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 geared speedometer drive from Springfield as a replacement for the existing belt drive.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 79\3\ scan0116 | |
| Date | 25th June 1921 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to EN. c. to K.{Mr Kilner} c. to Ds. c. to HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to EWT.for R.R.Inc. X 3685 X.3764 X.3685 PARTS FITTED TO 4.EX CAR. X.1809 2 Speedometer Drive. Springfield have fitted a geared speedometer drive to this car. They have bolted a split bronze gear on to the pulley which we use for the belt drive. Meshed with this gear is another gear made of fibre or material similar. They also have a swivel worm reduction enclosed in an oil-tight case. We have, for a long time, realised the unreliability of the belt drive for a speedometer when in customers hands. Several attempts were made at Derby to arrange a geared drive for the Speedometer on the present 40/50 chassis, but none of these designs have ever been instructed. We consider the arrangement which Springfield have fitted to 4.EX Car is an infinitely better job than the average belt drive fittings which are being used on cars we supply. Springfield have cleverly made use of the casting which carries the selector rods in the gear box so as to provide a substantial bracket for the speedometer drive. It is arranged so that the meshing of the gears can be adjusted. We are taking the parts off and will send them to Mr. Royce. We recommend that we should adopt a similar speedometer drive for our cars. The price they give for the gear drive complete is 12.50 dollars. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||