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).
Design considerations for Spectre road wheels to prevent spoke breakage.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\4\ scan0146 | |
| Date | 21th August 1935 | |
| X 376 make File To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} E.5/HP.21.8.35. SECRET. SpectreCodename for Phantom III Road Wheels. With reference to the question of broken spokes on SpectreCodename for Phantom III road wheels, there is a consideration as to whether the hub should be made wider or not to increase the angularity of the spokes. Personally I feel we should struggle very hard before doing this because of the added weight which it would entail and the undesirability of adding weight at this particular place. The proposal to carry all the spoking to the well of the rim has much to recommend it. It gives the maximum increase of angularity and combined with the proposed strengthening of the spoke butts at the hub should make a considerable difference to the strength of the wheel. An added advantage is the avoidance of the leakage where the spokes enter the rim on the outside edge and cause rusting within the bead. There may be some difficulty in finding room for the balance weights but if this is so it is suggested that these could be fixed to the outer portion of the rim which is now left free. HY{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}/CGH{W Clough} is dealing with this matter and is obtaining from Messrs. Dunlop a revised drawing of the wheel shewing the proposed alterations. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||