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).
The features and road test performance of a 25 HP Chrysler, focusing on its Bendix vacuum clutch and free-wheel system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\2\ scan0105 | |
| Date | 8th August 1932 guessed | |
| [Handwritten at top] EX4012.8 Please return to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Very interesting return Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}2/WT7.1132. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [End Handwritten] S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}..from Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} PN{Mr Northey} The 25 H.P. Chrysler. The interesting features of this car are the engine mounting which is extremely flexible and the engine can be rocked by hand, and the Bendix vacuum controlled clutch which in conjunction with the Bendix free-wheel gives easy-gear-change, and the frame in which the X section is rather nicely blended in front. I went for a short run in this car and found the Bendix clutch control worked very well and made standing starts very much easier than with the ordinary clutch control, the take-up being very good, and for a novice would be much easier than having to work the clutch pedal and accelerator. The change-speed-lever owing to the free-wheel behind the box and the vacuum controlled clutch in front of the box can be pushed into any gear when the accelerator is lifted, and as the box is dead, without sound and in any manner, while the take-up when the accelerator is depressed again is very smooth. There is a control button on the dash which cuts out the freewheel if the engine is wanted as a brake. The front of this car was very steady and the steering free from shocks. The engine suspension is similar to the Plymouth and with the engine running light no vibrations can be felt on the wings, while at low speeds the movement of the engine is very large and the result is very good, very little roughness comes through even at low speeds. The disadvantage of the Bendix vacuum control is the fact that it automatically gives a free-wheel which one might or might not want. There is another system in which the clutch is only withdrawn when the engine is running at a set speed of say 300 revs. owing to the intervention of a governor. This is called the Birkin Morgan and is being developed at Welwyn, and was discussed in the Motor of Oct. 25th, page 615. -1- | ||