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Letter from steel manufacturer John Summers & Sons regarding the properties and supply of sheet steel.


Identifier  ExFiles\Box 113\5\  scan0106
Date  24th November 1939
  
TELEGRAMS: SUMMERS, CHESTER.
TELEPHONE: 200 CONNAH'S QUAY (10 LINES).

JOHN SUMMERS & SONS, LIMITED.
ESTABLISHED 1851.

MANUFACTURERS OF GALVANIZED CORRUGATED AND PLAIN STEEL SHEETS, BLACK SHEETS AND HIGH GRADE SHEETS FOR ALL PURPOSES

LONDON OFFICE: 34, LIME STREET, E.C.
GLOBE IRON WORKS, STALYBRIDGE.
BIRMINGHAM OFFICE: EXCHANGE BUILDINGS.

ALL QUOTATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ARE SUBJECT TO REPLY BY RETURN OF POST.

CODES USED: BENTLEY'S: BENTLEY'S 2ND PHRASE. A.B.C. 6TH (5 LETTER) EDITION. MARCONI INTERNATIONAL.
WESTERN UNION. BIRCHWOOD'S. LIEBER.

Handwritten: 1010

Hawarden Bridge Steel Works,
Shotton,
Chester.

YOUR REF. .................... OUR REF. G.S./D.479. 24th November, 1939.

W. A. {Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq.,
Messrs. Rolls Royce Limited,
D E R B Y.

Dear Bill,

I expect by now you will have got the two sample pieces of 16 gauge sheet, and I hope to send you in the next day or two a complete specification of the steel as regards its chemical and physical properties.

We have had your official order for a further 8 pieces, but we are a little doubtful about the Carbon content. We find that steel is very critical in Carbon ranges between .2 and .3% and we might have to ask you to take .15 to .2%

When you have tried out the two pieces you have got, I believe you might find that it is tougher than you would expect. Seen under the microscope it has a very fine and regular grain structure, and this is a characteristic of both hot and cold rolled strip. Generally speaking, the product of a strip mill is better in every way than the product of the old hand mill.

I am interested to hear about your new car. It certainly has just the characteristics which I think desirable. My only fear is that after the war there will be nobody left who can afford to buy your products !

I still have my original Bentley: it is now well on in its sixth year, and is running as well and as quietly as ever. I
  
  
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).


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