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).
Development of a silent third gear, referencing competitor cars and advocating for a simple epicyclic gear scheme.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan144 | |
| Date | 1st September 1930 | |
| COPY. X7310 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PN.{Mr Northey} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}19/E1.9.30. X.523. X.7310. X.5310. Re. Silent Third Gear. Thanks for Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/MJ.29.8.30. I am delighted to hear that you took the Graham Page down to R.{Sir Henry Royce} and demonstrated it. Sorry to hear that the Studebaker Commander Type petered out. I should be glad if you could tell me along what lines you think W.W. are now working as so many different schemes have been talked about and referred to in R's memoranda that I am not at all clear as to where we now are in the matter, but I am very pleased to note from your memo that W.W. are impressed with the fact that it will be necessary to have a simple scheme quickly and not wait for the full epicyclic gear as this is exactly what I have been saying for months. The Graham Paige car is referred to in another of your memoranda: ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}7/MJ.25.8.30 as being exceptionally good from the point of view of the engine, i.e. with long stroke etc., and I presume that this was also specially demonstrated to R.{Sir Henry Royce}, and I should be glad to know what he thought of it as compared with "China" and "Japan" - the latter in particular. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||