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).
List of queries regarding American automotive manufacturing methods and components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\4\ img024 | |
| Date | 21th November 1935 | |
| S.H. Grylls, Esq. The Book Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. USA Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/KW.21.11.35. Will you please let us know the accepted high-class American method of finishing connecting rods. Do they give them a "coin press" finish? What material is used. What about magnesium? Are Wrights or Pratt & Whitney still using it. High Duty Alloys are saying it cannot be cast. I don't believe them. Everyone in England is going for the roller chain, they say it is more durable than the silent chain. Will you have a talk to the Morse Chain Co. in Detroit, and tell them they are being beaten up and ask them whether they have any explanation to offer. On one of our cars. It is much better than anything we have been able to do so far. We have tried pre-loading the bearings and the follower on our steering as is done on the Packard, but it does not give the same results as the LaSalle. We hope you will be able to bring the secret back with you. We should like you to get on to the Fabric Timing Gear people, and see if they can demonstrate the extra silence of the Celeron spoke gear. Are they using the 45º helix angle on timing gears and do they still swear by the Fabroil type of material? We are thinking hard round torsion rods, and E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} wants to give us a design like this to try for the Bentley. It appears to be very cheap to manufacture and our only fear is that if it had been any good the Americans would be using it. Will you please find out why it is not being used in America. We anticipate that you are going to South Bend to find out from Strombergs their latest secrets. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||