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).
Benefits and drawbacks of standardising the 15-tooth axle for all cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\1\ Scan297 | |
| Date | 14th April 1921 | |
| X.3545 PN{Mr Northey} from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}21/F14.4.21. X.3457 X.3545 RE 15-TOOTH AXLES. With reference to your PN{Mr Northey}25/EN13.4.21, I have again discussed this matter today with Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, and we are certainly of the opinion (and I always have been) that the 15-tooth axle would be of benefit for all cars, except perhaps a car which was specially rigged up for racing purposes on a racing track. I have tested several cars - heavy covered cars and light, high speed cars - both with 15 and 16-tooth axles and have yet to appreciate any disadvantages so far as actual performance (power, speed and acceleration) on the road is concerned, with the 15-tooth axle, in fact in all cases the 15-tooth axle gives one a definite marked improvement as regards power and liveliness, and is a point which has always been appreciated by customers. The chief disadvantage I feel in standardising this axle would be a slightly higher petrol consumption, but this is not a general complaint, and we seem to be quite in advance in this respect as compared with our competitors, and as far as the works are concerned, I feel that we have not the least hesitation in recommending the standardisation of the 15-tooth axle for all cars. Such has been my recommendation from the very first, and it was R's point that 16-tooth axles could be used for high speeds cars, but according to his last report he now seems to be emphatic on the 15-tooth axle being standardised for all cars. We therefore think that full advantage should be taken of this. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} I have no doubt will prime you with data and figures of his tests, also particulars of power curves and corresponding performances with different gear ratios. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||