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 from The Gates Rubber Company regarding fan belt specifications and their proprietary concave sidewall design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\1\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 9th December 1937 | |
| File. Fans - general. 1135. The GATES RUBBER COMPANY Sales Division, Inc. Denver, Colorado Rolls-Royce Limited Derby, England December 9, 1937 noted RW/S8D Gentlemen: A short time ago we received an inquiry from Mr. A.{Mr Adams} W. Pound of the Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors Corporation for fan belt samples to match the specifications of blue prints No. EB221 and No. EX.S.194. From the data given, you have asked us to match two other V-belts with our belts. Quite frankly this presents difficulties which we do not believe you had recognized. In the first place, Rolls-Royce has without question the most enviable reputation in the motor world today. It is the supreme in quality and that quality extends to every single accessory or unit on the car. We know that this quality policy of yours is of vital importance to you. That is why we brought up the objection of trying to match the fan belt you sent us with one of ours. You see, Gates fan belts are built with CONCAVE SIDEWALLS which assure a perfect fit in the sheave grooves when the belt is bent. Other belts built with a straight sidewall bulge when they are bent around the sheave and do not give the same fit. Because of this fact, we prefer to have the sheave groove angle and the pulley diameter before we recommend a belt for you. I am enclosing one of our bulletins on measuring fan belts correctly together with groove templates, and I think you will find it of much interest. We are also keeping the two blue prints which you sent us until we hear from you again in case there is any reference on those blue prints that you may want us to have. We are proud indeed that you should have thought of us when thinking fan belts. Rolls-Royce has an international name for quality as I have already said -- Gates fan belts occupy very much the same position in their field. We are confident that any Rolls-Royce engine equipped with a Gates belt will be just that much finer. | ||