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).
Merits of central change versus side change for gear and brake levers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 104\4\ scan0239 | |
| Date | 15th November 1934 | |
| X5310 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Eg. Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} C.Ex.Em. Re Change gear and brake Levers. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}11/E15.11.34 Arising out of certain criticisms in regard to the means of exit and entrance to the front seat from the driver's side on our cars, I raised the question as to whether we ought not again to consider central change. You will realise that as good an entrance is given on the driver's side as on the other side on all cars with central change and Wilson gearboxes. You may say: We tried this on the 20 HP car in 1923 and had quickly to revert to side change - but that was 11 years ago and it is quite clear that things have altered very considerably since then. Reference to the Autocar Buyers' Guide of 1924 shows that there were some 60-70 cars being marketed with side change. Reference to the Autocar Buyers' Guide of last October shows that the cars marketed with right hand change were a negligible quantity. Excluding RR and Bentley there are not more than about half a dozen, none of which can be considered important and one or two of which are confined to one model of the particular make. It used to be said that it was difficult to change speed with the left hand. There may have been something in this with the old type of crash gearbox but I do not think that this argument would hold water to-day with synchromesh. I believe that from a design and manufacture point of view it is simpler and cheaper. Another advantage is that, if we ever wanted to left-hand SpectreCodename for Phantom III or Wraith we should not require special gearboxes and if, as one assumes, there will be a recovery in America during the next few years, it is quite probable that there might be a valuable market there for us again. | ||