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).
Recommending Wakefields Gearease No.1 as an alternative oil for hypoid rear axles following successful testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M13\M13.2\ img093 | |
| Date | 1st September 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. WCR. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. The. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}1/AMO.9.31. ALTERNATIVE OIL FOR HYPOID REAR AXLES. X.2066. X.1583. For a long time we have been searching for an oil which can be successfully used as an alternative to Whitmores Compound for hypoid gears. Owing to our previous disastrous experience with an alternative oil, it has been necessary to go carefully and make quite sure that any alternative recommended is perfectly safe. We have for a considerable time been testing Wakefields Gearease No.1, both in experimental cars on the road and on the production dynamometer test. The following tests have been completed without any failures :- 34 new production axles have passed the dynamometer test. 19-EX has run 6,701 miles successfully. 20-EX " " 8,100 " " 22-EX " " 7,934 " " 25-EX has run approx. 17,000 miles " (in France) In view of these successful trials we are of the opinion that it is safe to recommend this oil as an alternative to Whitmores. It has the advantages that it should be less costly, and being manufactured by a leading British concern is much more easily obtainable than Whitmores compound. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} | ||