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).
Development and implementation of silent synchro-mesh gearboxes and comparing them to competitors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img151 | |
| Date | 22th November 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From He. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wdr. c. to S. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} GEARBOXES. X5310 x7310 We are now delivering cars fitted with a synchro-mesh box and silent third speed. Customers are delighted with the easy change gear and the silent third, but there have been one or two criticisms as regards the noise of the second speed. We have been carrying on running expl. cars with a quiet second speed because although we may be able to sacrifice certain novel features or the last word in performance, we cannot afford to sacrifice silence because the whole reputation of R.R. has been built around a silent car. Under the present day traffic conditions the second speed is continuously in use. As regards gear silence, until we have the silent second, we compare unfavourably with the Ford. The Ford has a three speed box with a quiet second and does get away from a standing start with less gear noise than our present car. There are an increasing number of cars being fitted with a Wilson box. The manufacture of these boxes has now been taken up by the E.N.V. Gear Co. who have a reputation for very good work. We have a car (15 HP. Lanchester) fitted with a Wilson Box, on which the gears are more silent than on our standard car. At the present time the Peregrine which is running in France, is fitted with a silent second speed and we are very satisfied with it. We have also a Phantom II fitted with a similar arrangement. This car at present is in the hands of Sales in London and they are very pleased indeed with the silence of the gear. We have tried to anticipate any trouble or noise arising from the high speed. So far we have had no criticism. We strongly recommend that we start off Peregrine and J.11 with a silent second speed because we are certain that by the time we are delivering these cars to the public any car with a noisy second speed will be adversely criticised. It should be realised that the Wilson gearbox is establishing a reputation for reliability, silence, and the easiest possible method of changing gear. The 15 HP. Lanchester car we have fitted with one of these gearboxes has been put through all sorts of severe tests and we have abused it as much as possible, but nothing has gone wrong with it. | ||