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).
Potential gearbox design modifications, including a simplified diagram of a gear layout.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\October1930-February1931\ Scan244 | |
| Date | 25th January 1931 guessed | |
| (2) ORIGINAL 2nd. That none are so satisfying as the original - i.e. with special gear - present and Phantom 2. 3rd. That the original although appearing costly) can be made of a more crude design; and is much the simplest to operate. } Perhaps a little more work but of a less exacting class. Therefore, abandon the design but not the scheme of extra wheel in front compartment. The simpler feature would be to abandon splined shaft and ball bearings, and make pinion from bar with shaft and collars - see sketch 2. I have sent you all I have done that you may choose, but my impressions are now very definite. I have wobbled quite often. You will require a little more length in the front compartment for the Maybach jaws so that there will be plenty for the gears on the layshaft to drive the reverse. The ratio can be anything you like, but easiest at same as first - i.e. equal gears and pinion same as 1st., centre same as layshaft far enough round to clear 3rd. wheel with bearing boss, and can be on either side of layshaft, that is, that most convenient for the operation of the 1st. and 2nd. I imagine looking backwards layshaft left, reverse right hand thus - Reverse. Layshaft. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||