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).
Issues with a valve supplier and proposing the standardization of an alternative Special High Silicon Steel from a different manufacturer.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\3\ Scan204 | |
| Date | 12th August 1924 | |
| 44634 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY5/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 12. 8. 24. VALVES. RE USE OF SPECIAL HIGH SILICON STEEL TO SPECIFICATION NO. 238. -------------------------------------------- We are constantly in trouble with the Thomson Silchrome People in regard to the finish of the work which they are supplying us with. You will appreciate of course that we cannot take up matters seriously we would like to take up, in view of the distance between ourselves and our suppliers, and the ensuing delay which must take place if we turned down anything which is not all reasonably usable. The result of this is that we have to accept, owing to the delay entailed, valves which, were they produced in England, we would refuse and insist on having replaced. We would of course, in the case of having an English source of supply producing the valves, be in touch with them and be able to discuss the valves before the whole of the supply was produced. The object of writing you is to again press for as early standardization as you can possibly give us for the use of the special Valve Steel produced by Messrs Firths. We are under the impression that the "Condor" valves you have tried recently have given satisfaction, whilst in addition, I think the further fact I recently raised and explained as to why the High Silicon type of valve is advantageous, shows that the advantages of this type of valve are not necessarily altogether dependant upon its heat-treatment as I was inclined, to imagine, but rather upon its high recalescence point. This, in conjunction with the fact that our method of heat-treating is giving good results, should, I think, enable you to put forward a Standardization Sheet, which would enable us to start using say half 'Firths' steel and half "Silchrome", with the object of obtaining experience of both, whilst not depending absolutely on either. We should propose, of course, giving a special number for 'Firths' steel in order to prevent confusion in the use of same. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||