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).
Proposal for revising the specification of the 19-EX car, discussing potential changes to components like carburetters and gearboxes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\1\ Scan190 | |
| Date | 2nd March 1932 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} V7120. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.2.3.32. x4663 19-EX. CAR. The specification of this car we think now needs revision. Although we have not had a report on the running of 27-EX. with the S.U. carburetters, we heard unofficially from PN.{Mr Northey} that Sales view was that the increase in performance over the standard Continental Trials car was not sufficient to justify such a radical change in the parts on the car and the policy. We consider now that we should drop all idea of fitting S.U. carburetters to 19-EX. which was our original intention. If we do not fit the S.U. carburetters, then several other items can be abandoned such as petrol pump, alteration in controls, leaving off the governor, alteration to rear axle ratio. It also makes the increased dia. crankshaft with balance weights, less important. There are two other items which we should like to add to the list, these are - flexible spring shackle, and modified design of steering column with a certain amount of friction. It looks as though the most immediate things we have on hand to improve the present Continental Phantom is higher compression ratio and increased lift of valves. This alteration we have recently made to Mr. Fairey's car and from a letter we have received he is evidently very pleased with it. In considering improvements for Phantom ll we have got to take into account the present stock of material. In some cases where there is a very definite improvement, it may be agreed to scrap existing material, as in the case of the synchro-mesh gearbox, but there are a number of other improvements which one would like if one was ordering new material but they hardly justify scrapping the present stock. If it is agreed that the synchro-mesh box can be standardised on another car 22-EX., then we should like to submit a fresh specification for 19-EX. in which we should fit the R.R. expanding carburetter in place of the S.U. carburetter and add to the list flexible spring shackle and steering with friction arranged in the column. | ||