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 the Lead Industries Development Council discussing lead spraying and coating processes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\3\ img071 | |
| Date | 25th November 1937 | |
| - 2 - Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd. 25th November 1937. be faced in this particular case, but we understand that these have been overcome, and that Messrs. Mellowes & Co. Ltd., Corporation Street, Sheffield, have recently undertaken quite large quantities of work for government departments by a new and relatively cheap lead spraying process. We believe some authorities maintain that the sprayed metallic films are relatively porous and for this reason you might rather consider a hot dipped film. This process is not widely used in this country, although we understand that it is relatively common in America. Fairly continuous films are now possible and the possible risk is limited to a few pinholes which in this case might be considered a negligible risk, particularly as the areas are small and the shapes simple. Naturally such protection applied after the fabrication of the boxes is far superior to the use of lead coated sheet in which the corners and welds must be a source of weakness. A certain amount of research has recently been carried out on bath temperatures, suitable alloys, methods of cleaning and methods of omission of preliminary tinning in connection with gas water heaters, and we suggest that it might perhaps be worth your while getting into touch with Messrs. Goodlass Wall & Lead Industries Ltd., Research Laboratories, Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx, who have carried out a good deal of this work. Whether they would carry out work themselves or merely be in a position to supply the right alloys we do not know, but they are probably about the only firm in England who has approached this problem in a scientific way. We regret that we cannot give a satisfactory answer on the basis of a paint such as you ask for, and if we can go further into the matter we shall be happy to do so. Yours faithfully, TECHNICAL INFORMATION BUREAU OF LEAD INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. JKW/BA | ||