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).
Secret memo detailing the results of two successful tests conducted on a 4-speed gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\4\ 04-page068 | |
| Date | 17th February 1925 | |
| SECRET. Y5310 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/TMWL/LG17.2.25. From TMW. RE. 4-SPEED GEARBOX. X.4255 We have run off 2 tests since you left :- (1) BY's scheme of a bush under the 1st. speed with the splines filled in. (2) R's scheme of thinning down the splines between the 1st. and 2nd. speed driving positions. No.1. The gears did not offer to come out during the usual tests and on examination one can say that it is quite successful. No.2. Mr. Stent arrived on Saturday noon, and we managed to get No.2. test going late last night. He suggested we left the plunger springs out (which we did) and this scheme was also quite successful from a running point of view; no sign of disengaging. The reverse at the same time had the parallel shaft with ball and roller bearings fitted, and the plunger spring left out, and was equally successful. Examination also shewed that there had been no winding in any gear, and I certainly think this the best and simplest scheme we have yet tried. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} suggests that he is afraid of rattling when in the neutral position, so during the next test we are putting a shaft in which always leaves a little of the full thickness of the splines engaged. At the same time the new reverse shaft with the whitemetal bearings will go in as well. contd :- | ||