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).
Typed copy of a letter discussing issues and causes of steering wobble in early automobiles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan045 | |
| Date | 2nd September 1913 | |
| COPY R1/P 2.9.13. Re T. Desnos. 1690. COM/L6/W27813 To D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy for J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} " " Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} " " Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} With reference to steering wobbles, I have never recommended sending out balance weights to be put on the wheels to correct bad tyres. I have never handled one of our cars which was at all distressing to steer, although the steering of which has been essentially the same since 1904. We have thrown one wheel out of balance four pounds without it feeling really bad. I think it must be mostly due to studded tyres, which have lost part of the studs. If our steering is bad, we know that other steering is also bad, otherwise it is heavy. For instance the 24 HP. Mercedes was a beast to steer, and I would much rather occasionally have steering wobbles, which can be corrected, than a continuous inefficiency. Then such steering as the Lanchester Tiller must be horrible, as, in this case, no attempt has been made to bring the wheel as near the pivot as possible, or to introduce any irrevers-ibility. Then again the Ford and Orleans, the latter contd. Handwritten text: COPY. X457 | ||