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 inquiring about new bearing metal compositions and experiences with different babbitt materials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\1\ scan0150 | |
| Date | 23th November 1936 | |
| Gry{Shadwell Grylls} 1020 B-p General Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}6/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 23rd November, 1936. B.F. Hopkins, Esq., The Cleveland Graphite Bronze Co., 880, East 72nd Street, Cleveland, OHIO. U.S.A. Dear Mr. Hopkins, We are wondering whether you are in a position to tell us any more about the new bearing metal you were evolving. We have been experimenting ourselves with the various babbit materials, one of these has a composition consisting of:- 2.4% cadmium; 2% copper; 9% antimony, and the rest tin. The second metal is a tin base with 3% silver. Will you please let us know whether you have any experience of these metals, and, if so, what defects or advantages you expect with them. It is possible that the composition of your best babbit has changed since I was in the States, in which case we shall be glad to hear from you what you now consider to be the best material for main bearings. Yours sincerely, | ||