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).
Visit to Messrs. North & Sons of Watford, discussing their manufacturing processes, use of female labour, and moulding materials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\3\ Scan063 | |
| Date | 2nd May 1921 | |
| X. 3513. EJE/L/LMG2.5.21. -3- Contd. X 1699. X 3513. X 4287. THURSDAY - at Messrs. North & Sons Watford. It is interesting to note that this firm appear to find it cheaper and better to use sand castings and brass drop stampings and machine all over. one wonders if they are not right in some respects. They have some nice machines; one in particular was a P & W Rotary Miller, of a type I had not previously seen. Of course, all this machining is done by female labour. One thing in particular that I noticed was that the work required no fitting, such a good job comes from the machine. I must admit that our electrical department is at a disadvantage as far as machining is concerned. However, die castings and good pressings should put us in a better position; and even then we are up against the cost of labour as compared with Messrs. North who have girls on machines. These people are making their own mouldings which are of a material called "Beldalite" or something of that kind, similar to the sample Mr. Coverley has. This material is good for where any rubbing action takes place. It would be O.K. for distributors or anything like that, but for all other parts I suggest "Bakelite". These two materials require different types of moulds, so that it will be necessary first to decide which material will do for the various jobs. The moulds will be rather expensive to make and it will be necessary for us to do some experimenting in that direction. We are at present on with the job in our tool room. I notice that articles made from the material Messrs. North use, require curing and I did not care to ask them too much. I feel sure that if you asked Messrs. North they would agree to let either myself or somebody else visit their works when they are moulding and get full particulars as to curing and temperatures, also of the kind of pans and ovens they use. Con.td | ||