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).
Steel wheel design and fitting methods following a visit to Sankey's.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0229 | |
| Date | 21th April 1939 | |
| 1375 To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}8/MH.{M. Huckerby}21.4.39. VISIT TO SANKEY'S RE STEEL WHEELS. We have shortly got to make a decision on the appearance of steel wheels for "Ripple" and "Corniche". The one we like the look of is shown on the right hand side of PD.369. The question is how to fit the outer disc. We have discussed this with Sankey's. The method shown on PD.369 is not adequate. There is no creep stop and strong enough springs to prevent rattles will buckle the disc. The Buick arrangement was next considered in which the disc is spragged onto the wheel. Sankey's say the tool cost for our numbers would be impossibly high. They put forward the suggestion that they should rivet this disc to the wheel. We agree that if we are going to have this disc to hide the dirty joint of the centre to the rim, it should be a permanent fitting. One reason for this disc in the first place was to avoid painting the wheel. Park Wards have got to get down to painting wheels at a reasonable price. It is absurd that matching paint for a disc should cost only half that of doing it for a wheel. We know the actual cost of painting is negligible. It should be remembered that if we have this outer disc it will not be possible to fit strap on chains, whereas without the disc it is possible by means of slots in the wheel to fit such chains by taking off the wheel. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||