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 the Midland Motor Cylinder Co. Ltd. expressing concerns about manufacturing a lightweight camshaft, EB.1085.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 93\5\ scan0059 | |
| Date | 15th December 1937 | |
| Handwritten Text: SWDL{Len H. Swindell} - 307 Was this the Wraith Camshaft. Surely this is as heavy as the PIII Wraith .875 dia Bentley .9 dia PH II 1.2 dia Printed Letterhead: The MIDLAND MOTOR CYLINDER CO. LTD. Telegrams RAFWORK, SMETHWICK Telephone 1151-2-3 SMETHWICK Birmid Works, Smethwick Near Birmingham Typed Content: AEP/LS. Messrs.Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. 15th December 1937 Your Reference: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl{Len H. Swindell} 2 JH Dear Sirs, With regard to your letters of the 2nd. and 9th.inst., concerning the Camshaft EB.1085. This has now been put before our Technical Department and our Foundry Manager, who advise us that the Shaft is extremely light in section, and that they cannot safely advise the production of it as shown on your drawing. However, we shall be willing to treat it purely as an experiment, and cast the shaft as shown, but the main reason for doubt is the small diameter which, if subjected to a high shock stress, due to a seized bearing or valve, it would possibly not be capable of standing up to the sudden increase in torque and a fractured shaft of course would be the consequence. Should you wish to try out the camshaft experimentally as mentioned, the screwed -continued- | ||