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 Adamant Engineering discussing the design and characteristics of steering gears, particularly road reaction and self-centring.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\2\ Scan041 | |
| Date | 17th August 1932 | |
| X4094 Telegrams: "ADAMANT. Phone, Luton." CONTRACTORS TO H.M. ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE & AIR MINISTRY. Telephone: LUTON 1818 (2 LINES). ADAMANT ENGINEERING COMPANY, LIMITED (Incorporating J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} C. THREADGOLD & SONS, Established 1878). Engineers and Founders. SPECIALISTS in the DESIGN and MANUFACTURE of HIGH PRECISION TOOLS, JIGS, FIXTURES, etc. SPECIAL MACHINES, SPECIAL MACHINE TOOLS and ACCURATE PRODUCTION WORK. SOLE MANUFACTURERS and SALES AGENTS for the MARLES and MARLES-WELLER STEERING GEARS. Directors: S. CARLTON SMITH, A.M.I.MECH.E., M.I.P.E. Eng. Lt.-COMMANDER F.{Mr Friese} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} MATRAVERS, R.N. O.{Mr Oldham} CARLTON SMITH, M.A. (CANTAB.), A.M.I.MECH.E., M.I.A.E., M.I.P.E. ALFRED SLATTER, M.I.E.E., Secretary. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. HAZEL, F.I.S.A. Your Ref HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/AD. Our Ref. SCS/AGS/CB. Head Offices, Works and Design Dept.: DALLOW ROAD, LUTON. 17th. August, 1932. [STAMP: RECEIVED 18 AUG 1932 CH] [STAMP: ANSW'D 20 AUG 1932] Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, We thank you for your favor of the 12th instant, and quite agree with your remarks on the steering of modern American cars. At first sight it is rather remarkable, but we feel that American car manufacturers would have to admit that they have rather shirked than solved the problem of road reaction. It is admittedly a mistake to make an over-sensitive front axle solely for the purpose of obtaining self-centring action against a less efficient steering, and at the same time to damp out in the steering gear itself the extra reaction due to the extra sensitivity, and to be satisfied because it is not felt. Such steering lay-outs may give satisfaction for a few years, but the trouble, which has only been disguised, would re-manifest itself at repeated and closer intervals if this method were applied to a British car, with its expectedly longer life. There can be no doubt that the ideal steering should consist of a lay-out and linkage that is efficient, self-centring (but not fiercely), and one which transmits the minimum road reaction to the steering gear, which in its turn should be efficient, light, free from backlash, but not too reversible, so that it may damp out such road shocks as are necessarily transmitted to it. Many other requirements, however, such as distribution - 1 - | ||