think that he would let us have a contract like the 9.A. to fly ourselves as they have such facilities at Farnborough and he thinks they could cut the red tape to a great extent. In connection with the machine, we should be asked to supply silencers. He was interested in two-speed gears and variable pitch propellers and seemed keen that we should be interested. Air-Commodore Holt was met by Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, and Rg.{Mr Rowledge}, but as he arrived very late we were not able to show him engines running. F.{Mr Friese} Engine Carburetters in the Vee. The carburetters in the Vee have now reached the stage where they are on the point of being ready for their type trial, and we hope to get this point cleared up very | ||