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 from Hardy Spicer & Co. Ltd. discussing the specifications and availability of different types of universal joints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\4\ scan0096 | |
| Date | 25th November 1938 | |
| HARDY SPICER & CO. LIMITED. TELEPHONE BIRCHFIELDS 4504-9. 6 LINES TELEGRAMS & CABLES AUTOJOINTS-BIRMINGHAM CODE BENTLEY'S PHRAZE LONDON OFFICE 54 ST THOMAS STREET LONDON S.E.1 TELEPHONE HOP 0703 OUR REF. JAD.MW YOUR REF. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}GRy.{Shadwell Grylls}1/MH{M. Huckerby} Manufacturers of HARDY SPICER UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND PROPELLER SHAFTS • GENUINE HARDY FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS • BRITISH BOUND BROOK OIL-LESS & COMPO OIL-RETAINING BEARINGS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY Registered Office and Works BIRCH ROAD • WITTON BIRMINGHAM·6 ENGLAND 1262 25th November, 1938. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Grylls Esq. Experimental Department. Rolls Royce Limited. D E R B Y. Dear Mr. Grylls, We have no joints of the 1350 type to give an angle of 26°. It is rather unfortunate that you fit the sliding joint on the axle end because this type of joint has less angle than the fixed joint and as the fixed joint is usually on the axle where the largest angle occurs, it is most suitable in this position. The actual fouling angle on the sliding joint is 16° and on the fixed joint 20°. However we cannot see how to increase this 16° to 26° and it will require a new joint which includes new forgings and these are proceeding with. We could not promise a shaft with this type of joint however under four or five weeks. I am sending you under separate cover, one of the sliding joints, addressed to you, being a sample of the present type with the limited angle so that you can see how difficult it would be to carve it about to get the 26° angle. We are quite accustomed to wide angle types of joint and have them in 1410, 1510, 1600 and 1700 types. The original purpose was for use on 6-wheeler vehicles where angles are up to 35°. We would like to mention that the 1410 is the same fitting, and if you could reverse the shaft we could supply with a 1410 fixed joint which would take care of the 26° angle required. We know that this would not satisfy you as a test of the joint but it would enable the test of the car to continue. Enclosed is a print shewing the 1410 fixed joint. Yours sincerely, J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} A.{Mr Adams} Daniell ENCLOSURE Nᵒ253 | ||