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 to Cadillac discussing post-Schneider race engine developments, including synchro-mesh gearboxes and fluid flywheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img107 | |
| Date | 20th October 1931 | |
| Expl. Dept. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/MJ.20.10.31. October 20th.1931. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley, Esq., Cadillac Motor Car Co., Detroit, Michigan. U.S.A. Dear Oy,. Now that we have finished with the fun and excitement of the Schneider engines, we are getting back to our 'bread and butter' jobs. I attach herewith a power curve of the Schneider engines which might interest you (this is not for publication). We ran all the Race engine with Sodium Filled exhaust valves which were produced entirely at Derby with Coverley's help. We also now make our own Kelmet lined steel shell bearings. You will be interested to hear that we have made and tested a 25 HP. gearbox with synchro-mesh. We have adopted to Buick scheme with, of course, elaborations. I attach herewith print. The gear works extraordinarily well chiefly, I should say, because we have a four speed box, and the drop to third is only .7. For this reason it works better than the American cars we have tried with synchro-mesh. We are using helical gears which give us a quieter third. The Fluid-flywheel and Wilson Epicyclic gearbox is becoming very popular over here. The short experience I have had with it, it works very well. A number of people I know who own cars fitted with this appear to have no trouble. We would be interested to hear General Motors opinion of this scheme because I understood you had a Daimler on the Proving Ground, and we would like to know whether you could destroy it. Cont'd..... | ||