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).
Clutch tests on the 20/25 HP model, including feedback and suggestions for further testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\1\ scan0150 | |
| Date | 24th January 1935 | |
| S/W C20/C25.1.35 CLUTCH TESTS ON THE 20/25 h.p. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/KW24.1.35 21-G-4 was tried today by Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager}, JLE{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} and Messervy. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} will be reporting, but he advises me on the telephone that they are very pleased indeed with this clutch - in fact they think it is the best clutch they have tried on a 20/25 h.p, as long as it 'stays put.' Again, however, they express the opinion that they would feel much happier about it if it had a course of driving in thick London traffic, where the clutch gets misuse to a far greater extent than in runs in the country. All the complaints that "N" get concerning clutches are duly reported to "W" and a synopsis made of them in the quarterly reports. I understand that slipping is not so prevalent as it was, but these complaints, generally speaking, apply to cars which are driven a good deal in London with perpetual stops and clutch use and getting away on second gear. We feel, therefore, that it would be of great value to you if you could fix up one of these clutches on a car that we could have run round London for the mere purpose of putting up mileage in traffic for a reasonable period. Perhaps you would like to consider this. I am referring particularly to the first paragraph of your memo. wherein you say you will not know how good or bad the clutch is until it has actually gone into production. Presumably you are thinking of differences there may be in production to experiment and what might happen in the hands of ordinary users, possibly not too expert. I think the London traffic test might help you as regards this latter, anyway. C. | ||