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 discussing the materials and construction of accumulator grids, comparing pure lead, antimonial lead, and the Tungstone accumulator.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\4\ scan 191 | |
| Date | 18th September 1926 | |
| X3830 EFCL/T. 18th Sept. 1926. Mr. E.C. McKinnon, Clifton Junction, Nr. Manchester. Dear Mr. McKinnon, I have your letter ECM/EH of the 17th inst. but before taking up this matter, I feel that there are some points which first need clearing up. As a matter of fact I cannot say that it was my understanding that all lead accumulator grids were made from pure lead. We certainly have had the impression that these have definitely been cast in antimony-lead in order that the oxidising action shall not so readily take place in the grids. If this is not so in your case we shall be pleased to hear exactly what is the case. As regards the purity of the paste, we can only take the words of the various battery manufacturers, and in that case I feel satisfied that both you and the P & R Co. put into our batteries the known best materials. In the case of the Tungstone accumulator what we have understood is that their outer "window-frame" grids are made of antimonial lead, whereas the small square lattice-work" grids, four of which go to the manufacture of each one plate, are made of pure lead. You do not appear to make a distinction between the two. You will understand that in view of these doubts, we cannot at the moment write to the Tungstone Co. in accordance with your request, though I do not see any reason why, when we have a clear understanding of what it is we are putting to them, we should not then write. Do not think from the above that I am in any sense upholding the Tungstone Accumulator. I do not for a moment think that in the long run the Tungstone type of construction can really be anything like as good as our present standard batteries, though in early life they may be able to shew some freak results in certain directions. For instance, it is obvious that a battery unhampered by Contd. | ||