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).
Correspondence with Wellworthy Piston Rings Ltd. regarding bearing alloy development and production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\5\ scan0023 | |
| Date | 2nd May 1938 | |
| 1020a Rml0/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 2nd May, 1938. J.W. Howlett, Esq., Wellworthy Piston Rings Ltd., Lymington, Hants: Dear Howlett, I was away from the Works when you took over the R.R. bearing alloy. We have your letter of April 27th from Mr. Blackith, and note that you are getting in touch with quite a large number of firms. We have been holding back at Derby for a bit because of the difficulty of producing A.C.6 material at a commercial figure. As you know we have an A.C.9 alloy now which production say they can handle easily, and we expect to complete an endurance run on it by Friday of this week. Mr. Hives has suggested that it would be a good idea if you came to look over this engine and talk over the general position. with me. My own feelings are that except for big-ends which are used on hardened steel shafts, we ought to go rather warily. Big-ends on hardened steel shafts we know are satisfactory because they are our production standard, and even then the lubrication supply has got to be designed to suit the bearings. On soft shafts we may get some come-backs. It occurs to me that if Mr. Blackith could bring over particulars, especially with regard to crank-shaft material, from all the firms he has so far interested, we might be able to suggest those on which it would be best to concentrate to start with initially. We are a bit apprehensive of an early failure giving the alloy a bad name. Yours sincerely, | ||