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 Rudge-Whitworth Ltd discussing exhaust valve material (KE.965) and failure rates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\1\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 9th May 1936 | |
| RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD TELEPHONE 4001 TELEGRAMS RUDGE COVENTRY RUDGE WORKS COVENTRY GLH/MH.{M. Huckerby} Your Ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Ed.{J. L. Edwards}/16/KW. Messrs.Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. 9th. May, 1936. WD{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Dear Sirs, In reply to your letter of the 7th. instant, the material for the exhaust valves is KE.965. The valves were made by the electrically upsetting process, which is probably not the best from a point of maximum durability. We do not experience exhaust valve trouble due to breakages, and without exaggeration it can be said that you have had more exhaust valve failures with your unit than we have had in service in the same period. In most of the bench testing and, of course, for racing, that has been done by this head, the mixture strength is as rich as possible, without loss of power, and it occurs to us on the other hand that you may be working Cont'd........ [Circular Logo Text]: RUDGE-WHITWORTH COVENTRY REG'D TRADE MARK MAKERS OF RUDGE-WHITWORTH BICYCLES AND RUDGE MOTOR CYCLES EDWARD DE STEIN, CHAIRMAN. MAJOR GERALD R.{Sir Henry Royce} ASHTON. THE HON. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} MULHOLLAND. ALFRED J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} DENNISS. FRANK G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} WOOLLARD, MANAGING DIRECTOR. [Bottom Left]: JEP 394 11-35 [Left Margin]: 113 | ||