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 Avon Tyres concerning tyre rolling resistance, skid pan testing, and high-speed tyre performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 156\3\ scan0073 | |
| Date | 17th October 1938 | |
| MANUFACTURERS OF AVON TYRES, SPORTS SUNDRIES, FOOTWEAR, FLOORING & MECHANICAL RUBBERS Telegrams AVONNES BIRMINGHAM Telephone CENTRAL 8164/5 The AVON INDIA RUBBER Co LTD. Established 1885 SYMBOLS OF ENDURANCE Chairman: MAJOR R.F. FULLER J.P. Deputy Chmn: SIR HERBERT E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BLAIN C.B.E. M.INST.T. Managing Director Secretary & Director: F.H. LOVELL, A.C.I.S Head Office & Works MELKSHAM . WILTS Service Depots: LONDON . BIRMINGHAM . BRISTOL . MANCHESTER . GLASGOW . LIVERPOOL . BELFAST . NEWCASTLE . DUBLIN . NOTTINGHAM Our Ref. SLH/VGF Your Ref. .................. 41&42, LIVERY STREET, BIRMINGHAM, 3. 17th October 1938. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, Experimental Department, D E R B Y. Dear Sirs, FOR THE ATTENTION OF MR. GRYLLS With reference to the conversation which we had at the Motor Show, since seeing you I have had a talk with Mr. Swanborough, our Works Director, who is communicating with Dr. Mackay in America with a view to Dr. Mackay obtaining such information as may be available on work which may have been done to determine the rolling resistance (I believe in America they call it power absorption) of tyres, both light and under traction. If Dr. Mackay is successful in obtaining interesting information you may be sure this will be communicated to you shortly after his return from America, which we estimate will be in about one month's time. In the meantime we confirm that Dr. Mackay's absence in America will not in any way delay our plans for testing tyres on your skid pan which you have kindly agreed to place at our disposal after it has been cleared of camouflage. I have also checked the point that the Vauxhall car which we propose using has a suitable extension to the steering for steering by means of wire. On the subject of running tyres at high speeds on test wheels, we have done a good deal of this work ourselves, and generally speaking since no satisfactory cooling such as is present on the road can be employed it is our opinion that people operating this machine should be contd.. | ||