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).
Internal memorandum discussing the creaking issues and pricing of Rudge-Whitworth wheels for the 'Goshawk' chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\4\ scan0027 | |
| Date | 31th May 1922 | |
| W/D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} BJ. "GOSHAWK" WHEELS. Thank you for your note of the 30th inst. from which I see it is highly probable that we shall standard-ise Rudge-Whitworth wheels on this chassis. I have not heard of any offer by the Dunlop Co. to supply their wheels at the same price as Rudge-Whitworth, and to the best of my knowledge the figures outlined in my note to you of the 11th April still hold good, i.e. Rudge-Whitworth wheels with straight side rims are some £8.17.10. cheaper per set of 5 than Dunlop. Arising out of this question Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} reported that the Goshawk car running in France with Rudge-Whitworth wheels had given some trouble through creaking, and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has issued a note to R.{Sir Henry Royce} and others, copy attached. Personally, I think Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is rather looking on the black side of this creaking trouble, and I am in hopes that the Rudge-Whitworth expert, who is now in France on the matter, will be able to give us a re-assuring report thereon shortly. Attached is a copy of a communication, dated 24th May, which the Rudge-Whitworth Co., Coventry, sent us on the subject, when our complaint was first lodged with them. You will see that they emphasize the importance of oiling the lock nut both on the cone seat and on the thread before it is hammered up, and it is quite possible this may account in a measure for the difficulty Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} has experienced with this particular set. In addition to this, it should be borne in mind that this particular set was made under adverse conditions, i.e., they were produced in the early days of the lock-out by apprentices, youths and others. Large numbers of these wheels are in service and apparently giving satisfaction, as presumably other firms would have discovered this creaking trouble and dropped the use of the Rudge-Whitworth wheel, had it been an inherent defect of the design. Rudge-Whitworth claim: "Up to August 1921 more than 700,000 have been made. This pattern stood the test of the War, being standardised by the British Army, most of the Allied armies and most of the enemy armies." You may care to convey the gist of the above re Rudge-Whitworth wheels and creaks to R.{Sir Henry Royce} and CJ., also copy | ||