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).
Secret internal memo discussing the gearbox and gear lever position for the B.III model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 99\4\ scan0133 | |
| Date | 12th January 1937 | |
| SECRET. 200b. 428 S/W To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Gearbox- B.III. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}1/E12.1.37 Copy to [REDACTED]. Referring to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}14/R.7.1.37 it is assumed that the reference to P.II, Item (2), should have read 'P.III'. We consider that the P.III position is a very good compromise and although there are now over 100 cars in the hands of customers, we have had no criticism of the lever being uncomfortably far back for gear changing, nor have we had any criticism on this point from the many hundreds people who have tried the car since it was first announced. We should like this position on B.III and we hope we are also going to have it on Wraith, with of course the brake lever arranged in a similar manner to P.III. On no account and for various reasons would we agree to central change speed lever. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} PS. I note that your memo. quoted above was not marked 'Secret' nor was it sent in an envelope marked 'Secret'. It is very important that all correspondence relating to this chassis should be kept strictly secret. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||