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 proposing a new 'antithermal' friction material for brake blocks and clutch inserts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\4\ Scan272 | |
| Date | 14th July 1925 | |
| (COPY) Woodland View, Devon Gt. Consols, Tavistock. 14/7/25. The Rolls-Royce Motor Co., Ltd., 14-15 Conduit Street, London, W.1. Dear Sirs, Antithermal Materials. I am sending you one "Sunbeam brake block" and four "clutch inserts" and would ask you kindly to test the same in any way you may deem fit. I have developed the "face" on one side of the inserts and left the rest crude. I suggest that one of these inserts may be used in the place of 2 - 3 cork inserts. My reasons for sending you these samples are that I would like to introduce this material as frictional linings to any brakes because it possesses the remarkable properties of being able to keep cool under heavy friction and of attaining, under same conditions, a "face" so truly like the rubbing material that it developes the coefficient of friction to a marked degree with a resulting very powerful retarding grip. I find difficulty in explaining just what I would like to convey but I think it would be understood better by you if you rode the accompanying brake block until it shows a smooth face and then ride down some long hill and on arriving at the bottom immediately feel your brake rim, this will probably be very hot. At the same time test the block, this will be found to be cool even on the "smooth rubbing face". To test inserts rub the same on any smooth surface such as burnished metal, enamel ware, glass etc and compare with like sized cork. As I am not known in the motoring world, having been mining always, you may enquire of me at National Metal and Chemical Bank, 70 Lombard Street, of Mr. R.T. Smith or Mr. A.C. Gaultey, again Dr. A.L. Moris, 19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, or Messrs. John Taylor & Sons, 6 Queen Street Place. In conclusion I would say that if you find anything in this material that you would deem to be of interest or use to you I should be pleased to supply anything you would require to the best of my ability, and under guarantees from you by the use of these and other materials demonstrate to you that I can produce a metal surface that will remain permanent during the life of | ||