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).
Clarifying the development priorities between a new 4-speed gearbox, a four-wheel braking system, and various EAC car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\4\ scan0162 | |
| Date | 22th January 1924 | |
| To E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from CJ. Copy to R. {Sir Henry Royce} Copy to Wer. Copy to Rg. {Mr Rowledge} Copy to Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Copy to Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} SECRET. x8340 CJ27/E22/1/24 x8770 It would appear that it has been thought that I have pressed for the production of EAC.II before the production of EAC.IV. I do not know how this impression has been created. Possibly confusion has arisen at a time when I did not know that EAC.IV and EAC.V were in the Company's programme. I do wish to make it very clear that the new 4-speed gearbox, giving four wheel brakes operating by a large reduction servo approximately 20 to 1, should be in the forefront of the Company's operations and should be only second to the satisfactory operation of the four wheel brakes, irrespectively of the method of application of power to them. In my opinion these two items, in the order of importance in which I have placed them, should stand a long way in front of any other proposals and, subject to Mr.Royce's approval, I should say that, if the new four-speed gearbox giving the large reduction servo, can be produced at an earlier date by the application of all the designing staff to it, except such officials as are engaged on the brakes themselves, all other matters should stand on one side. The combined designing staffs of the Company should, I suggest, be able to supply to Derby the drawings for the new four-speed gearbox with the large reduction servo before the expiration of two months, possibly with great concentration of effort it might be done in one month. Some misunderstanding may have arisen from the fact that I suggested that, if the present system of four wheel brakes proved to be sufficiently convincing as compared with the Hispano, it might be desirable for the reputation of the Company, to produce a few of the special speed model, described as EAC.II, but I suggested this step as a half-way step towards EAC.IV, so that the Company should not have to encounter the great shock which it would have had to meet had EAC.IV with the new engine and the new gearbox and the new operation of brakes been introduced suddenly without notice. I still, therefore, suggest that EAC.II should be introduced in small numbers as the special speed model, at an advanced price, but that the whole of the otherwise available energy of the Company should be directed towards the perfection of the new brakes themselves and the production of the new four-speed gear | ||