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).
Article reprinted from a magazine discussing chassis lubrication systems, specifically the Enots Flexible Grease Gun, and the performance of small cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 51\3\ Scan023 | |
| Date | 27th April 1921 | |
| Reprinted from The Motor April 27, 1921. MAINLY ABOUT SMALL CARS More Notes on Chassis Lubrication—The Cult of Accessibility. Amazing Speed from Small Engines—Covering 100 Miles in the Hour. SOME weeks ago in these columns I gave full vent to my injured feelings after having spent practically a full day greasing the chassis of my car. There is no doubt that the modern grease cup system is an absolute anachronism; surely it ought by now to be relegated to the limbo of forgotten things. Various schemes for its abolition have been put forward at different times; one is a central container for the lubricant with leads to take it to the various chassis parts. We cannot do away with chassis lubrication altogether, for so long as chassis have moving parts—as they always will have—those parts must be lubricated, and although the central container system may be suitable for de luxe cars—it is successfully incorporated in the eight-cylinder Guy—it seems to me to be rather too expensive to be adopted on smaller models. For Reducing Time in the Garage. SINCE writing my diatribe, however, I have had brought to my notice a system which is moderately cheap and seems very superior in every way to the justly maligned grease cup. It is known as the Enots Flexible Grease Gun System, and consists of a special grease gun with a flexible nozzle working in conjunction with neat nipples, which take the place of and screw into the same holes as the ordinary grease cups. Incorporated in the end of the flexible delivery pipe and also in the nipples are very cunning ball valves, which prevent grease from reaching any part other than its proper destination—a very clever idea. Each nipple has a little spring-loaded steel ball covering its orifice, and the nozzle which screws on to the nipple has a similar spring-loaded valve, which prevents the grease from getting out—no matter how high the pressure may be—until the nozzle is screwed firm and hard on to the nipple. As this is easily accomplished by means of a thick thread, it is very simply and quickly done, and as the plunger inside the gun is mounted on a screwed shaft, tremendous pressure can be exerted and the grease forced through the most minute channels. I have installed these nipples on my car, and it took me about half an hour to make the complete conversion. I can now grease the whole of my chassis in less than a quarter of an hour and without getting so much as one speck of dirt on either hands or clothes. The grease gun cannot leak when it is carried in the locker, and is always ready for use. Once filled, it holds enough for about six months' use, and I can thoroughly recommend the system to private owners, but more particularly to manufacturers. Details of the new Enots flexible grease gun system, of interest to small car owners. [Diagram labels: Steel Ball, Valve, Leather Seating washer] The Secret of Long Car Life. A PROMINENT designer once said to me that the secret of producing a car which was to make a name for itself and its manufacturer on the open market was to design it so that it had a long life and required the minimum of attention. A non-motoring engineer may produce a very fine engine which gives off tremendous power on the bench; is silent, very flexible, and so forth; but unless he fits it to a chassis that is simple and is properly suited to the needs of the owner-driver, the sales of that car after about six months will become a negligible quantity. Modern manufacturers have to effect a compromise between high-class design and production costs. Very often it is very expensive to design for accessibility, and this Knots system of lubrication seems to me to go far towards solving the problem. It is made by Benton and Stone, Ltd., of Birmingham, who can supply to manufacturers direct, but all other sales are made through the County Chemical Co., Ltd., Bradford Street, Birmingham. Half the cause of trouble with cars that are privately owned is due to neglect, and the cause of that neglect is the necessity for getting into a greasy, grimy mess every time attention is given. Two Schools of Thought. THE marvellous speeds attained by small cars fitted with 1½ litre engines show that enormous strides have been made in the design of these units during the past two years, and I venture to predict that 100 m.p.h. will be attained at Brooklands before the season closes. It is highly probable that next year will see a racing light car cover over 100 miles in the hour, and thus equal the record put up by the late Mr. Percy Lambert on his 25 h.p. Talbot. | ||