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).
Procedure for investigating new materials, specifically focusing on a case involving steel castings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\4\ scan0086 | |
| Date | 23th August 1937 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} O.HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} [crossed out] O.H.P/PM. [crossed out] 1202 BY.6/G.23.8.37. MATERIALS. There is already machinery for investigating new materials, which has been working for years, in this factory. Normally, new materials are passed through to Mr. Marriott, who takes up the matter with the makers and also with our Laboratory, and until I am satisfied, the matter is not put into production. In the case of the steel castings, I am afraid this stepped out of the normal line of procedure, because finding that something was wanted urgently I stepped in personally and obtained castings, mainly for experimental purposes, from Messrs. Gabriels in order to save time and expense, which would normally be required to produce dies from which the forgings are to be made. Before this material can be used on production we must completely investigate same, and if the castings appear to be reasonable, but the strength low, we would obtain alloy castings from Messrs. Thos. Firth & Sons, who are quite willing to help us in this respect to any extent. They are used to making small castings in stainless steel and other alloy steels, and have offered to do so to meet our requirements. I pointed out to them, however, that in this case we were looking for mild steel castings only. We mentioned Jessops to them as a source of supply, but they explained to me that Jessops work in this direction was in connection with large castings only. We do not expect the Experimental Department to investigate materials. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||