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).
Wheel appearance for B.V. cars, focusing on the decision between wire wheels with optional discs and standard steel wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0239 | |
| Date | 24th May 1939 | |
| 1375 + H 58. W/S. To Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} 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}2/MH.{M. Huckerby}24.5.39. WHEEL APPEARANCE - B.V. The first 300 B.V. cars will not have steel wheels but will have wire wheels. At a Conference some time ago Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} asked us to evolve a cheap disc as Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} then wished all B.V. cars to have discs fitted. We did evolve such a disc at Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}'s price of 30/- per car. A set has been fitted to his car, C.B.IV. and 10.B.V. The scheme has its disadvantages, in particular necessitating a non-standard tyre inner tube with a special valve. We have discussed this disadvantage with By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and came to the conclusion that for 300 cars (after which steel wheels will be standard) it would be better to continue as now. Those customers who want discs can have them at the usual £19 extra of which we get a large proportion. They have grown to put up with the unreliability of the Cornercroft tyre valve extension. We cannot consider fitting "Ace" discs as standard as it would cost us £6.5.0 per chassis. We think you will agree that for such a small number of cars, 300 B.V. only; non-standard tyre equipment is not justified. Ripple and Corniche and all future rationalised cars have, of course, steel wheels. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||