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 'R.' at Le Canadel discussing his health, new design work, and specific projects like compression ignition units, aero engine gears, and the 20HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\5\ Scan044 | |
| Date | 1st April 1930 | |
| -RG.{Mr Rowledge} R.{Sir Henry Royce} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} -DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) -C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} -C. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} F.{Mr Friese} -C. to Mr. CLAREMONT. CHASSIS OR AERO ENGINES. I am very anxious to know if you have any serious trouble. I am now about normal, though easily fatigued, but I much prefer to know how the work for which I am responsible is going, as regards being satisfactory. If other conditions suggest a car or cars coming to France, and anyone would like to come with it, or by train, I can now see them for any discussions, but I cannot profess that I can criticise the running qualities of a car. After a very long period of dull and wet weather, but not cold, it is now beautiful, and I should hope that this Southern coast will be quite good from now onward, but one might have poor but not hopelessly bad weather between here and home. Referring to the new design work, naturally we must consider the things that are giving trouble first, and often they crowd out any entirely new venture, but we must not let them get us down so that we cannot have any entirely new design from which we may break away into something good. There is often so little hope of making the existing things much different because they have perhaps at times got as far as conditions permit, and it is sometimes out of one trouble into another. Amongst the new things that should be in progress we have the big jobs we all know about, such as the compression ignition unit, which should have a young engineer allotted to it. Then I have suggested that we have another go at a 2 speed aero engine gear. RG{Mr Rowledge}'s previous attempt was very encouraging, and I think the accelerated gear that I have suggested should be some help. Amongst smaller things, we want a petrol pump for the car, instead of a vacuum pump and autovac, (complicated.) E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and myself have agreed that one made with a sylphon tube bellows with very small stroke, .100" or less if once primed, should lift cool petrol several feet. I have some additional features I can discuss with E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} if the work is not already done. There is also the oil filter for the car. I am of the opinion also that we must do something to stop the stagnation of the 20HP. Then Mr. Hardy I hope will have progressed with the design and review of the change speed problem, and send me all the news to date. (1) | ||