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).
Letter discussing tyre wear on a Cadillac, gudgeon pin seizures, and comparing chain drive versus gear drive front ends.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\2\ scan0159 | |
| Date | 22th November 1934 | |
| x1724 G.W. Hancock, Esq., Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. We have your note of Nov. 19th. We have despatched to you 2 complete sets of Dunlop "90" type tyres and 2 sets of "M.A" tyres. We should like to know what tyres you are running on the Cadillac. We should also like to have your opinion on the way in which the tyres on this car wear. Do you think that the independent rear wheel springing has any adverse effect on tyre wear? We know of course that the Cadillac is extremely heavy, if the tyres wear evenly we should perhaps not get too worried if they wear out rather rapidly. We presume you are running on Dunlops. They would be very interested to see some covers from the front wheels when they are, say, two-thirds worn out and then fully worn out. It would also be of considerable interest to us if you could get some Goodyear Tyres of this size or U.S. Royal Cord, and run one English and one American tyre on the front of the car to get an idea of the comparative life. Will you see if you can get any American tyres from Paris? Clearly to get the best comparison it would be as well to change the wheels from side to side daily. If you cannot get any tyres and will cable me, I will try and get some over this side. We note the trouble with your gudgeon pin seizures, and hope you have been able to get the engine going again. One point on the Cadillac in which we are interested is the chain drive front end. There are people who say that the chain drive can never be made as quiet as a gear drive. Of course you are familiar with the present trouble we have with timing gears, and also know that we get complaints of rattles etc. We consider that 21-G-IV is about up to a good standard for timing gears, and should be glad if you will let us know how it compares with the Cadillac. We should like two views upon the subject, the first if you go round the engine listening for noises, and the second from the driving seat. The report on this matter is somewhat urgent, as a chain drive is being designed for the Wraith. | ||