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).
Schemes for balancing existing wheels and tyres, referencing correspondence with the Dunlop Company.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan329 | |
| Date | 22th August 1925 | |
| - 2 - BYS/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 22.8.25. ------------ The foregoing represents the scheme which would be at once put in hand for balancing existing wheels and tyres. In connection with possible future changes, I attach herewith copy of a letter left with us by the Dunlop Company, from reading which it will be seen that the only change the Dunlop Company consider practicable from the foregoing is that they should balance the inner tube as a tube without the valve, which means that they would put a reinforcement piece opposite the valve of approximately 1 1/4"ounces, but they state definitely that the length of rubber necessary to balance the valve itself as well, that is, a further 3 1/2 ounces, makes it impracticable to try and add a sufficient length of rubber tube opposite the valve to accomplish this end. Mr.Paull definitely stated that no make of tyre was in balance. We have checked this, and find that whilst the Michelin Company do join the tube opposite the valve, and with a lapped joint, the valve and inner tube is still considerably out of balance, there being still approximately three ounces to balance as a part of the weight of the lapped joint on the tube is absorbed in balancing the reinforcement piece added to the tube at the valve seat. We are balancing a wheel by the scheme outlined above, and sending it down. On the first wheel we shall have to use wooden washers instead of Bakelite, but we shall at once put in hand tools to make the Bakelite washers, andwe shall be able to supply these in the course of a day or two. We received your proposal for stirrup pieces to pass over the rim as a temporary method, but the Dunlop Company do not feel that this was likely to give us as much satisfaction as bolts, that though it was an easier method of applying, it would scratch the enamel and had one or two features that they were not quite satisfied with, as they could not feel sure that the pieces would not move, and in addition, the size of the pieces would have to be such that they represented a fair amount of weight, and could not be used for balancing so easily as lead bakelite washer scheme outlined above. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||