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).
Query regarding the technical objections to implementing synchromesh on more gears in the gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan416 | |
| Date | 12th April 1935 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}4/KW12.4.35. About a year ago I had some rather interesting correspondence with a very knowledgable customer of ours who was advocating second speed s/m on Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars. Having no intention of putting it on the market about that time we had to defend our action in not having s/m second speeds on our cars. I believe there were, and still are, technical objections to s/m on all gears, or even the addition of another s/m gear in our present gearbox, which may involve other difficulties and troubles, such as, the mass of moving parts, the weight of the gearbox and other technical difficulties. I wonder if you could give me briefly what are the objections or difficulties that have to be overcome in producing a box with more s/m gears. Our technical friend says he fails to see what addition to manufacturers' difficulties and problems could be involved in the mere development of a mechanism which we have already perfected, other than the expense. The matter of expense, however, is not under discussion. If you can give me any information which I can usefully pass on to him I should be very grateful. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} huel | ||