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).
Design and manufacturing of a steering wheel with a cast iron hub.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\3\ scan0206 | |
| Date | 3rd October 1941 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG. c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. 700 Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames}2/JH.3.10.41. Myth - Steering Wheel - Cast Iron Hub. We attach to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH's. copy the original of - PL.851. Cast Iron Hub. Steering Column Head. The above scheme shews a steering wheel with a cast iron hub, using cast iron it is possible to reduce the size of the head which we believe makes the wheel more attractive looking than the wheel with a 'alum centre as designed on PL.687. At the same time it was agreed to have the spokes in three groups of three and not three groups of four, the size of the actual spoke being increased to .193 hexagon instead of .152. In order to obtain the shape of rim section agreed to, the die line of the mould round the rim has to be broken where the spokes run in, this should be carefully shewn on the detail drawing of the wheel. In order to get a steering wheel made without having expensive dies for moulding the cellulose round the cast iron hub and round the rim centre wire, we propose to detail a wheel with a cast iron centre to the actual outside dimensions which can be cleaned up and painted, the rim to be made of laminated wood or some suitable plastic that does not require dies. Will Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. please do this. It will also be necessary to detail the wheel to the actual design as well. We should like a print of both wheels as soon as they are finished to send to Messrs. Wilmot Breeden Ltd., Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} Original to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. Prints to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} Ashby. Messrs. Wilmot Breeden received a print of the scheme under cover of memo. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames}14/JH.26.9.41. | ||