Standardization and testing of new, stiffer car springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0124 | |
| Date | 12th September 1924 | |
| Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /9410 To B. from C.J. C.c. to Hor. [strikethrough]Rg. {Mr Rowledge} [/strikethrough] [strikethrough]Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [/strikethrough] [strikethrough]BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} [/strikethrough] [strikethrough]BJ.[/strikethrough] Re Springs. CJS/E12/9/24 I have learnt that on Thursday at 4.20 Derby received two telegrams from Chichester, stating that it was decided to adopt two standards, namely, for England 12 1/2% stiffer, for the Continent 20% stiffer, the number of plates minimum 10; further that Woodhead's clip is essential; further that Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} must not despatch present springs; also that you consider the number of plates insufficient to ensure the best results and that we must do our best to get Firth's and Woodhead's to agree. Wd {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} 's remark is that he fears we cannot do anything until after the visit of Mr. Wortley Fawcett of the firm of Firth's to Derby on Tuesday next, the 16th inst. I hope that the words: 'Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} must not despatch present springs' mean that it is useless to test in France any springs which in your opinion have not a sufficient number of plates and have not Woodhead clips. It would appear desirable that we should get springs which will fill your requirements of both 12 1/2% and 20% stiffer and that these should be tried as early as possible over the French roads and also on the bumping test - (the latter in as large a number as possible), so that in the event of the 12 1/2% stiffer springs proving to be insufficiently trustworthy, we shall know what is the behaviour of the 20% stiffer springs. I enclose a schedule which, as far as I can make out, represents the result of tests on the road and under bumping test of various springs. The 12 1/2% Woodhead spring appears to put up a record on the bumping test and the 12 1/2% springs on the roads in France give better results than the 40/50 standard springs and better than the 20 HP Goshawk(Aero Engine)(Codename for 20HP Car / Aero Engine after Kestrel(Aero Engine)) springs. We are of course very anxious to get on with manufacture. I think we shall have to take some risks by ordering a certain number of the 20% stiffer springs made with sufficient plates and Woodhead clips. Probably these would pass muster with the majority of customers if your suggestion as to back springing is carried out. I have suggested on the telephone to Rg. {Mr Rowledge} that he and BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||
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).