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).
New insulating moulding compound called 'Elo' as a potential alternative to Bakelite and Formite.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\3\ Scan087 | |
| Date | 22th May 1921 | |
| R.R. 285A (100 T) S.H. 798. 10-15-20) G 2947 X3573 R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} c. CJ. c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By c. H1. c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. Ws. c. to Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Mr. Brock. Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}6/NJ/22.5.21. X.2494- Insulating Material. X.3513. On the 13th inst. we were informed by the Lucas Electrical Co. Ltd. that they had made experiments with a moulding compound manufactured by Fleming, Birkby & Goodall Ltd., of Liversedge, Yorks, and termed "Elo" and had obtained good results. On the 16th inst. we wrote Fleming, Birkby & Goodall Ltd. as follows :- "We contemplate manufacturing certain mouldings "which are required in connection with the electrical "equipment of our cars. We prefer to keep the "manufacture in our own hands, rather than place it "with a firm like yourselves, who are engaged in the "production of mouldings. "We shall be pleased to learn whether you will be "prepared to supply to us the raw material which we "understand you call "Elo". In the affirmative case, "we shall be pleased to learn in what form such "material is, i.e. whether in the form of powder like "Bakelite, or in a plastic form like Bekdalite, and "what is the natural colour, also whether black "mouldings can be produced from same. "If you are prepared to supply the material, we "shall be glad if you will quote price and say "whether you would afford us such advice as we may "need to enable us to successfully produce mouldings "from your raw material." These people replied that their Mr. Birkby would call upon us to-day and, as a result, we have had a most interesting conversation with that gentleman. From samples which he showed us we are inclined to the opinion that "Elo" mouldings may be quite as good and quite as easy to manufacture as Bakelite or Formite mouldings. Contd. | ||