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).
Testing, faults, and modifications for the 20/25 HP Synchro Mesh Gear Box.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 104\4\ scan0128 | |
| Date | 3rd May 1932 | |
| Copy. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}17/T3.5.32. 20/25 HP SYNCHRO MESH GEAR BOX. I have read memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ29.4.32 with considerable interest. I do not agree, and never have agreed with any form of "Trick" testing. It certainly has not been necessary on chassis that I have tried personally, on which we have had occasion to complain of the third gear coming out of mesh, that one need do any more than ordinary driving, and what I was very concerned about was the undoubted tendency on part of the first car, on which you were very keen that we should give as much running as possible, for the gear to develop the fault of coming out at a late stage of its running, after it had run 300 to 400 miles quite satisfactorily. The gear on this car would come out on the level ground at quite low speeds. It am sure it will be conceded that a fault of this nature developing to such a degree in a comparatively short mileage could not be considered a satisfactory state of affairs. I am also satisfied that the modification to the splines which was carried out on this box and others has made them quite satisfactory. Now that we are getting some satisfactory gear boxes, we are pushing on with clearing up the arrears of programme. MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} | ||