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).
Heat treatment issues for front and rear road springs with supplier Woodheads and proposing alternative suppliers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\3\ Scan136 | |
| Date | 5th October 1921 | |
| R.R. 199 (250T) (SD570 19-7-17) MP180865 X3854 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} BY2-P5.10.21. FRONT & REAR ROAD SPRINGS. Referring to Na{Mr Nadin}2/S2921, I am quite in agreement with what Na{Mr Nadin}, says. for a long time past I have been pushing the question of correct heat treatment into Woodheads, and at the moment they are actually moving to improve their plant by installing correct heat treatment methods. We have on several occasions brought the question of the faulty structure before Woodheads re heating pieces, and shown them that the fault was purely heat treatment. They argued, however, that the crystaline structure was better than the one we produced. We therefore heat treated a complete spring and sent it across to Woodheads in order that they might put it to any fatigue tests they agreed to institute, as we were certain that our method was right and that they were wrong. Messrs. Woodheads have jealously guarded their Works from inspection - they have repeatedly refused to allow us to go over their plant, and the result was that we have made arrangements with Messrs. Firths to take up spring making. In addition to this I propose putting before Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} the proposal to buy some springs at once from Vickers, who also have an up-to-date plant for this work. Mr Woodhead at his last visit definitely agreed that what I had put before him repeatedly was correct, and that they were now installing a plant to enable them to deal with the matter of spring making scientifically, but we do not care to be in their hands and propose as soon as possible to change over to Messrs. Firths, who will deal with the matter as we instruct. I am returning Na{Mr Nadin}'s memo herewith. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RECEIVED. | ||