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).
Merits of preselective gearboxes versus synchromesh patterns for various vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\4\ scan0068 | |
| Date | 10th November 1933 | |
| X2067 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.6/Mr.10.11.33. c. Wep. U. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Ex. HDF. re Humber Epicyclic Gearbox. Replying to your memo Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}8/E.9.11.33, the patterns for the gearbox with the synchro mesh on the second gear as well as top and third are in hand. With regard to the question of a preselective type of box, I was talking to Major C.G. Nevatt recently of the Bristol Tramway and Carriage Co. and he has gone right over to advocating this type for all purposes. This Co. operates and sells to people who operate a large number of heavy vehicles in such districts as Devon and for this purpose and on this service preselection enables the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel when negotiating a corner at the bottom of a steep hill and also get his change in ratio at the right moment, which is considered to be a great advantage in handling a heavy vehicle especially on a highly cambered road. Major Nevatt argues that what applies in this case will apply in a lesser sense to private cars. He drives a 90 Talbot himself fitted with Wilson box. He has considered purchasing a Bentley, so he says, but does not like the idea of changing over to a sliding box even if it is of the synchromesh pattern. We have completed the design work necessary for installing the E.N.V. box in a 20/25 so that we shall soon be in a position to form our opinions of this type of box as applied to an MR. chassis. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Summers. 2 Axles 4 gearboxes 12 months on a TALBOT 90 | ||