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).
Adoption of a new gear ratio for low geared axles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\1\ Scan157 | |
| Date | 15th March 1920 | |
| X 35457 To Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} R5/G15.3.20. X.3545. RE LOW GEARED AXLE.S I am quite willing to adopt the ratio of about 3.5 to 1 as soon as the production department are able to fit them silent enough to obtain Mr. Platford's approval. This matter therefore, will not be held up for me, though I consider we should have such a gear running the 10,000 miles. trials with many other parts that require testing. I consider it would be advisable, as soon as silent ones are produced, to put into production a fair number of these gears before waiting for the 10,000 miles a result. Such a small change of ratio as from 3.25 to 3.5 to 1 I feel sure should not make any very marked difficulty in obtaining silent gears, and as our back axle gears are so very robust they should not result in any breakages or rapid wear. It should be remembered that the lower geared chassis are required for the heavy bodywork, rather than the light bodies. I should imagine that Mr. de Roco, would have a light body fitted to the car mentioned, and if rapid acceleration and great hill climbing on the top gear is required, a lower geared chassies is very desirable, but personally for a light car I think the present ratio is quite satisfactory, and ought to be less expensive for petrol, tyres, and other expenses such as repairs. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||