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).
Use of Bentley first speed gears for the Phoenix gearbox to achieve silence.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 112\2\ scan0042 | |
| Date | 21th October 1937 | |
| SECRET. 828 1044 RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Hdy.{William Hardy} c. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}4/R.21.10.37. PHOENIX GEARBOX. Whether or not we can use an integral side shaft in the Phoenix gearbox depends upon whether we can attain a satisfactory degree of silence using straight spur unground gears for the first speed ratio. An experiment to determine this point is, therefore, urgently required. We should be glad if you would put in hand for us, say, three pairs of Bentley first speed gears. We leave to you the best method of manufacture, including the best method of lapping. Our only stipulation is that the gears must not be ground. As Hdy{William Hardy} is in the process of designing the Phoenix box we should like to have this information with the minimum possible delay. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||