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).
Steering gear manufacturing, specifically the relationship between Gemmer and Adamant regarding the Marles gear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img019 | |
| Date | 24th April 1940 | |
| To Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} o.{Mr Oldham} Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/Bastow o.{Mr Oldham} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Hardy COPY. Serial No.96. OY.2/D/Apr.24.40. Steering Gear. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} While I am waiting to hear from Saginaw on the recirculator ball steering, it seemed only fair to have a heart to heart talk with F.E.Phillips, Export Sales Manager of Gemmer Mfg. Co., the true parents of the Marles gear. Having sat in on triangular dog fights with Phillips and Matravers of Adamant in the past, I was in a pretty good position to talk freely on the subject of the British made Marles gear. I had paved the way by intimating that Adamant might lose the hour glass worm and roller gear on Rolls-Royce Cars. The reaction was vigorous. 1) Phillips explained the set up, which is that Adamant made the Marles gear before Gemmer, and that the arrangement between Adamant and Gemmer is for "mutual" exchange of practice, which actually has worked out in Gemmer trying to bulldoze Matravers for three years or more to get up to date on his manufacturing methods. The first signs of partial success were in the last year after Matravers spent a couple on months over here. The Adamant manufacture should have improved in the last year, says Phillips. The prospects of getting gears in England at a reasonable price, however, seem as remote as ever. Here they cost between 3 and 4 dollars for a passenger car size (manufacturer's price exclusive of steering wheel and pitman arm). Gemmer now has all the Continental business independent of Adamant, including French and German production. Many of the Continental gears are exported from Detroit. In the American market, Chrysler and Ford make each about 50% of their left hand drive gears and buy the rest, including all right hand gears, complete from Gemmer. Other makers buy all gears from Gemmer, except Packard, who buy worms, rollers and end washers. Chrysler also I understand, buy these essential parts from Gemmer on the gears they make themselves. (continued) | ||