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).
Use of a three-speed gearbox with central control, weighing its pros and cons against a four-speed gearbox for the 40/50 chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\5\ scan0010 | |
| Date | 19th November 1919 guessed | |
| R.R. 235A (500 T) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) Bm. 2/156/13. X 8720. [Strikethrough]To Col. Franklin[/Strikethrough] [Strikethrough]Copy to Mr. Hives[/Strikethrough] Copy to CK.{Mr Clark} Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}13/W51119. RE THREE SPEED GEAR BOX WITH CENTRAL CONTROL. With reference to CJ18/E31119, apart from consideration of this matter with reference to the American chassis it appears to be desirable to consider the possibility of utilising this design at some date on our present English 40/50 chassis. We do not appear to be universally agreed that a 3 speed box is desirable and that it meets our requirements. I think it is a question of weighing up on the one side the simplicity of the 3 speed box particularly when central change is applied, and the advantages on the road of the 4 speed box. It is generally felt that the 3 speed box goes hand in hand with the low gear back axle, and that the disadvantage might then be that the engine will be a little "fussy" at high speeds on the road. There is no question about the advantages that accrue from the central change as far as body work is concerned, but on the other hand it is argued that we were forced to the 4 speed box from the 3 speed by road requirements. I think it would be valuable if this question of 3 speed versus 4 speed could be thrashed out and a decision arrived at. If we settled in favour of the 3 speed we could then usefully push on for the new design of central change which embodies many advantages. The views of Sales Dept. on the 3 speed versus 4 is important in this connection. We have to remember that we shall be building many hundreds of cars of the present type before the new 50 H.P. type is produced, and there is therefore time to consider the incorporation of the 3 speed box with the central change. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} | ||