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).
And comparing seven possible design schemes for the 'SS' left-hand engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 13\2\ 02-page047 | |
| Date | 15th February 1929 | |
| E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RL/M15.2.29. X7090 'SS{S. Smith}' ENGINE - LEFT HAND. X.7772 X.7090 I was sorry you did not say in your memo. which of the 7 possible schemes you preferred. To me No.7 seems best because :- (1) We need not change in any way at present our SS.{S. Smith}R. (this is imperative). (2) It meets the present requirements and gives us an opportunity of finding if both the drive and the oil submerged camshaft are preferred. (3) As it seems impossible to make everything interchangeable we think we might get some benefit or experience with possibility of improvement, out of the variety (though naturally there is a small risk of undesirable experience.) (4) It would be an advantage if the units revolved the same way as at present - i.e. (a) Exactly the same camshaft carried over (b) dynamo, (c) magneto, (d) water pump, (e) ignition tower drive, (f) oil pump. One or more of these would need to be altered and should be weighed in the comparison in addition to wheels. I intended my inclined tappets to take the place of BY's offset tappets, both engines alike as in his case. I think if we have one desaxé we ought to have the other, or our people at Derby, London and America will imagine they cannot silence one or the other. I should only censure a difference if we could submerge in oil. So far I do not like either BY's or my idea. The decision is most complex. Sch.3. seems the alternative to Sch.7. though (4) is in the running, but also reverses all the units. There may be a distinct gain or loss in reversing the water pump. Anyway it seems this must be handed in some way. So that we could have 3. 4. and 7. contd :- | ||