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).
Customer and experimental testing of lead bronze big end bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan277 | |
| Date | 15th May 1935 | |
| To Eg. & Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Rld. XL013 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/KW.15.5.35. Lead Bronze Big End Bearings. It will be remembered that at one of the recent Conferences the question of getting more experience on lead bronze bearings in customers' hands was raised. It was agreed that we should find out what results Sr. had obtained from the three sets sent over to him. We have now communicated with Sr., and find that only one car fitted with lead bronze bearings has covered any considerable mileage; in fact, only recently has the second set of lead bronze bearings been fitted, to B-98-AH. We believe the reason for this is that we have told Sr. that the original white metal bearings will run 15,000 to 20,000 miles in customers' hands, and he has been waiting for the cars to cover this mileage so that he can charge the owner for an engine clean at the same time as fitting lead bronze bearings. The majority of our Experimental cars are running on lead bronze, but we really require more experience in customers' hands. We do feel that in view of the fact that we have completed one 15,000 miles' test in France, and run 8,000 miles of another - obtaining much better results than we have had previously with white metal - that we could with advantage fit them to certain selected customers' cars and to demonstration cars. Until we have such experience it is not reasonable to put lead bronze into production. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||