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 Lake & Elliot Ltd regarding a quotation and material for Brake Drums.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\4\ scan0169 | |
| Date | 17th February 1936 | |
| Continuation Sheet No. 1 17.2.36 Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd. However, in order thoroughly to clarify the position and to satisfy your experimental department, we will make a few Drums exhibiting this structure and send them in marked "For the attention of Mr. Martindale". Regarding a quotation for a cheaper material for Brake Drums, we must refer you to the difficulties which have been experienced in the past in obtaining satisfactory castings and point out that we have successfully overcome these difficulties by employing a very elaborate and expensive moulding system. If an alternative material to H.F.Milenite is required, the only saving we can effect will be a reduction in the cost of the melting process because we shall not feel justified in altering the moulding methods without extensive experiments. It is quite possible that with the lower metal temperatures of other processes a cheaper method of moulding may be found, but we repeat that, whilst the present design of Drum is in use involving very extensive machining operations, we sho ld not make any alteration without experiments conducted in conjunction with yourselves. In view of the above, our price for a cheaper grade of Iron in your Brake Drums would be in the region of 35/-d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} or 36/-d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} per Cwt., but we could not undertake to supply this material without first agreeing upon a specification with yourselves which would be satisfactory to you and which we co ld obtain in normal practice. In conclusion, we wish to thank you for the discussions which took place on Friday last, and to assure you of our interest in the problem and our desire to help you in any way within our power. Yours faithfully, FOR LAKE & ELLIOT LTD sgd. W.B.Lake. | ||