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).
Meeting notes discussing a report on the suitability and comparison of wire wheels versus wooden wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\4\ 04-page09 | |
| Date | 1st December 1911 | |
| ROAD WHEELS (Contd.) (4) X424 91st Meeting Re Mr. Cowen's Report on Wire Wheels. Dec. 1. 11. Mr. Nadin read a letter from Mr. Cowen as follows:- "No doubt you have seen Baroness Campbell's article in the "Car" current number on a recent tour with two R.R. cars on the Continent. Also the comparative tests of wooden and wire wheels as to strain taken from a side blow. In view of the Sussex accident and recent newspaper correspondence, ought not the T.C. to further consider this question? The following points have been raised by customers on more than one occasion. 1. Lightness of wire wheel on tyres. 2. Comparative resistance against side strain. One customer from Newfoundland says that the wire wheels in conjunction with general strength of chassis, saved his life in a recent unavoidable accident (Reid). 3. Unsuitability of wooden wheels in Tropical climates. If we are to send many cars to India, this should be considered. 4. Customers often ask why, if we are against wire wheels, we pinned our faith to them on such an important thing as the London-Edinburgh Trial. If they are wrong (i.e. wire wheels) could we have some substantial arguments to give against them. The Committee agreed that the point concerning the unsuitability of wooden wheels for tropical climates is valid, and that a form of steel wheels is preferable for Colonial cars. Mr. Nadin suggested that the chief argument against wire wheels is the occasional collapse of spokes, and the faulty method of | ||