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).
Responding to criticism about waste, detailing tests on cars with 4-wheel brakes and stronger springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\2\ scan0141 | |
| Date | 9th September 1924 | |
| R.R. 403A (40 H) (SL 42 12-7-23). J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. To CJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X8770 Expl. No. 9410 9770 REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG5. 9. 24. S E C R E T. EXPERIMENTAL CARS. We cannot allow the statement contained in the 3rd. paragraph of your CJ3/E4.9.24 that the Experimental Dept. are responsible for considerable waste of time and money without putting before you statements of the facts. Three cars fitted with 4-wheel brakes and 25% stronger springs were submitted to Sales as follows :- 1. In Jan. 1924 - 46-PK car was run by Sales in France for 3,000 to 4,000 miles. 2. On the 23rd. April 1924 - 98-NK car was run by Sales in England for 300 to 400 miles. 3. On the 19th. of May 1924 - 93-NK car was run by Sales Officials in London for 200 to 300 miles. On all of these tests, although we had previously pointed out that for town carriage work, cars would probably ride harder, there were no criticisms as regards the springing. The EAC.11. car which was sent to London in July 1924 as a speed model car and was objected to as regards springing was the identical car with the identical springs which had previously been run 3,000 miles to 4,000 miles by Sales without criticism. We admit that the rear springs on that car were 10% stiffer in proportion to those on the London Trials Car. The Expl: Dept: however had never had an occasion to touch the rear springs. Originally, the car was handed over to us from Sales as a complete car - contd :- | ||