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).
Article from 'The Autocar' describing Macintosh steel-studded tyres with a fibre compound tread.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\7\ B001_X15 20 46 50 59-page102 | |
| Date | 24th August 1912 | |
| R.R. 235a (150 H) (S.A. 301. 19-2-15) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 0850. X 20 The Autocar The Macintosh Tyres. A Steel-studded Tyre with a Tread of Fibre Compound. THE name Macintosh and rubber goods, particularly those useful garments which protect the body of the Britisher from the pitiless downpour of a summer like the present, are synonymous terms, but tyres and the name of the great Manchester rubber firm have not of late been so closely connected. Some twenty years or so ago, however, it was very much on the cards that the patent rights of the inflated held tyre as we have it to-day on motor car wheels would have belonged altogether to this Manchester House. We do not recall ancient history with any idea of opening an old wound, but merely to indicate the peculiarly close relation of this house with the early days of the pneumatic tyre, as we turn, after an interesting visit to the firm's works at Manchester, to draw our readers' attention to the new Macintosh fibre steel-studded tyre, which has already done so much to prove the accuracy of the views which have led to the adoption of compound fibre tread rather than rubber and leather to take steel studs. For that is Messrs. Chas. Macintosh and Co.'s latest innovation, and as a distinct departure in the construction of steel-studded tyres must have great interest for the motorist. It is not permitted us to give an inkling of how this fibre material is compounded, nor how it is dealt with in the construction of the tyre, but that its form is in no way abnormal can be gleaned from the accompanying illustration, where this type is seen on the extreme right. The casing itself consists of seven plies of fabric over which, beneath the tread, is an unusually liberal allowance of rubber, which is carried right down the walls of the cover and round the lip of the bead to protect the fabric from the edges of the rim. This rubber is carried right up to the bevelled edges of the fibre tread, and has within it four segmented layers of fabric to take the thrust of the studs. It will thus be seen that the casing is most completely protected from the studs. The makers assert most positively that the studs do not and cannot pull out, and that the wet cannot get in. The fibre will not ruck up or separate itself from the cover, and does not require frequent dressings, as is the case with leather. In support of their contention they are content to let the mileage resulting from its use speak for itself. We also illustrate the three other forms of treads in which the Macintosh tyres appear, to wit, the three-ribbed, the grooved, and what is called the plain tread, although it is formed with a series of circumferential grooves, which should make for the good holding of the road by the steering wheels. It should be added that Messrs. Chas. Macintosh and Co. make a feature of retreading tyres with the compound fibre tread. Four types of Macintosh tyres. The fibre and rubber steel-studded tyre is on the extreme right. | ||