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 from English Racing Automobiles Ltd. regarding the failure of exhaust valves and requesting stelliting services.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\4\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 23th September 1937 | |
| ENGLISH RACING (ERA) AUTOMOBILES LTD BOURNE LINCS DIRECTORS H.W.COOK. RAYMOND MAYS PETER BERTHON TELEPHONE BOURNE 121 OUR REF. PB/JB. YOUR REF. RmSwd1.18/AP. DATE 23rd September, 1937. Handwritten notes: Top right: 1360 Filed Top middle: Scott (crossed out) Bottom left: See me RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Messrs. Rolls Royce, Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, We beg to thank you for your letter of the 21st instant and note with interest your remarks concerning the exhaust valves recently sent you for inspection and the reasons which you attribute to their failure. We certainly appreciate that the removal of stock in the present design for the stellited channel leaves a weak section above the seat, and in view of this are adopting the suggestion of omitting the channelling and stelliting as per the arrangement on your Bentley valve. We also note your remarks concerning the stelliting itself, and as explained previously, the irregularity in the stellite deposit is possibly explained by our using too large a diameter stellite rod. Other reasons for bad stelliting are undoubtedly due to the fact that our operator does not deal with a sufficient quantity to become and keep really skilful at the job. Our requirements for exhaust valves are fairly small and do not represent anything like a full time job for one operator. In view of this we consider that our only means of securing a really satisfactory job and meeting the large percentage of scrap that exists at the present time, is by having this work done for us by people who are continually undertaking this type of work. We are of the opinion that you have more experience in this class of work than almost anybody in the country, and we are wondering whether you would possibly undertake the stelliting of our valves. We would of course send you rough machined valves completely ready for stelliting, AND AT BROOKLANDS TRACK, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY MANUFACTURERS OF "E.R.A." RACING CARS MURRAY JAMIESON SUPERCHARGERS AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH ENGINEERS CUSTOMERS' CARS ARE DRIVEN BY OUR STAFF ONLY AT CUSTOMERS' OWN RISK | ||