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 to Bakelite Ltd. requesting an experimental sample of 'Idelite' rod for steering ball joint pads.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0009 | |
| Date | 11th August 1937 | |
| 1300 August 11th 1937 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}12/AP. Messrs Bakelite Ltd., Redfern Road, Tyseley, BIRMINGHAM For the attention of E.B.Davies, Esq. Dear Sirs, We wish to try experimentally some ball pads in steering ball joints made from your Idelite material as described on Page 30 of your booklet 'Bakelite Laminated'. These ball pads are at present made of Phosphor Bronze and run against a hardened steel ball. We find that with this material, as with all other metals, we have tried, that the co-efficient of friction falls appreciably as the surfaces become polished during service, whereas it is essential for our purposes that the friction load of these ball joints should remain constant. We are hoping that a bakelite material will attain its final surface condition much more rapidly and so maintain a constant coefficient of friction. The ball pads in question are approximately 1.350 dia. X 0.400 long and we think the most suitable bakelite material would be Idelite rod, not less than 1.500 dia, and manufactured by winding paper or fabric on to a wire core, so as to obtain circular laminations in cross section. Will you please send us 3 ft. of rod as described above. As soon as we hear from you that you can supply this material we will send you an official order. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. | ||