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).
New rear axle for armoured cars, covering cost, alternative designs, and efforts to secure an order from the War Office.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M5\ img039 | |
| Date | 1st December 1921 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from De. c. to hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Mr. Maddocks. c. to C.R. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ARMOURED CARS - NEW REAR AXLE. Major Lewin said there was some difficulty on the ground of cost. He said, however, that he would go over the matter again, after we had pointed out that the quantity ordered was the controlling factor - cost. But the principal difficulty is that Col. Hutchinson still thinks that another type of axle (a worm) would be preferable. So that though the W.O. are themselves satisfied with the design submitted, they do not care to act unless they can carry the War Office with them, on account of the future interchangeability of Armoured Cars. Major Fraser had not previously seen the axle, and we went over various alternate designs with him and indicated their defects to some extent. What they would like me to do is to again get together the principal alternative design and set out the arguments for and against with some actual dimensions as far as possible, so that they might take the matter up again with Col. Hutchinson. Major Fraser will send us his own remarks on the axle drawings I have left with him. If we can convince Col. Hutchinson there seems little doubt, we shall get the axle order. In view of Col. Hutchinsons' partiality to worms, they gave us some particulars of the Dennis Worm fitted to the 3 to 4 ton subsidy Lorry. I am working these out, though the particulars are not very full. We should very much like to contd:- A962 D.100-21-10-'21 S&S (L.600) Y.955 B/H | ||