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).
Comparative test report on Marles steering versus the latest Phantom steering.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2January1926-March1926\ Scan114 | |
| Date | 16th February 1926 | |
| Expl: Report. Expl: No. Ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Aml/L.G16.2.26. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to C.J. R.J. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to EY. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to OY. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} ORIGINAL MARLES STEERING. X8430 / X4094 We have carried out comparative tests between the 'Marles' steering and the latest large dia. .720 lead new PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I steering. The road tests gave the following impressions:- HIGH SPEED WOBBLES. No difference could be detected between the two steerings for high speed wobbles. Both high pressure and balloon tyres were tried. ROAD SHOCKS. There was very little to choose between the steerings in this respect. Neither of the columns were sufficiently rigid to enable high speed driving to be indulged in over bad roads without movement being transmitted to the driver. The tangential shocks in each case were of a minor character, if anything the Marles transmitted less shocks tangentially while more so from the column. SELF-CENTERING. Both from the road shock point of view and from the fact that the self-centering of the 'Marles' is somewhat sluggish, one would be inclined to say that the Marles is the more irreversible of the two. GENERAL IMPRESSION. For normal driving the R-R is the pleasanter steering to handle because it is more selective. The main advantage of contd :- | ||