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).
Letter from the USA detailing observations on American engine designs and automotive trends.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\1\ img249 | |
| Date | 28th January 1934 | |
| USA COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM H.M. IN U.S.A. DATE. 28.1.34. To Ag. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Mr. c. to Hives. c. to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Ir. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/WJ.9.2.34. Thank you very much for your Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/WJ.19.1.34. I was very pleased to hear that you have finished the Vulture and hope that it comes up to expectations. I received the valve reports for which please thank A.C.L. I will discuss them with Heron when he comes to Detroit in a week, he was here on Thursday. A.H.D. will have told you about the Stellite. I hope that I made it clear that the larger exhaust valve was to improve power output and not specifically anything to do with lead. Actually now, you at Derby are ahead of the Curtiss Conqueror, mainly I think because they have an even worse head design for distortion than we have. I have been tremendously impressed with the Plymouth. I think we should definitely copy their engine mounting exactly both in geometry and torsional freedom on the 20/25 and see what it is worth. Gry{Shadwell Grylls}'s. information about the master period on the Terraplane was most interesting. Enquiries I have so far made seem to confirm it. Briggs says - For some reason any combination of eight in line seems better than anything else for smoothness. He prefers the Buick to the La{L. A. Archer} Salle and actually thinks it is smoother than the Cadillac 16. The Cadillac 16 is still the ultimate in smoothness. Cadillacs say - The length of the straight eight is somewhat off set by its small width i.e. it will go forward over the front axle leaving plenty of room for the suspension, and the dash can also be pocketed slightly to take the rear end of the block without obstructing the passengers feet. They are using it in the latest La{L. A. Archer} Salle which will be in production in a month. Other people have said that the straight eight is easy to carburett and silence. Therefore, in view of our peculiar taxation difficulties in England, this unit once more comes forward as a possible 20/25 replacement and I will concentrate on finding out what I can about it in addition to the 12 cyl. | ||