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-type countersunk head spoke over the Dunlop button-head spoke for wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\1\ scan0104 | |
| Date | 21th August 1923 guessed | |
| Oy5-W-72823 -2- The makers have urged us for some time past to adopt their present standard countersunk head spoke instead of the Dunlop button-head spoke, but, having had no trouble, we have been loath to change. The 20" wheels with 32x6 tires, photographs of which were sent to Mr. Royce last March, have the new-type spoke and have given absolutely no trouble in 10,000 miles. With these wheels, we have noticed an absence of loosening spokes which has been a small trouble with the Dunlop button-head spoke on both the English and American wheels. The maker's theory is that the new spoke beds itself fast in the hub in the act of pulling up and there is no relative motion between spoke head and hub and therefore no loosening of the spoke. Also, the gradual change of section between the head and shank avoids breakage at this point. We enclose a spoke of the new standard American type for Mr. Royce's attention and desire to know whether he would advise the change to this type. The spoke submitted is a lighter section in the shank than our standard, being for a lighter wheel than we use. With regard to the length of the head, Mr. Royce will notice, in referring to the prints of the American wheels forwarded July 26, that there is ample depth of metal especially at the inner end of the hub, where the heavy load occurs, to get a full countersunk seat for the new type spoke. Oy. | ||