Customer's (Mr. Summers) complaints and requests for modifications regarding engine performance, steering, and suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan237 | |
| Date | 4th February 1926 guessed | |
| (3) EP {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 2/H42.26. (2) Contd. I consider that his "Silver Ghost(1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial)" was a specially good car of its type, he himself admitting that he had specially increased the compression ratio. He asks for some stronger valve springs for his "Phantom" which he considered was the limiting feature for the performance at high engine speed until I explained to him otherwise. He was keen on demonstrating to me the virtue of the Vauxhall car, inasmuch as the engine would accelerate over 3,000 revs, and although I remonstrated with him that under these conditions the vibrations and running generally were awful, he placed little importance on these points. (3) His complaint re Steering is a point which is fully appreciated, i.e. joggles and instability at high speeds. This car is quite standard in this respect, but the trouble is again accentuated by excessive speeds etc. (loose ball ends). The general vibration of the steering column is also a feature about which he complained, and I must admit in this respect, did not compare at all favourably with the Vauxhall. I was, however, able to point out the vices in the Vauxhall steering, such as the irreversibility, sluggishness at slow speeds, want of self-centring, on all of which he does not place any importance. The car is coming in on Monday next and your ruling will be required on the following:- (1) That we shall deal with the question of springing as suggested in Item (1).b.. The question of special front shock absorbers to be considered. (2) A decision as to whether an alteration in design should be considered to give Mr. Summers the power and speed he requires. I cannot recommend this, as to do so would mean that we were encouraging the "speed fiend". (3) A decision as to whether a new steering column should be fitted, which we certainly recommend. Mr Summers is expecting a new type steering to be fitted which he is given to understand is better in this respect. Can some consideration be given, please, to a more rigid support for the steering, also more friction to front pivots. To summarise, it seems unfortunate that Mr. Summers has a Rolls-Royce car, as he is obviously not the type of customer for whom we cater, and he frankly admits that what he requires is power and speed. (it is chiefly because of this obsession CONTINUED. | ||
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).