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).
The quality of 40/50 HP steering wheels, proposing a move from cast centres to forged Duralumin centres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 38\1\ Scan163 | |
| Date | 27th May 1925 | |
| X3465 Royer. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY14/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 27.5.25. 40/50 HP. STEERING WHEELS. Referring to Roy{Sir Henry Royce}19/MG. 20.5.25. the position at the moment is that we are turning down quite a number of centres as produced by the Dover Company for our 20 HP. wheel, in precisely the same manner that we turn down a large number of castings for the 40/50 as produced at the Works. I think the remedy for this, and a step forward in quality, is an attempt we are making to obtain forged Duralumin centres. We are in touch with Messrs Booth who do this work for Messrs Vickers, and we are sending them a sample casting to show the type of thing we want on the 40/50. They are of the opinion that they can produce the 20 HP. satisfactorily, but they have not committed themselves yet about the 40/50. If it is possible, as I think it will be, to obtain Duralumin centres, then the question of the scrap will disappear as all forgings will be precisely similar, and will not be debited by blow holes and the little black specks which are the result of rather high temperature in casting, which represent our biggest cause of scrap in producing the part. Personally, I consider the quality of the present type of steering wheel is distinctly above that of the Dover, and I certainly think we should maintain this quality and not go back from it. The cast centre has, in my opinion, always been a source of weakness in our design, a forged centre will put the steering wheel beyond all question. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} [Signature Ry] [STAMP: RECEIVED 29 MAY 1925] | ||