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).
Criticism of the synchro-mesh gearbox, specifically the difficulty of engaging first gear while the car is moving.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan264 | |
| Date | 20th April 1932 | |
| 87310 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.20.4.32. SYNCHRO-MESH GEARBOX. XS310 One of the criticisms against the present synchro-mesh gearbox 25 HP. and P.2, is that it is very difficult to get into first speed if the car is moving along the road even if you double clutch and speed the engine up. As regards the 25 HP. and Phantom ll we have not considered this to be a very serious criticism because the first speed is so seldom used except from rest. We have suggested that this difficulty with the first speed would be most probably criticised on the Bensport. We know, from experience, that drivers of these sporting supercharged cars use all their gears - in fact, it is only by the use of the gears that the performance is interesting. R.{Sir Henry Royce} in his memo. R.1/M12.4.32 states that what is good enough for three RR's. should be good enough for Bensport. As Sales may not have been aware of this conditions we recommend that the next time they are on a car fitted with a synchro-mesh box they make a test so that they can appreciate the difficulty. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||