Letter from Harry Ferguson to William J. Sands, 11 August 1955

Summary

Harry Ferguson updates William J. Sands on four-wheel drive development, plans for an Ulster meeting, a seat-operated switch and progress on the B.M.C. transmission project.

Historical context

Written during Harry Ferguson Research Ltd.’s post-war engineering programme, this letter records Ferguson discussing four-wheel drive and braking experiments, transmission development with B.M.C., and continuing technical exchanges with William J. Sands. It provides direct evidence that Ferguson still sought Sands’s engineering ideas and kept him informed of development work in 1955.

People mentioned

Places mentioned

Organisations mentioned

Subjects and topics

Catalogue description

Letter from Harry Ferguson to William J. Sands discussing a four-wheel drive patent specification, proposed meetings in Ulster, a seat-operated switch and B.M.C. transmission development.

Machine transcript — unreviewed

[Page 1] é Abbotswoon, Stow - on-the- Gold 18. Stow - on the-@old, oe Glos. 1ith August, 1955. Dear Willie, PROGRESS I was just about to dictate a letter to you when your good letter of the 9th August came in. The main purpose of my letter would have been the enclosed patent specification, which will give you an indication of what mischief we are up to! We have many new things and I believe all are going to be wonderful. About two years ago I called all our boys in here and I said we had reached the end of our experimental work and could not go any further unless we could solve the four-wheel drive problem. I outlined exactly what was needed. Part of my outline was - "a diff. that will diff. when it ought to diff., but not diff. when it ought not to diff.". After extremely hard work we produced what is in the enclosed specification. All I can say is that it works to perfection in the drive, but, what is of infinitely greater importance, - also in the braking. I am only sending the specification for your amusement. Please return it to me when you have had a look through it. There is no hurry. ULSTER Another point about which I was going to write you wes our visit to Ulster. I have a Directors' meeting in Belfast on Wednesday morning, the 1th September, If my aeroplane were not late I could meet you at Joe's office in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 13th, or what about 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, the 15th? After that I am going to make a complete break and get what I badly need - a complete rest. When we meet we will be able to talk over the Volkswagen and other subjects. All that I can tell you is that Volkswagen's great triumph is in their traction, and we completely eclipse that, of course. To try and get some of our British manufacturers to realise the folly of shoving their engines away out over the front axle and then driving with the rear wheels, I ask them to think what the Volkswagen would do if they kept their design as it is and drove by the front wheels. They agree the Volkswagen would be a failure, but do not seem to be able to see the folly of their own present designs. Walia J. Sands, Esq. [Page 2] SEAT OPERATED SWITCH. Ever so meny thanks for your suggestions. A great friend of ours, who is a Director of Lucas, called here recently and I was able to put the problem up to them in a confidential way. They are now working hard on the job, We will seriously think over what you have written. TRANSMISSION i Since dictating the foregoing I have had some news of great importance. B.M.C. are now convinced that we have so nearly reached the end of our work on our transmission, that they have given orders to give the work of the manufacturing details first-class top priority, and are putting another gang of men on the job. We certainly are getting some wonderful results, but I will have to tell you about that. Nevertheless, ee —— interested in what you are doing, and do keep me ormed, This means that I may need the attached patent specification sooner than I thought, so please return it at your convenience, Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks, and the best of good wishes to you all, Yours sincerely, Harry Ferguson

Related archive records

• Letter from Harry Ferguson to William J. Sands arranging a meeting
• Harry Ferguson and Henry Ford
• Supplemental Oath for Hydraulic Control System