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).
Difficulties with moulding powders and a comparison between American Bakelite and British alternatives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\3\ Scan184 | |
| Date | 7th August 1922 | |
| X. 3513. Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Mr.Brock from Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} c.to Sft.{Mr Swift} c.to EFC. c.to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c.to Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} c.to Ms. RECEIVED Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}2/A16. 7.AUG.22. X 3513. Moulding Powder. On the 29th ult. Mr.Brock reported he was meetingwith further difficulties in connection with the production of mouldings from "Elo" moulding powder and I immediately requested Mr.Birkby to come here to investigate the complaint. Mr.Birkby came here on the 30th ult. and discussed the matter with Mr.Brock. As a result of the visit, we instructed Fleming,Birkby & Goodall Ltd. to send us a further 1 cwt. of powder of a slightly different composition, which we hope will overcome the difficulties we have encountered. In view of the fact that Mr.Brock had informed me that he was seriously thinking of asking us to consider the advisability of ordering American powder, I wrote Joseph Lucas Ltd. asking them what their experience has been with regard to British-made synthetic moulding powders as compared with American Bakelite Powder and we are now in receipt of their reply, as follows:- "With reference to synthetic moulding powders, we can say that we have shared your experience absolutely and have found that the only powder, up to the present, which seems to give us delightful regularity of results, is the American Bakelite, and although we are using other British powder in small quantities for certain less important jobs, we are pinning our faith to Bakelite for the time being, but all the time we are following up English supplies, as, like your good-selves, we prefer to use a British product when quality permits." "We have had a small experience of "Mouldensite" powder which has been quite satisfactory, but we do not feel that our experience of this has been sufficiently broad to recommend it in the same way that we can the genuine Bakelite." Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} | ||