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).
Phantom II axle ratios, engine smoothness, and a proposal to test a new axle ratio on a trials car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 12\1\ 01-page154 | |
| Date | 18th June 1934 | |
| X7420 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}E.Ex. [struck through]Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}[/struck through] Phantom II Axle Ratios & Engine Smoothness. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}12/E18.6.34 Thanks for Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}6/KW.15.6.34. I am very much interested to note that 28-EX is not, as you said at the time, fitted with a 10/41 axle ratio, which you thought must be the reason for one's feeling that it was abnormally low geared, and as I did not notice the same thing when I drove it a few weeks ago, it must, I think, be due to the fact that the rubber engine mounting shows up valve tappet noises more than the standard mounting. I note that the Continental cars are fitted with 12/41 axle ratio and the standard cars 11/41, and before giving a decision as to whether we should like to standardise 12/41 for all Phantoms, we should like to have a 12/41 axle sent up to N. for us to put on our Limousine Trials car. I should be glad if Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} could arrange for one to be sent up on loan, which we will undertake to return within a few days unless it is thought highly desirable to retain it on the car for trials purposes. One feels that with the synchromesh gearbox and the quiet third, the standard car could stand this slightly higher gear ratio as one normally makes more use of third than heretofore. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||