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).
Urgent adoption of aluminium pistons for a 12-cylinder aero engine, comparing three potential designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\2\ scan 007 | |
| Date | 14th August 1915 | |
| COPY. X.1506. URGENT AND IMPORTANT. COPY. 10/11 To Na.{Mr Nadin} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} R2/IB14815. Copy to J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} " " Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} for EH. 17815 August 14th. 1915. " " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X.1506. Re Aluminium Pistons. Thank you for sending the memo re Magnalite pistons. I am exceedingly anxious to get the aluminium pistons going without a moments delay. I believe they will act like a charm on our various engines, especially on the big 12 cylinder aero engine. Please see if these are moving. We could adopt, after comparison - (1) Ordinary diagonal web ones with complete surface, giving the largest wearing surface. (2) Zephyrs with increased depth of skirt (should trial ones show excessive wear). (3) Zephyrs with R.R. combination giving cast iron wearing surface to take thrust of connecting rod. You have designs and patterns, so that these could be cast within the next three days. Even if these pistons wear slack after a reasonable time, it would be better to adopt them than have the engine always poor by the use of heavy pistons. They also avoid the absolute necessity of using Zephyr pistons. R.{Sir Henry Royce} 28 | ||