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).
Competitive need for a synchromesh gearbox with easy change on all gears.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan263 | |
| Date | 19th April 1932 | |
| X7310 X5310 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wdr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re Synchromesh Gearbox. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}6/E19.4.32. Your are doubtless aware of the competition in connection with easy change gearboxes, one of the chief illustrations of which is the Wilson box as used on Armstrong-Siddeley, the Daimler, the Lanchester etc. There is no doubt that this is having a very large "sales appeal". We know that of Siddeley's three companies making aero engines, cars and aeroplanes, the busiest of the three is the one making cars, largely because of the easy change gearbox. We also know on very good authority that Lanchester's are turning out about 40 to 50 of their new cars per week at present. The Synchromesh gearbox as arranged on our car gives us easy change from top to third, third to top and second to third, but below this we are the same as before. It seems to me quite unsound for us to be making arrangements to put any new models into production which do not at least give easy change from third to second, and if we had this, I understand it would automatically give us easy change first to second but not second to fitst. We might possibly be able to do without this, although I understand that certain American cars such as the Cadillac have synchro mesh on all forward gears and have had this for some time. My suggestion is that to avoid delay work in connection with the experimental car should go ahead as at present arranged but that we should immediately put in hand the designs necessary to carry out the above, and I should very much like to have your views on the subject, together with your comments in regard to the point re easy change on all gears. Personally I feel that this is certainly what we shall be forced to do. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||