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 to Ford discussing the 12-cylinder and V8 engines, steering linkage, and pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\3\ scan0016 | |
| Date | 7th October 1935 | |
| X1104 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}11/KW. 7th October, 1935. A.L. Smith, Esq., The Ford Motor Co. Ltd., Dagenham, Essex. Dear Mr. Smith, Mr. Mackintosh rang me up on Saturday to ask if you could try the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce. Naturally we shall be delighted for you to do this, but I asked him if you could wait until after the Motor Show, and also suggested that you would get much more information out of the run if you could try the car at Derby and at the same time have a look at the parts. We should be very pleased to see you if you could arrange this. We have been analysing the V.8 engine lately because it makes such a compact power unit. The only thing we can really see against it is that it cannot be got under the bonnet of a normal car unless the pistons and connecting rods are made very short and a side valve engine is used. The dynamics of the unit seem very good, also the main crankshaft period seems of small magnitude which could easily be dealt with. We are rather interested in your steering linkage arrangement on the small 8 HP. Ford. Do you do all this to overcome steering shock or is it for some other reason? How are your piston troubles getting on now? Have you tried S.U's new steel skirt piston yet? I apologise for asking so many questions, but if you come to Derby I expect you will be able to ask a few in return. Yours sincerely, | ||