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).
Modified telephone message outlining an urgent plan to modify the Eagle engine as a temporary rival to Curtis engines.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\2July1925-September1925\ Scan11 | |
| Date | 7th July 1925 | |
| Copies to: [strikethrough]WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}[/strikethrough] HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [strikethrough] MODIFIED TELEPHONE MESSAGE. [Stamp] ORIGINAL WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town. 7. 7. 25. R1/M7.7.25. TO [strikethrough]CJ. & BJ.[/strikethrough] FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} FROM THE INFORMATION COL. FELL GOT FROM LONDON YESTERDAY THE TALE I TOLD YESTERDAY REQUIRES MODIFICATION. THE POLICY OF BUILDING THE SAID PLANES AND THE AGITATION ROUSED HAS RESULTED IN THE SERVICE DESIRING TO HAVE SOME OF THESE PLANES FOR SOME SPECIAL WORK ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT MEET THE SERVICE SPECIFICATION. THEREFORE AN ENGINE IS REQUIRED TO SUIT THE PLANE AND THERE IS ONLY THE AIR COOLED, AND THE LION, ABOUT THIS POWER. THE LION HAS THE SAME DISADVANTAGE AS THE AIR COOLED THAT ITS FRONTAL ASPECT IS TOO GREAT. IT IS ALSO TOO LARGE. OF ENGLISH ENGINES THE EAGLE IS THE NEAREST AND COL. FELL, MR. ELLIOTT AND I THINK IT CAN BE USED WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS TO CYLINDERS, CONNECTING RODS, AND PISTONS, FOR WHICH WE HAVE TELEPHONED INSTRUCTIONS TO RG.{Mr Rowledge} AND ARE NOW AWAITING HIS REPLY. IF WE CANNOT, OR WILL NOT, DO THIS, THE PROBABLE ALTERNATIVE IS THAT AN ORDER FOR CURTIS ENGINES WILL GO TO USA.WHICH WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND A NATIONAL CALAMITY AND DISGRACE. OUR EAGLE XV1. MIGHT BE PROVED TO BE SUPERIOR REGAIN THE POSITION BUT WE HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO WILL REJOICE IF WE CAN AVOID THIS. BY MAKING OUR OLD EAGLE DO THE WORK, IN FACT IT WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS TRIUMPH FOR US, AND GIVE US BREATHING TIME TO PRODUCE EAGLE XV1., SO WE OUGHT TO STIR OUR SOULS TO GET IT THROUGH. WE TELEPHONED RG.{Mr Rowledge} AS FOLLOWS:- MODIFY EAGLE AS TEMPORARY RIVAL TO CURTIS - WEIGHT 722 LBS. WITH FALCON PROPELLER HUB, RAISE COMPRESSION TO 6 TO 1, CYL. BORE ONE SIXTEENTH LARGER, MUST GIVE 430.HP. AT 2200 REVS. WITH ONE THIRD BENZOL AND TWO THIRDS AVIATION. SHORTEN CYLS. USE CONDOR CON. RODS 11¼" LONG, CONDOR TYPE PISTONS, RETAIN CRANKCHAMBER AND CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFTS SAME AS PRESENT, CONDOR TYPE INDUCTION PIPES. TIME. DEFINITE PROMISE IN A WEEK THAT WE SHALL HAVE AN ENGINE RUNNING ON TEST IN EIGHT WEEKSTHAT WILL COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE SPECIFICATION. COL. FELL MR. ELLIOTT AND MYSELF BELIEVE THIS CAN BE DONE, AND IF YOU AND MESSRS WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} AND BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} CONCUR I WANT YOU TO PUT THE DRAWING WORK IN HAND PENDING INSTRUCTIONS FROM LONDON. [Circular Stamp Text] RECEIVED R.{Sir Henry Royce} 8 JUL 1925 | ||