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 discussing the manufacturing process and black finish for instrument frames, comparing sand castings to die-cast frames.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 44\4\ Scan079 | |
| Date | 6th May 1929 | |
| Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Date 6. 5.29. Page 2 side is being taken into stock here and credited. We do not anticipate having any difficulty in utilizing this set for one of your orders in the near future. We are taking up very carefully the question of the black finish of these instruments, and are trying to ensure that no future trouble with peeling etc., shall occur. The process which we are at present using is done by one of the leading instrument manufacturers in London for us, namely, spray painting with cellulose paint after filling and flatting down to get a suitable surface. These frames are at present sand castings, hand finished here. We hope in the very near future to be working on a die-cast frame, the surface of which will be infinitely superior, and will avoid any tendency to peeling after spraying. We have experienced very little trouble during the last two or three years with die-cast bezels or frames which have been cellulose painted in this manner. Hitherto you will realise that we have not had a die-cast frame for your type of instrument. We fully realise the difficulty at the commencement of this work in the co-relation of letters and orders, but | ||