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 to Rover discussing potential collaboration, a 20HP car, chromium plating tests, and valve springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\3\ scan0113 | |
| Date | 19th October 1936 | |
| 41091 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/KW. 19th October, 1936. Capt. Wilks, The Rover Motor Co.Ltd., Coventry. Dear Capt. Wilks, When you have settled down from the Motor Show I should like to bring our Works Manager on the car production side over to Rovers to take a glance at your set up. At the same time perhaps it would be possible for me to try a production 20 HP. car. I appreciate that visits between Rolls-Royce and Rovers at present seem to be largely one-way traffic, but would point out that we should be delighted to see you here at any time to discuss aluminium engines or any other subject which interests you. Will it be possible for us to come over some time during the week ending the 31st October ? For your information I attach a report on chromium plating cylinder bores. We have done some test bed running on the cylinder block you did for us, which developed no outstanding peculiarities other than the fact that the oil consumption was somewhat high with the standard rings. We are now running it on the road for endurance, but not an accelerated test. Should be glad to hear whether you are still enthusiastic over the job. Do you ever have any trouble with valve springs ? I agree this is a stupid question, but we cannot understand how anybody who uses the straight carbon valve spring wire which is available in this country can get even passably good reliability. Yours sincerely, | ||