Letter to Hoffmann Manufacturing regarding the urgent need for a more reliable material for follower roller balls.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0318 | |
| Date | 27th June 1939 | |
| - 2 - Messrs. Hoffmann Manufacturing Co.Ltd., Chelmsford, 27th. June 1939. Is there some better class of material from which the balls for the follower rollers could be produced, which would :- (a). Stand up to higher load. (b). Be more reliable in production. (c). Could be produced in such a way by examination as outlined above to ensure the material being 100% perfect. If so, we would be prepared to buy balls produced from such material for this particular service, as it is essential that we have material which is beyond question in such a vital position as either the steering roller or the balls carrying same, as failure of either of these may result in a major accident. I cannot impress upon you too strongly the need for production of more reliable balls for this service, and I trust that no effort will be spared to ensure the complete reliability of the balls used in the bearings of the follower roller. I am enclosing herewith the two halves of the further ball which has failed. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. By CHIEF ENGINEER - CHASSIS. | ||
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).