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).
Advantage of changing to a new 3.5 to 1 back axle ratio and making it standard.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\1\ Scan146 | |
| Date | 16th February 1920 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. " " Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X.3545 R3/G16.2.20. X.3545. X.3457. - RE BACK AXLE X.3612. I think all of us have agreed for a long time [handwritten and crossed out: that] at least a small increase in the back axle ratio would be a distinct advantage to our present cars, and I think we must persevere to get silent axles with the 3.5 to 1 as being the best all-round compromise. We understand that you will probably be receiving some Gleason gears of this new 3.5 to 1 ratio at an early date, and I should be very pleased if you would push them forward as soon as you get hold of them, so that we can have this ratio made standard, which I am sure will fit all cars, including the light ones and certainly the heavy ones. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||