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).
Proposal to use 25% nickel steel for brake levers and the associated technical discussion against its use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\5\ scan0004 | |
| Date | 9th October 1923 | |
| X.4614 R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. BJ. c. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY5-P9.10.23. RE PROPOSAL TO USE BRAKE LEVERS PRODUCED IN 25% NICKEL STEEL. In connection with the American proposal referred to I took up the whole issue with Messrs. Firths in view of the fact that the 25% nickel steel is austinitic in its structure and cannot be machined by normal methods in consequence, being similar in a somewhat less degree in this respect to manganese steel. We put before Messrs. Firths the purpose for which we intended to use the material, and since then I have had an opportunity of discussing the question with Mr Wolstenholme personally, the result is that Messrs. Firths are definitely against recommending the use of the material under discussion. Mr Wolstenholme shewed me an inter-departmental letter to himself from Mr Wortley Fawcett. I attach a copy of the letter in question, as it puts the whole case quite clearly and will enable you to consider whether we are to go any further with the American proposal. You will observe that the steel, unless very heavily cold worked, has a very low elastic limit, and is not at all comparable from the point of view of strength and general reliability, with the 3½% nickel steel we are at present using. | ||