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).
Issues of rust on steel wings versus cracks in aluminium wings, proposing tests and anti-corrosive treatments.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\1\ Scan198 | |
| Date | 29th January 1932 | |
| Cx. {Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} W/S. {Derby Works / Sales} From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Lid. {A. J. Lidsey} C. to Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. to DA {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} /SV. Ma. 8155. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Lid. {A. J. Lidsey} 10/MA. 29. 1. 32. ALUMINIUM AND STEEL WINGS. With reference to Cx. {Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} 7/K.W.28.1.32., we note that you agree that in future experimental cars which are likely to do 10,000 mile test runs should be fitted with steel wings; we also note your agreement to put in hand a pair of steel front wings for 18.G.IV. The wings on 19.G.IV. are showing signs of rust rather badly, from our point of view however it is considerably less costly to combat this fault than to repair cracks in aluminium wings. We think the rust problem on steel wings is a point which could be investigated profitably by coach-builders; we know that there are several quite good ante corrosive treatments on the market at present such as Parkerising, Cosletising and Bonderising all of which could be applied to wings before they are painted. We think it may be worth while to approach the coachbuilders with a view to getting them to try such a treatment; we might be able to arrange to have steel wings for an future Experimental cars treated in this manner. We agree that the wings on 26-EX did not suffer after strenuous use on all types of roads, these wings however were flared sports type wings (rather similar in shape to those on I.W.J. 18-EX) the very shape of which imparted stiffness; more important the wings were not fastened to the running boards and frame distortion was not transmitted to the wings. The worst type of wing is the long, broad, flat topped wing bolted to the front end of the running board, such as are fitted to the usual large closed bodied car. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /A.J. Lidsey. | ||