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).
Investigation into the production and sourcing of moulded materials like Bakelite and Beldalite.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\2\ Scan117 | |
| Date | 10th November 1920 | |
| Contd. -3- They make their own drop forgings, both steel and brass, and also their own castings. They had some very nice handy machines for winding armatures. We arranged with them that we would send them one of the American Bosch Magnetos so that they could test it, examine it and let us have their opinion on it. From our inspection of the moulding of Beldalite and ebonite at the Watford Plant, we see no reason why we could not at once do our own. We still, however, have to obtain the information as regards producing Bakelite. We recommend that as there are a very large number of people producing Bakelite or similar material to that in U.S.A., we we get Springfield to enquire how it is done and what plant is necessary. It may be possible to buy the crude material in the same condition as the Watford people buy their Beldalite material. If we could obtain material in bulk, it could easily be made up in any mouldings we may require. Since writing the above, a representative has called from the B.T.H. Co. with samples of a bakelite moulding made at their works. We obtained from him the information that they are buying the crude material in the form of powder from U.S.A. The Bakelite Co. in U.S.A. sell the powder in bulk for the manufacture of mouldings. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||