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 Vandervell Products Ltd. regarding trouble experienced with Thrust Washers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\3\ scan0258 | |
| Date | 12th July 1938 | |
| VANDERVELL PRODUCTS Ltd. TELEGRAMS & CABLES: STEELBAK, LONDON. DIRECTORS: C.A.VANDERVELL, G.A.VANDERVELL, M.P.FOSTER. TELEPHONE ACORN 2251/2. MANUFACTURERS OF PRESSED BUSHINGS, STEEL BACKED BABBITT & LEAD BRONZE BEARINGS. Patented. WESTERN AVENUE, PARK ROYAL, W.3. [Image of STEEL BACK BABBITT LINED BEARINGS] [Image of HARD ROLLED BRONZE BUSHINGS] Handwritten: 6ides GAV/BJT. 12th July, 1938. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, Experimental Department, DERBY. Handwritten: 1020 [Signature] Dear Sirs, For the attention of Mr.L.H.Swindall. We are in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, and regret to learn that you are experiencing trouble with the Thrust Washers. We cannot understand why this should be, as there are thousands of these Thrust Washers in service that are giving every satisfaction, and unless you have some undue thrust on your engine there is no reason why they should break up. We note your remarks concerning the flanged bearing but regret that we are unable to make these at the moment, and I doubt whether we ever shall, as there is no demand for this type of bearing. The new bearings we are bringing out in the near future will have the flanges omitted, and there is a possibility that the plain bearing will be used universally in America. The only suggestion we can make as to the cause of the failure is that the Thrust Washers were not up to their usual standard, and to find this out we are having the material tested. We are sending you to-night two sets of Babbitt Thrust Washers which have been carefully checked, and in addition to these we are sending two in lead bronze, in case there is a particularly heavy load on your engine. 1. [Stamp: THE SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS LTD - SMMT] | ||