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 supplier Thos. Firth & Sons Ltd. regarding variability in test results for 40/50 HP front springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\1\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 16th December 1925 | |
| Copy of letter received from:- Messrs. Thos. Firth & Sons Ltd., Norfolk Works, Savile Street East, SHEFFIELD. 16th. Dec. 1925. Ref:- Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}5/NJ271125. STEEL DEPARTMENT: JWF/AC. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited., Nightingale Road,, DERBY. Dear Sirs, 40/50 HP. FRONT SPRINGS. With reference to your letter of November 27th, wherein you gave us particulars of the bumping tests on springs with interleaving and without, whilst we do think that some degree of variability is to be expected from this method of testing, we agree with you that it should not amount to the figures which you have obtained. We have been very carefully through our methods of manufacture to see whether any explanation can be attributed to these results, but have failed to find any cause up to the present. It would help us if you could tell us the numbers of the individual springs so that we could trace each one's history. You will no doubt recollect in our letter of August 25th, and yours of September 9th, we there informed you of a form of test we proposed to carry out. We immediately put this in hand and have carried out a very considerable number of such tests. Unfortunately, however, the results so obtained are also variable, and for which no explanation is at present available. We have in hand at the present very careful experiments to determine so far as we can as to whether such variations are due to this type of testing or to the consistency of the material. As soon as these are through we will again write you on the subject. You can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned to keep our manufacture up to the highest possible standard. Yours faithfully, THOS. FIRTH & SONS LIMITED., (Sgd) J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. Fawcett. | ||