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 incompatibility of artillery type wheels with front wheel brakes for a new detachable design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\3\ Scan166 | |
| Date | 31th March 1924 | |
| B.J. (COPY) BY6/P31.3.24. ARTILLERY TYPE WHEELS, BOTH STEEL AND WOOD, FOR NEW DETACHABLE DESIGN. In one or two of H's recent memos he has drawn attention to the fact that he considers it is absolutely essential for front wheel brakes that they are brought as near to the steering pivot as possible. He points out that the artillery wheel is not capable of being brought as close up to the pivot as the wire wheel, or disc wheel, and he concludes by pointing out that we should not fit artillery type wheels to cars which are being fitted with front brakes. The foregoing affects:- (a) The chassis which we have delivered under a promise of fitting four wheel brakes later. (b) Orders at present under contemplation where customers have asked for same. (c) Our future policy where customers ask for artillery wheels. In regard to (b) and (c) we certainly should point out to customers, in view of H's instructions, that we cannot agree to fit artillery type wheels to cars which will later be fitted with front wheel brakes. In regard to (a) it would appear that it will be necessary for us, if any of the cars delivered with artillery wheels are required by the owners to be fitted with front wheel brakes, for us to change the wheels. It was not realised by anybody at the time the artillery design was under discussion, that the above position would materialise, but certain views which I placed before H resulted in his agreeing to the theories I put forward, which certainly do affect the position as stated above and there is no doubt but that the views in question are correct. I am putting the whole facts before you at once, so that there should be no delay in regard to giving the matter consideration, as possibly when we are in a position to fulfil our promises in regard to fitting front wheel brakes we may at that time make it optional as to whether the customer should have the brakes fitted or be offered a rebate, as it is quite reasonable to suppose that | ||