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).
And comparing various lubricating oils for workshop and toolroom use.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\March1931-September1931\ Scan343 | |
| Date | 13th August 1931 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to HL. ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} R4/M13.8.31. X544 reLUBRICATING OILS. Many months ago we asked for some thin lubricating oil for general workshop use, including a milk separator, and a small electric light engine. Price's very kindly sent me 5 gls. of oil which they called tool oil, and this was used in the workshop, but upon examination of the tools, including a lathe, I came to the conclusion that it was an oil that oxidised readily and became dry and sticky. A test has confirmed this. Upon enquiry I was told that Price's 'Motorine' and many compounded oils include rape for the fatty portion of the oil. It is well known that rape oil oxidises readily and makes everything sticky, even more quickly than castor oil, therefore I cannot believe that this is suitable for either workshop use, or for petrol engines, and I should like to know whether my opinion is correct. Amongst the thin oils one always looks upon Sperm and Lard oil as the best lubricants, but I imagine that these may turn rancid, generate acid, and be detrimental to ball bearings and the like. The light Shell Racing oil which I believe is compounded of mineral and sperm oil appears to me the best of the lubricating oils that I have tested. I think however for toolroom work one may have to use lard oil for cutting tools and screwing tackle, and for other lubricating purposes such as the machine tools themselves, a straight mineral oil or a mineral oil with a small percentage of sperm to improve its lubricating qualities. I shall be pleased if HL. will let me know if the assumptions in this memo. are correct, and also if you will get me a gallon of oil which you would recommend our Co. to buy for toolroom work. Many years ago I arranged that the Works machinery should be run on a thin mineral oil with a percentage of lard, but I do not know whether that practice is still in vogue. It is interesting to note that I purchased for clock work some of the standard oil used for that purpose, which I have concluded from examination is highly refined lard oil. The cotton mill people originally used Sperm for spindles, but I believe now use a compound of mineral and sperm. Thick, or a drying oil, is absolutely impossible for workshop and general toolroom work. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||