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).
From Mr. Nadin to Mr. Beaver regarding the proposal to manufacture front springs in-house.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan073 | |
| Date | 28th October 1925 | |
| COPY. October 28, 1925. To: Mr. Beaver. From Mr. Nadin. With reference to Mr. Royce's comment on our proposal to make our own front springs, I think he would be interested to learn something more of the circumstances which have practically compelled us to come to our present decision, we also outline the methods we propose to adopt here for the production of our springs in small quantities, with a list of the tools used. From the number of failures which occurred on English springs on cars in America we did not feel satisfied with the way springs were made at Woodheads and set out to obtain better springs in America. From the earliest days we had considerable trouble in obtaining springs which would meet our requirements. We have had an inspector in the spring making plants in this country who has been in attendance, practically, during the whole time whilst our spring plates were being heat-treated. This has been the cause of friction with the spring makers from time to time. Our requirement of a brinell test on every plate in every spring was at first regarded as unreasonable, but the number of bad plates found by our inspection demonstrated to the spring makers that such a test was not only desirable but necessary to produce the high grade springs we require. We have had considerable difficulty with the spring makers in avoiding surface decarburization, which has been a fruitful cause of failure. We insisted on, and obtained, a pyrometer system of control for both the hardening and the drawing heats in all the plants making springs for us. I do not think Mr. Royce realises that we have purchased springs from three different plants and that each of the plants has, in turn, found our work to be unprofitable because of our exacting requirements, and also because of the small quantities which will not permit them to make the operations continuous and part of their regular routine. The first makers of our springs were the Sheldon Spring Company who have an excellent plant, laid out for the production of springs in large quantities. We had/ | ||