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).
Viability and cost-effectiveness of introducing adjustable pedals for Wraith III & Bentley III models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 147\5\ scan0246 | |
| Date | 6th December 1937 | |
| HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} o.{Mr Oldham} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} o.{Mr Oldham} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} 635 also. 20DB{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/NRC.{N. R. Chandler}8/JH.6.12.37. WRAITH III & BENTLEY III. Adjustable Pedals. In reply to HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}7/VS.{J. Vickers}2.12.37. we have already given considerable thought to the question of whether or not adjustable pedals are worth while. The adjustment is not one which would often be used by the average Owner, but Ls. assures me that adjustment is often made by Coachbuilders, or by Owners request. If an alteration in pedal position were asked for by only a small percentage of owners, any small saving effected by using a single forging for the pedal would quickly be swept away by the cost of special forgings or other alterations. There is also the question of fume and sound exclusion to consider, because in the existing design the pedal plate holder is smooth sound box, around which it is easy to provide felt packing rings, whereas an undmachined forging would present new difficulties in fume exclusion. In addition to this, the pedal plate would have to be split or divided, as forged pedals could not be threaded through the holes and felt packing as is now done, and it appears probable that this would fully outweigh any saving effected by one-piece pedals. Actually the parts eliminated, namely, pedal holder bar, nut, bolt and labour come to approx. 9d. per pedal, say 2/3d. total, but against this we would have a more costly forging for the pedal itself and a more costly arrangement of pedal plate and fume packings, so that we doubt if there would be any real saving in total cost. We would also remark that many low priced cars (except American) are provided with adjustable pedals. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/NRC.{N. R. Chandler} | ||