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).
Changing gauge manufacturing from a Bakelite cemented joint to a fused glass seal to improve reliability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 44\4\ Scan142 | |
| Date | 6th January 1930 | |
| Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Date 6.1.30. Page 2 been working for over a year, and which they have been gradually introducing; it coming into full production on January 1st of this year. The glass is fused directly round the copper tube, without the use of flux or jointing material, and a large amount of experimental work has been necessary to get this a satisfactory job in production. A change was necessary, as trouble had been experienced with the Bakelite cemented joint after extended periods; some running for years before giving way, and others only months. In any case the percentage of trouble experienced appeared to be too high. In connection with this, we would say that the percentage of gauges giving trouble in this country has been in no way comparable with the trouble experienced with gauges made under the same system, but not by ourselves, so it does not necessarily mean that any considerable proportion of your gauges will give trouble. Nevertheless we do feel that a change-over to a method which is apparently unaffected by time, and is a sound mechanical job, is all to the good. The necessary machinery to fuse this glass seal is at present working in America, and as it is almost a standard machine, used for other purposes, it is being adapted | ||