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 International Tin Research & Development Council regarding a new bearing material.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\2\ scan0425 | |
| Date | 27th February 1939 | |
| COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM :- INTERNATIONAL TIN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, Fraser Road, Greenford, Middlesex. 27th. February 1939. R.W. Harvey-Bailey, Esq., Rolls-Royce Limited, DERBY. Dear Mr. Bailey, The Council is assisting in the development of a new bearing material that gives promise of being an improvement on existing materials. It has been tried out in the usual bearing-testing machines and shows a very low coefficient of friction with high seizure loads. It appears to be free from any tendency to crack or to score the shaft - which need not be nitrided. What is required now is a test under conditions as closely as possible resembling those of actual running. Last time I called on you I think you mentioned that you had test-engines for this purpose and I am wondering if you would care to give the material a trial. The simplest way for us to make it is as a strip, as the material is copper or bronze with pure tin imbedded in a multitude of tiny pits on its surface. This strip would need to be formed up by you into half shells in what is, I understand, the normal way of preparing bearings for the majority of uses. If you are interested, will you please tell me the size and thickness of strip you would need. I would then make it up and bring it along to you. It is patented, by the way, so there is no need for secrecy. With my kindest regards, Yours sincerely, (signed) W.H. Tait. WHT/DG. | ||