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).
Report comparing engine components and design philosophies of competitors like Mercedes and Metallurgique.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\5\ Scan065 | |
| Date | 1st December 1910 | |
| To the Directors. (2) 1st December 1910 do this but they spend a lot more money than we do on their connecting rods, by machining them nearly all over. The white metal used about the crankshaft of this car is like our own, largely composed of tin, whereas in the Metallurgique they avoid the cost of brasses and only use exceedingly common white metal, largely composed of lead. Neither of these makers use the liners we consider such a great advantage should the bearings of the crankshaft or big ends require any adjustment, and neither do they take any very great care to retain the oil in the bearings. Moreover, they simply depend for the lubrication of the cylin-ders being brought about by the spray flying from the crank-shaft, which we have always found, in spite of the care taken with the bearings, to be very uneven. The Mercedes design altogether, from an engineering point of view and workmanship, is exceedingly fine, although we found the running of the engine to be poor, due probably to the experimenting and testing being slack or badly carried out before the cars are issued. That is to say, the Drawing Office work is much superior to the Test Dept. The reverse might be said of the Metallurgique. | ||