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 Cadillac to E.W. Hives discussing technical details on steels, engine valves, dampers, and shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img010 | |
| Date | 11th February 1931 | |
| CADILLAC MOTOR CAR COMPANY DETROIT, MICHIGAN [Logo: CADILLAC AND LASALLE MOTOR CARS] February 11, 1931. Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Rolls Royce Limited, Derby, England. My dear Hives: Thank you for yours of January 17th. (1) Quick Step. I don't think you quite get the idea on this question. We are not concerned with the names quick Step or F.A.S. What Midvale Steel are trying to prove is that the Silchrome patents were not miraculously conceived, but that previous steels containing high chrome and silicon had existed and been widely used for engine valves both in this country and in Europe, prior to the date when a certain Mr. Armstrong had the revelation of them. Do you and By agree that this is so at least as regards England and can you offer evidence to prove it? (2) Thank you for the prints of mechanics joints which are quite useful and were requested by the American makers. (3) Dampers. We do not have enough experience with the horizontal type yet to know quite how to answer your question on dampers. The Vee type with force-filling is however essentially better in principle and is bound to be freer from mechanical noise. We are now using Vee type dampers with force-filling such as we saw at Dayton and believe they will prove best when we get somewhat bigger valves. Small valves which appear to cause the pressure to rise too much both with velocity and viscosity, appear to have been the principal difficulty so far. I imagine you agree that this is likely to be the effect of valves which are too small in comparison with the volume of the cylinder. The Vee type is, of course, heavier and more bulky. We have had no mechanical troubles in many thousand miles testing. Do you know the new Watson which has possibilities? Do you know the O.{Mr Oldham} & S. fabric-packed shock absorber link? It appears to be permanently tight on the ball pins, and permanently self lubricating. It saves a lot of cost, weight, adjustment and messy [STAMPED TEXT]: - Circular Stamp 1: FEB 12 1931 - Circular Stamp 2: RECEIVED FEB 12 1931 - Circular Stamp 3: U.S. / FEB 27 1931 / RECEIVED - Stamp across date: RECEIVED [HANDWRITTEN TEXT]: - WOR{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} (large initials/signature) - (H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints}) (initials in a circle) - Many thanks - Remember me to him When next writing. - I. W. | ||