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).
Comparing the Rudge Whitworth and Dunlop wire wheels, outlining the technical preference for the Dunlop design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\1\ scan0098 | |
| Date | 5th May 1923 | |
| BJ. c. to Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X.3725 BY3/P5.5.23. WIRE WHEELS X.421 X.3725. I understand that you are making enquiries as to what is the essential difference between the Rudge Whitworth wire wheel and the Dunlop wire wheel. The reason why R.{Sir Henry Royce} and the Technical people at the Works are against the Rudge Whitworth wheel is :- (1) It has no definite lock. (2) The taper cone friction lock does not permit of the wheel being tightened up thoroughly, with the result that sooner or later the R.W. wheel develops squeaking, even although, as proved in France when one of the R.W. Representatives, Mr. Daniell, did the job himself, a 2 lb. steel hammer was used. (3) The Dunlop wheel was developed in conjunction with Mr. Royce and the designs in consequence are, to a great extent, Mr. Royce's designs. (4) In regard to the difference in cost, there are positive locking schemes in the Dunlop which put up the cost of production of the Dunlop as against the R.W. but in any case the real point of difference is, that the Dunlop type involves a definite and positive lock, thereby giving increased security and efficiency and at the same time permitting of the Dunlop wheel being positively held without squeaking when our normal instructions, as given in our Instruction Book, are followed out. The point I am wishing to emphasise is, that it is not merely a question of cost, but is essentially a difference in design which has all along kept Mr. Royce using the Dunlop wheel and has definitely caused him during the whole life of the present R.W. scheme to condemn the latter, although from time to time pressure has been brought to bear upon him from the R.W. Co., with the object of getting him to rescind his decision against the wheel. The last time I had an opportunity of discussing this issue with Mr. Royce personally, he stated that he had not changed his opinion in regard to the fact that the R.W. type of wheel, from a design point of view, is wrong and his attitude in this respect has not changed since. Personally I have no axe to grind as to which type of wheel we use, but I do want to make it clear that R.{Sir Henry Royce} and the Technical Dept. from a design point of view are against the R.W. so that you are not likely to be misled in any decision you make by not knowing the views of the Tech. side in this connection. (BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) | ||