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 discussing past issues and experiences with Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0065 | |
| Date | 15th June 1922 | |
| W/S. (BJ.) RUDGE-WHITWORTH WIRE WHEELS. Bt{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}2/EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}9.6.22 (attached) I do not think I have ever written a letter saying that Rudge-Whitworth wheels had proved quite satisfactory on Wolseley cars, but I remember being asked about Rudge-Whitworth wheels, and I regret to say I had some rather bad experience with them, though not at the Wolseley Co. The new type Rudge-Whitworth wheel had probably not been long enough in use when I left the Wolseley Co. for their troubles to develop, but we had trouble with them at Napiers. The threads for the locking ring flowed, assuming saw tooth shape, and allowing the wheel to come loose, the serrations hammered and water got into the shell. I think the trouble was largely due to the wheels not being sufficiently tightened. The troubles were accentuated at Napiers, as we had a rather small size of hub, and this was made of rather soft mild steel. For Rudge-Whitworth wheels to be satisfactory the hub requires to be big enough, and the inner hub made of sufficiently hard material. They also require watching to see that water cannot get in through the holes for the spokes. I should say that, although the above troubles sound serious, I decided to stick to Rudge-Whitworth wheels for the time being, protesting strongly to the Rudge-Whitworth people that they must get something better, and at the same time changing the material of the inner hubs. I have never liked Dunlop wheels because they increase the projection of the hub cap beyond the tyre. (Signed) Rg.{Mr Rowledge} | ||