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).
Wheel supply strategy concerning wire wheels, disc wheels, and negotiations with suppliers like Dunlop and Michelin.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\1\ Scan053 | |
| Date | 15th July 1920 | |
| Contd. 92- (2) We might possibly manage, if the standardisation is pushed through at an early date, to limit the total number of present type wire wheels delivered on the postwar program, to 1250 sets, but this number must be somewhat necessarily elastic, as we cannot possibly stop deliveries of wheels and therefore possibly hold up chassis in the hope of getting the new type of wheel. We must be quite certain of having sufficient wire wheels, even if necessary of the present design, to keep production going. In order to do this we must always have a reasonable supply of wheels beyond our actual requirements at the moment. We have discussed this question very closely with Col. Matthew of the Dunlop Company and have asked him to produce hub shells, but to hold back as much as possible on all the other material, such as rims and finished spokes, without actually jeopardizing our essential supply. (3) It is not worth while to dismantle the present type of wheel in order to alter it to the straight sided type, as the only available piece useful for both wheels is the hub. The result would be, when you take into question dismantling existing wheels, that the cost would be practically a complete new set of wheels. This again is dealt with in item 3, of By16/19.5.20. (4) X.3482. In regard to Michelin disc wheels, it would appear that a new decision has been arrived at by which may be used, providing security bolts are fitted, as both Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, and Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, are well aware and I have not had an opportunity of discussing this question with them, I cannot say much under this heading except that apparently the previous decision not to produce dies etc, for making the fixed hubs of R.R. design suitable for Michelin disc wheels may now be rescinded. We will take up the question with the Dunlop Co. of producing a disc wheel suitable for straight sided tyres, but in this case we would like to point out that the extra security bolt would not be required as the tyres in question are of the "wired on" type and cannot possibly coem off. The faulty factor in this combination would be the loose flange, but Mr. Hives has tested out the various types and recommended the Goodyear principal, as the design of this type obviates any chance of the rim coming adrift when the tyre is deflated. Contd. | ||