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).
Letter from S. Smith & Sons regarding the design and material considerations for vehicle jacks and fittings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 139\2\ scan0182 | |
| Date | 9th January 1935 | |
| S.P.91 S SMITH & SONS (Motor Accessories) LTD. CRICKLEWOOD WORKS, LONDON, N.W.2. CONTINUATION NO. 1. weight could be effected in several directions - for instance, the two brackets which we supply are necessarily sturdy and, in the event of your being able to consider the standardisation of our jacks, they can be replaced by two light type lugs. Meantime, we are investigating the possibilities of using Rolls-Royce alloy for the outer casing of the jack ram, also the base or foot of the jack. Concerning your enquiry as to whether it is possible to use one instead of two jacks on the front axle - we are looking into this matter but, for reasons explained by the writer, our problem is a very difficult one unless we design a Jack on the Lazy-Tong principle which, we have found from past experience, when hydraulically or mechanically operated, is not as satisfactory as our present design. Might we explain that in the event of our being able to arrive at a satisfactory solution that the single jack would have to be of more sturdy construction and, if we may express an opinion, we think our line of least resistance is to aim at producing the lightest possible form of jack consistent with efficiency. Referring to the question of protecting or shrouding the Lockheed tubing, our Fitting Manager has arrived at a satisfactory solution and proposes to replace your present flexes with a new type. Awaiting the favour of your reply, for which we thank you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, For S.SMITH & SONS (Motor Accessories) LTD., C.W. Nichols SALES DIRECTOR Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ld., 9.1.35. (Dictated by C.W.Nichols and signed in his absence). | ||