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).
Visit to Firths regarding the production and testing of 'Goshawk 11' laminated road springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 52\2\ Scan027 | |
| Date | 21th January 1922 | |
| By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} From Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} e. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} e. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} e. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to Roy. {Sir Henry Royce} e. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to Ms/Dr. X4429 Wd {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} 1/NJ21.1.22. "Goshawk 11" - Laminated Road Springs. X4429 By15/P16.1.22, Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 1/LG17.1.22 and By7/P17.1.22. With a view to ascertain what progress Firths have made towards the production of springs and what the immediate prospect is, I visited their Works yesterday (Friday 20.1.22). I discussed with them the matters referred to in the above quoted three notes and handed them the four pieces of fractured top (main) plates. (a) These, together with the remarks thereon of Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} have been sent to Dr.Hatfield for examination and his report will be sent to us on receipt, but in the meantime Mr.J.Wortley Fawcett and Mr.Mark Firth both agree that the fractures and our Brinell figures show that the plates are too hard. (b) In the circumstances, they consider the results of the fatigue tests the reverse of disappointing and very helpful, but they agree that no good purpose would be served by testing the remainder of the top (main) plates supplied to us and request that same be returned to them forthwith by passenger train for re-heat treatment. Will Dn. please endeavour to get these plates away on Monday, 23.1.22. (c) On receipt of these plates and Dr.Hatfield's report, Firths will re-heat treat them and forthwith assemble a complete set of front and rear springs of each of the two classes of spring steel (Chrome Vanadium and Silico Manganese) for our bumping test. They expect to let us have these by Friday, 3rd prox. and hope we shall put same on bumping test forthwith, they being very anxious to know the results, which they anticipate will be much more satisfactory to everyone than tests of springs built up of their main plates and Woodhead's leaves. (d) They will await the results of our tests before assembling further springs and with the object of obviating the necessity of our placing an order for 'Goshawk' springs with Woodheads, Firths (who are very anxious that this should be avoided) submitted to me the following proposal:- If we give them (Firths) an undertaking that results of the next bumping tests, whether completely satisfactory or not, are communicated to them by the 10th prox. (this will give us a week for making the tests) and an undertaking that there shall be no alteration in design which will affect their tools (alterations (contd) | ||