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).
The subject of electrical welding, discussing its reliability, defects, and application to specific components like axles and frames.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\1\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 8th December 1937 | |
| HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} C. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1204 BY.11/G.8.12.37. GRY{Shadwell Grylls} Ford Axles? ELECTRICAL WELDING. Referring to HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}1/VS.{J. Vickers}25.11.37. we are of the opinion that butt welding where it can be applied is the most reliable form of welding. It still, however, has the technical defect which is a very real one,of producing in anything but very mild steels, the zone of weakness slightly removed from the area of the actual weld itself. Your remark about the Lagonda Stub Axle Pivot being welded is rather interesting as my boy whilst watching the racing described to me how the Lagonda collapsed onthe front wheel and said it was the stub axle, a point I rather discredited, but it is quite obvious that the phenomena he described was correct, and where the stub axle failed was near to the weld. I merely mention this to indicate that the fact that somebody is using welding in a certain position does not mean that the construction is necessarily sound. There are certain parts, particularly in regard to the frame or sheet steel members, which can be welded, but really highly stressed pieces cannot be considered as suitable for welding even under the butt welding system. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||