Alternative designs for an 'Easy Change Third' gear, comparing a free wheel side shaft with a Maybach scheme.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\2\ 02-page087 | |
| Date | 26th May 1930 | |
| S/W {Sales / Derby Works} Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X5-3. To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Easy Change Third. Sg {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} 2/E26.5.30 Copy to R. {Sir Henry Royce} I am not at all clear as to the direction in which R. {Sir Henry Royce} is proposing to work with a view to having at least an easy change third without waiting for the epicyclic. In principle he has agreed to this. In R1/M29.4.30 he said: "For an immediate alternative we have the free wheel side shaft which is not bad for our good gears. Get this tested and available to offer." In discussing the matter with PN. {Mr Northey} he agrees that this would be the simplest, quickest and least expensive method. In regard to the Maybach scheme which you and R. {Sir Henry Royce} saw in Germany, I gather that this would mean very considerable modification to our normal gearbox, and such being the case would probably take a very long time to get through so that the first suggestion seems probably to be the best one, but I should like to have your views. I believe I once tried the car with the free wheel side shaft and was not very favourably impressed but I think I only gave it a very short run, and in talking to PN {Mr Northey} I gather that he thinks that it is quite satisfactory and would meet the case. Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||
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).