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 Ferodo Limited to R. Harvey Bailey regarding brake and spring interleaving materials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\4\ Scan167 | |
| Date | 13th December 1922 | |
| 13-12-22. Sheet No. 2. From FERODO LIMITED. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Harvey Bailey, Esq. - continued - tests and allow me to send some liners down. I do not know whether you have pursued the question of interleaving, but the evidence we are getting to-day is ample proof that we can offer very great advantage over gaiters. Moreover, although the list enclosed does not say so, it is obvious that if there is a fracture in the spring, our material does make it visible before it is too late to remedy it. We note in the "Autocar" this week, a letter signed by Harold Kinder, page 1205, December 8th - and this is similar in outline to those we are receiving from all parts, and almost every day. We are sending out the material designed to give the maximum resistance, and instructing buyers that if the shock absorbing effect is too great, they should put on a coating of graphite and oil, partly or totally. The graphite will be found to lower the resistance and make the springs as resilient as required. This is permanent because it becomes incorporated into the body of the fabric. FEROBESTOS - We have a number of firms here and abroad, who prefer this material for their brakes, and it may be within your recollection that we supplied you with 2,000 pieces. I am wondering whether you ever came to any conclusion. I use it on my brakes, even on the hand brake. When Mr. Lincoln Chandler was in my car the other day I asked him to speed up the car and to jam hard on the hand brake suddenly. I get far better results than I got from metal and no noise. I can keep it on for long periods down the biggest hills that I know, and I have never found any ill-effects such as the heating up which you have explained to me; in fact in an emergency, to pull this on tightly and use the foot brake judiciously, the deceleration is greater than with any other car I have ever tried. I have an Austin with a singularly powerful brake working on the back wheels, to compare with. I am at your service if you wish to try the car with this new clutch, any time up to the 21st, or after the holidays. Yours faithfully, FERODO LIMITED. MANAGING DIRECTOR. | ||