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).
Secret memo discussing the demonstration, testing, and durability of the B.V. gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 99\4\ scan0273 | |
| Date | 7th June 1939 | |
| 428 SECRET. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. C. c. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/R.7.6.39. B.V. GEARBOX. Since the gearbox remains the most backward section of B.V., and considerable apprehension was expressed at the Conference as to the progress it was making, we took the opportunity of demonstrating it to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and C. in its latest overdrive form on the Ripple car. The object of the demonstration was to ascertain whether the standard of gear silence, and the ease of changing gear, would be generally considered to be acceptable. We are emphatic that though it may be possible to obtain a better change and more silent gears, we cannot promise anything in this respect. We understand from verbal comments made at the time of the test that the box was considered to be satisfactory with regard to silence on the gears, and also with regard to engagement of gears. We are asking Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} and LA.{L. A. Archer} to try the same box before any alteration is made to it, so that general agreement can be established. It remains for us experimentally to demonstrate that the box is reliable, and the best method of doing this is to complete the endurance run on the Continent, and, at the same time, have a box running under Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}'s supervision in England. With regard to the durability of the gears, we attach a summary of the work so far done on the dynamometer which indicates why we believe that this box is fundamentally more durable for the power developed by the B.V. than the Wraith box. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||