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).
Letter from the Managing Director of Wilmot-Breeden Ltd regarding issues of tyre and piston noise on a car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\2\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 13th October 1941 | |
| TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 8641 (18 LINES) TELEGRAMS: "BUMPERS, BIRMINGHAM." 400 CAR WILMOT-BREEDEN LTD EASTERN WORKS BIRMINGHAM 1 MANAGING DIRECTOR'S OFFICE 13th October 1941. W.A. Robotham Esq. Rolls-Royce Ltd. DERBY. Dear Robotham, I could not get hold of you last week, as you were otherwise engaged, but spoke to Mr. Wyman, who undertook to take my car in to-day and it is being delivered by my chauffeur accordingly. There are one or two interesting things which I think you may like to know. One particular one is the incredible noise apparently made by the tyres. These have now done about 10,000 miles since I had the car, and the noise coming from them produces a roughness throughout the car which makes one constantly doubt whether the noise does actually come from the tyres. I have had little opportunity of carrying out tests myself, but my chauffeur assures me there is no doubt about this. If it does prove to be so, it certainly is remarkable, because it changes the complete character of the car, and makes one feel one is driving something that is really rough. The second point is that the piston noise has appeared again, and my chauffeur is constantly casting doubts on the oil recommended, because he says it is so thin, and he cannot understand how it can be effective when hot; but I have told him this point is hardly likely to have escaped your notice. | ||