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 to Maybach regarding gearbox development, specifically a 'crashing engagement' issue, and the question of royalties.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\2\ scan0067 | |
| Date | 16th March 1931 | |
| 82200 Expl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MJ. March 16th.1931. Dr. Maybach, Maybach-Motorenbau, G.m.b.H., Friedrichshafen A.B. Dear Sir, We are very much indebted to you for your letter containing the prices of your gearbox and delivery dates you could promise. At the moment we do not think we shall require to buy a box as we have made one ourselves which gives us the information we require. One feature which disturbs us in the operation of the box we have constructed is that we can obtain a crashing engagement in the following manner. The car is in top gear. Third speed is preselected on the column and the foot is lifted from the accelerator. The operator, however, fails to increase his engine speed the result being that he does not get into third. Finding he is not in third he tries to change back into top with a considerable car speed and an engine idling at very low speeds. The result of performing this operation is to obtain a bad crash which is likely to break something. We should like to know whether you have evolved any means of overcoming this difficulty. In the meantime our Patents Department is taking up the question of Royalties with your Firm. Yours faithfully, For Rolls-Royce Ltd. | ||