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 Fansteel Products Company discussing the manufacturing process and requirements for tungsten parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\5\ scan 153 | |
| Date | 22th October 1920 | |
| X.2894 FANSTEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY Chicago, Oct. 22, 1920 Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. Springfield, Mass. Gentlemen:- Replying to your favor of the 19th regarding experiments at England with our tungsten metal, wish to advise that all tungsten electrical contacts and other special tungsten parts should be made up complete in our factory. All the work that we are doing is handled from the customer's blueprints, drawings and samples. Tungsten cannot be tooled or handled in an ordinary manner, it requires special facilities which we have to manipulate this metal. The best way to work your own proposition out to satisfactory conclusion, would be to receive from you sketch or blueprint showing exactly what you want. We can then make up the parts complete and forward them to you for test. It would be impossible to machine tungsten rivets from tungsten rod. The only way in the world to make tungsten rivets is to cut a tungsten disc from the rod and this requires very special equipment. This disc is then electrically welded to a steel rivet or steel screw. This also requires special equipment. In every case where the tungsten is brought up to a welding temperature, the work must be handled in an atmosphere of hydrogen. We are enclosing herewith catalog sheets which will give you better idea of our line, and thanking you for your interest, we are Yours very truly, FANSTEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, (Signed) JMT Vice-President | ||