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).
Material sourcing and manufacturing methods for a new electrical department.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\2\ Scan120 | |
| Date | 15th March 1921 | |
| Contd. -2- R6/G15.3.21. (3) That we should avoid the use of ebonite almost entirely if mouldings made in bakelite are available, the disadvantage of the ebonite being that it is easily distorted when slightly warm. (4) At present we are not using very much porcelain in our electrical department, but we should know where to obtain this in a satisfactory quality. The properties demanded for our work are resistance to heat and mechanical strength. It should therefore be the same sort of porcelain as is used in an ignition plug, and certainly one thinks it could be obtained in France from the makers who are so successful in making articles of white porcelain for cooking utensils. If it is necessary, to get it in England, I should advise consulting Bullers, and perhaps some of the Staffordshire potters, and Doultons, but if it is necessary to procure some especially for heat, we believe it will be quicker and safer to include the French makers. I refer principally to china, and what is known as stoneware insulation, not so much the soft clay-ware sometimes used by the French people in their casseroles. (5) It would appear that we shall have available shortly a satisfactory source of any die castings that are needed. These, like the moulds, must be made so accurately as to require no hand-work, and absolutely minimum of drilling and other machining. These, with the bakelite finished moulds will do much towards getting parts of excellent appearance and suitability for the work, with the minimum of hand finishing and fitting. (6) The next necessity for a satisfactory electrical department will be a means of obtaining really accurate and satisfactory sheet metal pressings. Here again they must be done so accurately that there will be no other work upon them, and so thoroughly done that after leaving the presses in most cases will only require assembling after receiving the necessary coating of varnish, etc. to protect them against corrosion. Unless one has satisfactory sheet metal work, it is impossible to carry on this automobile business and especially an electrical department. In conclusion, I want to impress upon you that it will be unprofitable for us to attempt this electrical department unless we have a fair number of each part to go at, and we are thoroughly determined to use the most up-to-date and carefully made parts, so that they will require assembling Contd. | ||