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).
Pros and cons of fitting a shorter experimental gear change lever to a 40/50 HP car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 76\4\ scan0089 | |
| Date | 8th April 1924 | |
| COPY. PN{Mr Northey}3/DN8.4.24. To B.J. From P.N. Short Change speed Lever on 40/50 H.P. The shorter experimental gear change lever has, as you know, been fitted to 107-MG - Open Touring Demonstration Car - with a view to ascertaining to what extent this modified length of lever will prove more satisfactory or otherwise, compared with the standard length, when tried by various drivers used to handling our 40/50 H.P. Model. The only object in proposing the shorter lever arose from the occasional inconvenience, not to say embarrassment, caused to a driver when he might hurriedly have to lean forward a very long way, in order to put on the side brake, there being a tendency for the cuff of his coat to catch in the gear lever and entirely prevent his putting the side-brake on in emergency. By having the gear lever shorter, this tendency is quite removed, and as normally it is better for a person's fingers to be used rather than the whole of his hand when gear changing, there is no disadvantage so far. The only criticism is, that when starting to drive the car dead cold on a winter's morning, the oil in the gearbox is sufficiently viscous to require some sustained pushing effort of the gear lever when it is desired to change gear, and with the shorter lever, the effort must be proportionately greater. I am of the opinion, however, that the advantages of the shorter lever justify having to put up with the very small amount of disadvantage arising out of the cold condition of the gear-box referred to. (Sgd.) P.N. | ||