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).
Necessity of a clutch brake with a synchromesh gearbox following a trial.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan299 | |
| Date | 20th May 1932 | |
| X7310 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} (crossed out) re Synchromesh and Clutch Brake. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}2/E20.5.32 X7310 X5310 Referring to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/MJ.11.5.32 I did not write anything further about this at the time because, as the car 19-EX has been recalled from France, I thought the best way would be for us to have the opportunity of trying it in London so that we could see for ourselves exactly what difficulty there is in engaging gear from a standing start. The car came to me from Brooklands and as the result of fast running there, the whole car was really warm, and doubtless the oil in a very thin state, in which condition, I understand, the tendency for the gears to continue to spin would be greatest. As the result of our trial we are inclined to agree that we shall not need to be forced into a clutch brake with the synchromesh gearbox. I am not quite clear really how it was that the point wasever raised but you will remember as indicated in my Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E6.5.32 that I suddenly received a telegram from R.{Sir Henry Royce} in which he said: "Difficult to have both synchromesh and clutch brake must allow latter to operate only on lower gears", and as mentioned at the time I did not know what this was really a propos of as I had not heard anything about it nor seen any memos. on the subject. I gather that to have a clutch brake as suggested by R.{Sir Henry Royce}, which would operate only on the lower gears, would entail considerable complications. There is another point which occurs to me and that is that doubtless some one is already dealing with the necessary revisions of the Instruction Book for both the 20/25 and the 40/50 as the information therein about the gears will be out of date very shortly. Such being the case is it not advisable to ask whoever is dealing with this to mention the point referred to in your third paragraph, i.e. that, if any difficulty should be experienced in engaging a gear from a standing start, the clutch can always be quickly stopped by moving the gear lever slightly in the direction of either the top or third speeds. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||