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).
Potential gearbox modifications, including reverse gear, synchromesh functionality, and competitor analysis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan275 | |
| Date | 4th May 1932 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X7310 X7310 X5310 (crossed out) To H.S. from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Synchromesh etc. Copy to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} see me for D.A. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E4.5.32 Referring to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E.2.5.32 giving particulars of R's cable, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} called here this morning and we had what I think was a very useful discussion. I gather that to carry out R's suggestion about the reverse means lengthening the gearboxes. This of course on existing models would be a very serious thing to do, especially as the original arrangement of reverse does not necessitate this and, whilst it suffered from the trouble of the xxxxx reverse coming out of mesh, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} thinks that this can be overcome. The question of lengthening the gearbox does not of course matter so much for Bensport and Peregrine which are only on the drawing board. I, therefore, recommended E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to telegraph/to R.{Sir Henry Royce}, saying that we agree his suggestion re double travel on pinion for Peregrine and Bensport gearboxes but for the reasons mentioned above we should like to have another try on the original type of reverse for the other cars including J.III which gearbox is based on the 20/25. Re the question of synchromesh not working on second gear I recommended E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to get Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} personally to send a reply paid NLT to Oy., asking him if Cadillac or any one else in America has successfully done this and, if not, what the snags are. If the reply is that some one else has done this, this replies to R's point. It was also arranged that E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} would arrange with the Experimental Department to rig one up experimentally. Failing that, we ought to investigate the possibilities of the dog type change for the new xxxxx models from 3rd to 2nd. We must leave no stone unturned with these new models to meet the competition with the easy change Wilson gearbox the best way we can. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||