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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 from an external party responding to an enquiry about a preselector gear control mechanism and its potential applications.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 136\4\  scan0129
Date  12th February 1937
  
[Handwritten top center: 1153. B.]
[Handwritten top left: GRY.{Shadwell Grylls}]

RYDAL DENE,
PILLING LANE,
PREESALL,
NR FLEETWOOD.

12 FEB 1937.

Experimental Department,
Messrs Rolls-Royce Ltd,
D E R B Y.

Your ref: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}S/AP.

Dear Sirs,

Your letter of the 10th inst. has been sent on to me by the Editor of THE MOTOR.

I thank you for your enquiry and herewith enclose a few further particulars of the preselector gear control mechanism.

The point you raise, about the self-change spring, is dealt with on page 2 of the descriptive sheets. In my opinion a spring arrangement can be made that will add very little to the effort on the pedal - in fact the clutch spring itself might be adapted to effect, or assist, the gear engagement.

The mechanism is not limited to spring operation but a spring has much in its favour. The clutch can be eased or disengaged without resistance from the self-change spring as the latter is only slightly compressed in the last half of the pedal movement.

Sorry I have no car fitted with this control - a lengthy period of ill-health having interfered with my activities in this direction. But from a long experience in the use and design of change-speed and other gears (very many thousands of gears have been made under my various gear patents) I see no reason why a very satisfactory preselector control for synchromesh gears should not be developed on these lines - preferably with an "all-synchromesh" gear but also with a gear having synchromesh on 2nd 3rd and 4th speeds.

I shall be glad to give you any further particulars or send you copies of the patent specifications.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature: A Alltree]
  
  


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