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 discussing the material composition and performance testing of a Ferodo clutch plate used in an Austin car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\4\ scan0006 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1919 | |
| R.R. 199 (500 H) (SD. 298. 15.8.17) M.P. 176549. E.J.B. R.{Sir Henry Royce} from BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. EX. X1054 FEB 1919 RECEIVED March 3. 1919. BY11-P3319. X3331 CHASSIS - CLUTCH. I am sending you carefully packed per registered post, a Ferodo plate which has been used in a 40HP 4 cylinder Austin car. The plate in question is one of two only made in the new material I wrote you in memo BY1/P211218 - the material in this case being wire woven asbestos specially treated, but with no filling. The plate clutch contains two of these discs only. The disc in question has been running for 3 months in connection with an engine developing 40HP at 2000 r.p.m. The service to which this clutch has been put is, that it has been regularly used on the Austin demonstration car. The particular test which this car was carrying out continually to climb a hill 1 in 10 on the second speed. The car was stopped on the maximum grade of the hill, allowed to run backwards, and the drivers foot slipped sideways off the clutch pedal so as to allow the clutch to slam in Mr Frood reports that in watching the tests on one occasion, as well as participating in same, he found that the clutch took up its load gently and without any sign of sudden gripping. I borrowed the clutch disc from Mr Frood, who was rather loath to part with same, in order that you might be able to examine the state of the material. I promised him that the disc should be dealt with under registered post, carefully packed between boards, and returned to him as soon as you had examined | ||