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).
Benefits of aluminium pistons and suggesting they be trialled.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\2\ scan 006 | |
| Date | 8th July 1915 | |
| Work To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. Copy to J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/EH2/L8715. July 8th. 1915. Re Aluminium Pistons. I am sending to Mr Royce an aluminium piston. I have borrowed this from a Lieut. Bentley from the Admiralty, who has been here inspecting the 200 HP engine. Lieut. Bentley came here on a D.F.P. car and he mentioned that they had fitted aluminium pistons for 2½ years; he has used them on Brooklands and claims that he could get more power with them because they did not over-heat when using very high compression. The 12 HP D.F.P. car, 70 m/m X 120 m/m has done 90 miles per hour on the track. I have also seen an aluminium piston which is supposed to have been running 2 years on a car, there was very little signs of wear either on the body or in the ring grooves. They had trouble at first with the gudgeon pin working slack in the piston, they got over it by increasing the size of the bosses. I believe now that there are several people adopting aluminium pistons. Would Mr Royce consider us trying some, as the saving in weight is enormous? E.H. | ||