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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).
Inquiry to Studebaker Corporation regarding their overdrive system and 6-cylinder crankshaft torsional periods.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 174\2\  img248
Date  11th May 1938
  
Em10/R.{Sir Henry Royce}

11th May, 1938.

S. Sparrow, Esq.,
Studebaker Corporation,
South Bend,
Indiana, U.S.A.

Dear Sparrow,

We are intrigued by the operation of the over-drive on the 1937 Presidents. Unlike all the other over-drives, either gear can be obtained at will and free wheeling is not an essential. The description in "Automo-tive Industries" of Sept. 5th 1936 of how it works from the driver's point of view seems to be just what is wanted.

Can you tell us what "niggers" it had and, if it is not a very undiplomatic question, why we cannot find any reference to it on the 1938 cars?

One more question on 6-cylinder crankshafts. At what speed is the 3 per rev torsional period on your seven-bearing engine ? How many revs below this speed is there a measurable oscillation of the front end of the crankshaft, and has this fringe of the master period ever caused you timing gear wear ?

Yours sincerely,

King regards,
  
  


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