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).
Ongoing issue of noisy servo gears and the steps taken to investigate it.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0205 | |
| Date | 19th September 1924 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RE. NOISY SERVO GEAR. The question of the servo gear noise was taken up with R.{Sir Henry Royce} on the very first car we fitted with the 'adopted' scheme of brakes. See our report Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG30.5.24, and also Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG4.6.24. We stated that we did not consider we could deliver cars to customers until this fault had been overcome. We were so impressed with the seriousness of this that we sent a car specially to W.W. to demonstrate this noise. R's report in connection with this was as follows :- "The noise of the drive is, I think, quite a gear question. The worm gear should be more perfectly made, but to me it was not serious, because it was only observed when the brakes was put on, and then only when lightly applied". See R4/M 5.6.24 - copy of which was sent to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} We consider this is a question which should be referred to R.{Sir Henry Royce} because the car which he heard was similar to those which EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} complains of. We pointed out this fault months ago to the Test Dept. and the Sales Dept. when they were trying experimental cars fitted with 4-wheel brakes, but neither Department treated it as being serious. We have tried numerous experiments to try and overcome this fault and our work in connection with this has been continuous as we were sure that this complaint contd :- | ||