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 from Rudge-Whitworth Ltd. discussing weight savings on splines for a Bentley and requesting chassis weight information.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0167 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1935 | |
| RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD GLH/DMP TELEPHONE 4001 TELEGRAMS RUDGE COVENTRY RUDGE WORKS COVENTRY Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. 2nd February, 1935 Ref: Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Gry. {Shadwell Grylls} 24/KW. Dear Sirs, Replying to your letter of the 29th ultimo, we think that the suggested savings in weight can be made without any risk; certainly so far as the splines are concerned their torque carrying capacity will be quite sufficient although naturally from the point of view of ultimate wear they cannot be so good. You are definitely not correct in assuming that a large proportion of torque is taken on the cone, the torque carrying capacity with the comparatively small end load exerted by the normal type of locknut being quite low. Would you please be good enough to let us know the chassis weight of the Bentley, and also the unladen weight with the usual type of body, as it is not clearly stated in our records. Yours faithfully, For RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD. Tech. Development Dept. MAKERS OF RUDGE-WHITWORTH BICYCLES AND RUDGE MOTOR CYCLES EDWARD DE STEIN, CHAIRMAN. SIR HERBERT E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BLAIN, C.B.E. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN. MAJOR GERALD R. {Sir Henry Royce} ASHTON. THE HON. J. {Mr Johnson W.M.} MULHOLLAND. FRANK G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} WOOLLARD, MANAGING DIRECTOR. | ||