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).
Notes for a visit to Mr. Emmott of Borg & Beck regarding the history and development of the Phantom III clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\1\ scan0227 | |
| Date | 14th July 1937 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (crossed out) Copy to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Copy to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} N.R.C. file Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LS./T14.7.37. 1110 PHANTOM III CLUTCH. Notes for visit to Mr. Emmott of Borg & Beck. History The first 140 P.III's had clutch plates made by Borg & Beck; they were of the standard B. & B. 'crimped' type. They were very unsatisfactory and we abandoned them in favour of an RR. plate. The majority of B. & B. plates have since been changed for RR. We have felt all along that the compound cushion type of plate was the real solution. B. & B. in England have bought the British Patents for this type of plate from Longs. In January 1936 we asked B. & B. to make us a plate of this type, and after a long delay they did so. It was exceedingly badly made, not very intelligently designed and was no good on test. Meanwhile we had formed a very low opinion of B. & B.'s abilities and decided that if a compound cushion plate was to be developed for P.III we should have to do it ourselves. We accordingly made a plate last August, closely copying a Packard plate made by Long's in America. We told B. & B. we were doing this at the time, and did not communicate with them again on the subject until last April, when we had got the plate right. We then approached them on the question of manufacture and were told that they wished to make the plate themselves. Knowing the poor quality of their workmanship, we asked them if they would allow us to make the plates, paying them a Royalty, on the understanding that they could get the business at a later date if they satisfied us as to price and quality. They would not agree to this. We have not yet given B. & B. authority to proceed with tools for making the centre plate. They will take at least three months to make. | ||