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).
Merits and processes of chromium plating versus nickel silver and Staybrite for various car parts.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\March1929-December1929\ Scan270 | |
| Date | 21th November 1929 | |
| HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Copy to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} CHROMIUM PLATING ORIGINAL (stamp) 8442 (handwritten) R2/M21.11.29. Referring to HY{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}4/T141129., I have discussed this matter of plating with DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} and he agrees with me that the scheme you propose is a very wise and rational one, and should be tried until it is proved to be defective. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} says that many cars and body fittings are real silver plated, and the nickel underneath would be suitable for this replating. I think it would be very much better to have the purer nickel surface, and to get rid of the costly process of close plating. I think we should continue to use the nickel silver sheeting for the radiator, because should the plating rub through, the yellow brass looks very ugly. (I do not agree with Staybrite because of the difficulty of soldering.) I am pleased to hear that you are making such good progress. It looks as though the electro plating will be an important branch. The bonnet hinges and radiator shutters in Staybrite appear to us an extremely good move. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} says that with the London coachbuilders' chromium plating their final polish before the chromium is with a dry polishing mop. Your No.8. process says wash with petroleum. This I should read as what we call paraffin in England, kerosine in USA., and petrol in France. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||