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 to Hardy Spicer & Co. Ltd. concerning the Rippletto half shaft and potential alternative axles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\1\ scan0259 | |
| Date | 16th November 1939 | |
| 1015 c. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/MH.{M. Huckerby} 16th. November, 1939. J.A.Daniell, Esq., Messrs. Hardy Spicer & Co. Ltd., Birch Road, Witton, BIRMINGHAM, 6. Dear Mr. Daniell, Thank you for your letter of 7th. November. We note your remarks about the Rippletto half shaft. What you really appear to be saying is that if we insist on using the small centre it is going to be difficult to get a satisfactory half shaft. We appreciate that the relation between the parallel portion of the shaft and spline has been established as a result of some very extensive testing. In view of your remarks, we suggest that we use the 1½-litre Jaguar axle for the Rippletto. This is exactly the same axle as is being used on the Studebaker "Champion" with the 2.6-litre engine. There is some mystery about your splines because the bottom has a similar diameter to the parallel portion of the half shaft. We have always found that the splines were the weakest part of the axle if they were the same diameter as the parallel portion, but then our splines are a very different shape from yours. Anyhow, if Studebaker's get away with this axle we should imagine we ought to have a very good chance with the 1.9-litre engine. | ||