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).
The development and sourcing of Phantom III clutch discs, comparing American and English options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\1\ scan0166 | |
| Date | 9th June 1937 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} P.III CLUTCH DISCS. We have been endeavouring to hand this matter over to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}, but the position is still somewhat involved. We are trying to get Emmott up here to straighten the matter out, but he will not be available until Thursday or Friday of next week. AMERICAN "LONG" PLATES. The situation at present is as follows:- In addition to the test in America which is continuing, and which from information obtained is so far satisfactory we have conducted a spinning test on the American lining at Ferodo with the attachment which we are proposing to use, and have satisfied ourselves that it is equal to the speed range of the P.III car. Borg & Beck have received the attached quotation from America. It did not appear reasonable to us to accept a 1500 dollar part tool cost, and then be able to obtain supplies only from America. We, therefore, asked Borg & Beck to contact with Longs and ask them whether on the completion of 200 sets they would send the tools over to England so that Borg & Beck could supply us with clutch plates of the approved type @ £1/9/6 each. ENGLISH MADE "LONG" TYPE OF PLATE. In the meantime, we consider that the Long type of clutch plate which is being made by Borg & Beck in England is better than the plate we are at present using, and also that the American lining, Thermoid, is definitely better than the Ferodo material VM.20 which we are at present running on 32-EX 15,000 miles. There are already indications that if it were not for the stiff half shafts the clutch on this car would be open to criticism. We have, therefore, asked Borg & Beck to go ahead with 100 sets of parts with the tools that they have already made, and obtain sufficient American lining - Thermoid - forthwith. | ||