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).
Critique and comparison of various automotive components, including the clutch operating mechanism, chassis, and suspension parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\1\ scan0257 | |
| Date | 20th November 1935 | |
| -15- Sft{Mr Swift}/Sctl/BH.20.11.35. Malleable Castings, Aluminium Die Castings, Strip Steel bent, and Sheet metal pressings, some of these being very crudely produced. CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISM. The Clutch Lever on the Packard car is a monstrosity, and we wondered if a first year pupil of Heath Robinson had been busy. This lever is made from a piece of flat iron, approximately 6" long, 1" wide, and 3/16" thick. Turned over at one end into a 'U' shape, and when drilled at each end becomes a clutch lever. The larger size hole fits on to a pin on the clutch case, a washer and split pin keeps it in position. Through the smaller hole at the opposite end of lever the pull rod goes, this pull rod being made of a short length of round stock bent over at each end and drilled for split pins. One reason for our selection of this piece-de-resistance is because its opposite number of our chassis is a neatly designed die-forged lever, shaped at the end, to either take a bronze roller or bronze sphere to give a universal movement. We know that many of these parts have been relagated to the scrap heap because they have been made not quite within the limit asked for on the drawing, the error in the work not being sufficient to destroy its efficiency as a Rolls-Royce part, but scrapped because of the fear of the horrible outcry that would ensue if the critics encountered the part. We agree that there are points on the examined chassis that call for commendation, where these points could be embodied on the Rolls-Royce Product they should be done. We do agree however, that our designers and critics should give consideration to the alteration of those parts, which cause expense in both machining and handwork, providing quality and efficiency is not effected. One item we would refer to is the method of attaching axles to springs, and shock absorber arms to axles. On out 20/25 HP. Chassis for example for spring clips, anchorage brackets, shock absorber links are such that, in the light of what we have seen, would not be tolerated on an American car. Unbelievable as it may seem, the whole of the shock damper, lever arms, anchorage brackets, springs and spring clips | ||