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 from Wellworthy Piston Rings Ltd. discussing the production of pistons and carburetors, and recommending pressed components over castings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\1\ scan0322 | |
| Date | 9th May 1941 | |
| WORKS TELEPHONE LYMINGTON 520 WORKS TELEGRAMS "WELLWORTHY" PRIVATE TELEPHONE LYMINGTON 232 MANAGING DIRECTOR'S OFFICE 1256 WELLWORTHY PISTON RINGS LTD., LYMINGTON HANTS JH/KES 9th May, 1941. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. My dear Robotham, Further to your letter of the 18th April, I was up at Spurrier's last week - probably Henry told you, and he mentioned pistons. I told him we should be very pleased to produce the pistons. He also mentioned the carburettor, which he thought might be some difficulty and I got in touch with my friend, Gordon Richards of Solex Works, 223-231 Marylebone Road, London, N.W.1., Tel. Paddington 5011. He said he would be only too happy to come into the scheme and co-operate in any way he possibly can to make anything in the way of the carburettors. I have suggested that he makes contact with you and Mr. Spurrier direct as naturally I don't know anything at all about carburettors and I think it is a matter for you to discuss amongst yourselves. We are completing the machining of the castings and are sending these along, but if I may say so with all due respects to you and all the other experts, I would suggest a plain simple pressing which could be made at practically the same cost as the casting and which would give you better grain structure and less risk than a casting. This would also give you experience of what the pressing can be got down to so that, if peace ever comes again, you would be able to use this on your commercial job which would perhaps have to be more competitive in price than the double-dummy upset piston. Also, if the pressed pistons, as I am told it is, is making a lot of progress in America for Diesels as well as other engines, it may be that after the war, die-casting will be supplanted by the comparatively cheaper pressing and this would give you some experience of it. | ||