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 discussing the feasibility and history of lead treatment for the inside of exhaust pipes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 19th February 1936 | |
| C O P Y February 19th, 1936. Mr. F.{Mr Friese} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Banks, Ethyl Export Corp. Thames House, Millbank, S.W.1. Dear Rod, On January 6th you sent Sam Heron a letter with an attachment from Mr. Robotham regarding a lead treatment for the inside of exhaust pipes. Mr. Heron is not familiar with this work and asked if I would trace it down. I find that there has been very little work done along these lines although both Chrysler and Packard have made some tests. The lead coated exhaust pipes were submitted to Chrysler by some lead Company and not because Chrysler had any great amount of corrosion trouble. The Chrysler people tell me that it definitely did some good but it has never been considered as a production possibility. The Packard Company had considerable trouble with exhaust pipes a number of years ago at which time they tested some lead coated exhaust pipes submitted by the National Lead Company. The PACKARD trouble was hot corrosion and burning out of the exhaust pipe between the muffler and the exhaust manifold. The lead coating melted off the pipe and naturally did not increase the life. The trouble was corrected by cutting down restrictions and using a larger pipe together with a new manifold. Even though Packard did not consider lead treatment one of the individuals there believes the cool end of the exhaust pipe where the lead did not melt off, appeared to be in a better condition than the standard ones. I think you know that a number of American manufacturers put small holes in the exhaust system at the points where condensate may accumulate. Most American manufacturers believe these small holes are more effective than any improvement in material that is available under 9 ¢ a pound. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing very active going on with lead treated exhaust pipes in Detroit. The local office of the National Lead Company tells me they have done very little work in the past few years on this subject and referred me to their Lead Spraying Department, 111 Broadway, New York City. When I was there last week I called them up but it seems there is only one individual who has much information on this subject and he was out of town. I have asked one of our representatives in the New York Division to again get in touch with the National Lead Company and if they give us anything of | ||