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).
Lack of progress and manufacturing options for rivetless bonnets.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 119\4\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 13th June 1931 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} X385 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M13.6.31. C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RIVETLESS BONNETS. We do not seem to be able to report much progress on the subject of rivetless bonnets, at least as far as we are aware down here. In our DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M19231. we asked for some manufacturing information. We again asked for this in our DAL/M9531. addressed to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, of which you had a copy. In our DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/M27231., we asked that two bonnets be made. (1) An aluminium bonnet having snap headed rivets to the hinges only, all the other rivets being countersunk. This is the only treatment we know of for an aluminium bonnet. (2) We suggested that a steel bonnet be made of .028 mild steel panels with Staybrite hinges and hinge sheaths all electrically welded together and fitted with the latest N. series bonnet stiffeners. We have sent you a design for the rivetless shutters for this bonnet - N. scheme 3233. In BY14/G24231., BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} points out that there are considerable difficulties in using this electrically spot welding, which is extensively used by the All-Steel Corporation and of which you gave us a sample with which we were very pleased. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} was to take up the matter with Firth's to see if their new Austenitic (Staybrite) type steel was available. We have not heard. We would be glad to hear from you whether the bonnets in question have been made and tested, as we are very anxious to discuss the whole issue with R.{Sir Henry Royce}, and to put in hand a design for production. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||