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).
Westinghouse's electrical work, sales figures, and the various applications of Bakelite-Micarta.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\3\ Scan023 | |
| Date | 21th December 1920 | |
| Contd. -4- Q/2/G21.12.20. such purposes. Westinghouse Figures: The Westinghouse Co. can claim a great experience in electrical work, sharing as they do with the General Electric Co. the greater part of the very considerable electrical development work of this country. This work covers everything from 600 mile aerial transmission lines at 110,000 volts and 18,000 H.P. hydro-electrical sets down to sewing machine motors 1/100 of a H.P. The smaller domestic motors are manufactured in large quantities because of the very considerable use of electricity in the household. Their engineering policy, electrical and otherwise, is decided by committees of their various branches so that it is consistent throughout the whole organization. The total sales of the Westinghouse Co. average about $11,000,000 a month. They have therefore every opportunity for testing out modern insulation, etc. such as the Bakelite-Micarta products which they have developed them selves. Referring principally to automobile work, they informed me that at present they had about 350,000 electrical automobile units on the road. In full production they take care of gener about 2000 cars a day, fitting them out with starting motors and generators, and in numbers of cases with ignition also. All machines sold have the standard S.A.E. gurantee of 90 days or 3000 miles running. Their free service costs under this guarantee average $2300.00 a month, which is a low figure considering that their average starting motor or generator sells for around $15.00. They equip about 70 different makes of cars with starting and lighting sets, both 6 and 12 volts. Other uses for Bakelite-Micarta: The Westinghouse Co. makes the canvas-Bakelite, moulded propellers, which are now standard on all U.S. Navy Seaplanes. x.86. Canvas-Bakelite is used on a lot of cars for high tension cable conduits. The recommended form is a flat rectangular tube in two halves with the wires lying side-by- side. This is said to minimise mutual induction effects as compared with bunching the wires. x.1068. Clutch-facings of asbestos fragments, chopped cork and Bakelite, or manilla paper-asbestos and Bakelite, are being used increasingly. They are especially useful in dry multi-plate clutches as they do not wear the metal discs and do not drag or refuse to come free. x.3971. Oilless spring bushings. Of Bakelite-paper and graphite arebeing developed after extensive experiment, and will be manufactured in quantity next spring at a factory Contd. | ||