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 Rotherham & Sons Ltd regarding the unsuitability of a sample filler cap due to spring failures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\3\ scan0136 | |
| Date | 15th February 1937 | |
| ESTABLISHED 1750. [Handwritten Number]: 1280 TELEGRAMS: ROTHERHAMS. COVENTRY. TELEPHONE: 4154 (2 LINES) CODES: MARCONI INTERNATIONAL, BENTLEYS (5TH EDITION) A.B.C. HEAD OFFICE & WORKS, COVENTRY. LONDON OFFICE: I, HOLBORN CIRCUS, E.C.I. TELEGRAMS: TRIPPLIN SMITH LONDON. TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 9981. ALSO AT LA {L. A. Archer} CHAUX-DE-FONDS SWITZERLAND. AGENCIES: SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, WELLINGTON, CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG, DURBAN, NAIROBI, BARCELONA, MADRID, TOKIO, STOCKHOLM, COLOGNE, BUENOS AIRES, INDIA. ROTHERHAM & SONS LTD WATCH MAKERS & ENGINEERS. COVENTRY. [Handwritten]: Steadman Messrs. Rolls Royce, Ltd. DERBY. HNS/WS. 15th February 1937. Your Ref: Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /Std.1/AP. Experimental Dept. [Illegible Signature] Dear Sirs, We are in receipt of your letter of the 13th inst. with reference to the sample Filler which we sent to you. We cannot honestly recommend this Filler Cap for use with a radiator, owing to the trouble which is likely to be experienced with the spring when subjected to long periods in hot water. We have experienced a certain amount of trouble in this direction due to broken springs and have tried a variety of materials and a variety of treatments. We have used Phosphor Bronze, Stainless Steel, Cadmium Plated Steel and Chromium Plated, all without success. There is another fault in this particular Cap which perhaps you have not observed, and that is, it is possible to put it on leaving one spring disengaged. This throws additional strain on the arms of the spring and is likely to cause a fracture. The tension of the spring is also scarcely sufficient to prevent leakage of water from an overfull radiator. Under these circumstances, we should prefer not to supply you for the purpose you mention. Yours faithfully, ROTHERHAM & SONS, LTD. [Signature]: Helson Smith | ||