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 the works of Messrs Thomas De La Rue Ltd. to inspect their moulding plant and equipment.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\1\ scan0284 | |
| Date | 28th November 1938 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Rs.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} from RHG/DWB.{D. W. Brown} Y. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} LR.{Mr Ellor} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Ima. 1204. RHG/DWB.{D. W. Brown}1/LS.28.11.38. ALL TESTERS VISIT TO MESSRS THOMAS DE LA{L. A. Archer} RUE LTD. WALTHAMSTOW. INTRODUCTION. On Thursday 17th November 1938, I visited the works of Messrs De La{L. A. Archer} Rue Ltd., at Walthamstow, with the object of inspecting their moulding plant and equipment. A new factory has been built and is not yet completed, although the majority of the presses etc., are now working in the new buildings. Messrs De La{L. A. Archer} Rue not only make the actual mouldings but also manufacture their own bakelite powders and moulds. They have also a plant for the manufacture of laminated plastic sheets - both of the paper and fabric types. THE MANUFACTURE OF MOULDING POWDER. The base of the bakelite powder is resin, and two retorts are used in conjunction with condensers for the preparation of the resin which leaves the condensers in a liquid form. This liquid is run into shallow trays in which it is allowed to cool and set. At this stage the resin appears as a white solid translucent material. This is broken up and the smaller pieces are passed through a mill which reduces the resin to powder form. The powdered resin is stored in barrels. The next process in the manufacture of the moulding powder is that of 'mixing'. The powdered resin is mixed with 'wood flour' and any dye-stuffs which are necessary and then the powder is put into a mixing machine which consists of a heated drum in which there are revolving blades to ensure thorough mixing of the ingredients. Next the plastic material is passed over heated rollers where there occurs a change in the chemical state of the material which brings it to its final chemical condition, from the rollers the material is passed through a mill which reduces it to the final powdered state. THE MOULDING SHOPS. The moulding section of the works of Messrs De La{L. A. Archer} Rue is extensive, the presses range in size from a small 2 ton bench hand press to a pair of massive 3000 ton hydraulic presses. These are reputed to be the largest in the country and are of De La{L. A. Archer} Rue design but were made in Germany. There are in all some 200 presses. continued....... | ||