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 a tubing company advising against using their METALFLEX tube for motor-car fuel pipes due to fracture from vibration and fatigue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\5\ scan0136 | |
| Date | 10th December 1935 | |
| CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY, AIR MINISTRY, WAR OFFICE, CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES, ETC. TELEPHONE: STAMFORD HILL *5428. DIRECTORS: A.{Mr Adams} C. GILLMAN. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} DE COURCY. B. MALONE. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} C. MANN. R.{Sir Henry Royce} DEBENEDETTI (ITALIAN). W. WICKI-KELLER (SWISS). GENERAL MANAGER: J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} MANN. TELEGRAMS: "METALFLEXPHONE, LONDON". BENTLEY'S CODE. x251 ? THE POWER FLEXIBLE TUBING CO. LTD., "AVIOFLEXUS" PETROL HOSE. FLEXIBLE METALLIC TUBING. FLEXIBLE METALLIC BELLOWS. MONOMARK:-B.C.M./METFLEX. "POWERFLEX" DERBY WORKS, FINSBURY PARK, LONDON, N.4. [Handwritten signature] 10th December,1935 Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Your Ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Bwg.{J. C. Bowring}3/KW [Handwritten: BWG{J. C. Bowring}] Dear Sirs, Reverting to your letter of the 5th instant we have now received and examined the METALFLEX tube, and although it is difficult to come to a definite conclusion we certainly are of the opinion that the fracture is due to vibration and fatigue. We cannot help feeling that the application of this type of tube for fuel pipes is undesirable. While we have the greatest confidence in it for the purpose for which it was intended we fear that as a fuel pipe on a motor-car it will not meet with any success. Yours faithfully, for THE POWER FLEXIBLE TUBING CO. LTD. [Signature] WRH/ACP [Handwritten initial] | ||