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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).
Promotional leaflet featuring customer testimonials and illustrations for Houdaille Hydraulic Shock Absorbers.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 25\2\  Scan120
Date  18th May 1920 guessed
  
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absorber fitted to quick-firing Guns; the main purport of the Houdaille is automatically to adjust the strength and flexibility of the springs to the varying road conditions or weight carried so as to ensure the maximum of comfort to the occupants. Then again there is the question of the life of the tyres although this only takes a subsidiary place to the actual comfort of the passengers.... We may state that a careful inspection of the Houdaille Shock Absorber can have no other effect than that of convincing one that it is a conscientious piece of work, carefully thought out in the first place, and then gradually evolved to its present state of efficiency.

Lyss-na{Mr Nadin}-Greyne, Aboyne,
Aberdeenshire
June, 1920.
I cannot speak too highly of the Houdailles you fitted. They make a wonderful difference even on the Stirlingshire roads which are, without exception, the worst I have met with in my 2,000 miles trip between April 16th and May 20th.
(Signed) F.{Mr Friese} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} OUTRAM (Major).

From Mr. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} C. PERCY—the well-known authority in Ireland—"Motor News."
34, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin,
15th April, 1914.
You asked me to let you know how the Houdaille Suspension behaved on my B.S.A. Car. I refrained from doing so until now, as I was anxious to subject them to a gruelling test. At the end of my first 500 miles I have nothing but praise for the way that they have eased the shocks of the Irish roads. In a Country like Ireland where steam rolled roads are few and far between, the Houdaille Suspensions come as “a boon and a blessing.”
It may interest you to know that one day last week I took 6 passengers over a very decent hill in Wicklow, not noted for its good surface, and they each and all were loud in their praise of the suspension of the Car. To my mind the Houdaille Suspensions should be an essential adjunct to every Motor Car sold into Ireland.

THE NEW HYDRAULIC MOTOR CAR SUSPENSIONS
By HARRY FERGUSON (HARRY FERGUSON, LTD., BELFAST AND DUBLIN).
[EXTRACTS FROM THE “MOTOR NEWS” OF MARCH 13TH, 1914.]
Some time ago I had particulars sent me of the new Houdaille hydraulic suspension. After thoroughly testing these fittings on every type of car, .......... my company decided to take up the Irish Agency. In addition to fitting all our demonstration cars, my company has sold and fitted a great many to cars of private owners, and I am speaking from very considerable experience.

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the Houdaille Shock Absorbers which were fitted to the three Cars of the Sunbeam Team proved most efficient, and we found that by their use the Cars were kept steadily on the road at all speeds.
We propose running in the Grand Prix on the 4th July with Houdaille Shock Absorbers fitted.
(Signed) K.{Mr Kilner} LEE GUINNESS.
A.{Mr Adams} LEE GUINNESS.
DARIO RESTA.

5 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Sept. 29th, 1914.
It may, perhaps, be of interest to you to know the effect on my Car by the fitting, by you, of the Houdaille Shock Absorbers.
These have been a most effectual cure of the jolting and discomfort in riding which I suffered from before, and which practically made it impossible to run over an uneven though not necessarily bad road without having everything thrown about in the Car and, in one case breaking the woodwork.
Now the Car runs steadily and smoothly over the worst of roads. It is almost impossible to believe it is the same Car, and the Absorbers on the front axle have entirely stopped the “diving” effect which, at times, seemed to promise a broken spring.
I expected an improvement over the old state of affairs, but I never anticipated it could be so extraordinary.
(Signed) W. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} ARMSTRONG
Address to:— Percy’s Motor Garage, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

20 Conduit Street, W.
November 3rd, 1914.
Having made a good test of my Car since you fitted it with your Houdaille Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, I can say that it is quite extraordinary what a great improvement they have made in the suspension of my car, which is a 30 h.p. 6-cylinder “Sheffield Simplex” with our Cantilever type of springing, generally recognised as the most comfortable yet devised, but even so the Houdailles have improved the suspension quite wonderfully. My Car is a very light 4-seater, which I generally use as a 2-seater. It is, therefore, very light behind, and under certain conditions I experience the usual trouble of the rear road wheels leaving the ground. The Houdailles, however, have completely cured this, and keep the Car perfectly steady on the road at any speed under all conditions.
In conclusion I must say that so far I am more than pleased and surprised at the efficiency of the Houdailles, and shall have great pleasure in recommending them to my friends.
THE SHEFFIELD SIMPLEX MOTOR WORKS, LTD.
(Signed) PERCY RICHARDSON, Managing Director.

[Extract from letter received from The War Office, July 1915.]
I have to inform you that the advantages and merits of the Houdaille Hydraulic Suspensions are very well-known to and appreciated by the War Department . . .

Column 3 (Image Captions):
HOUDAILLE AS FITTED ON FRONT OF CROSSLEY 1920 MODEL.
HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO BACK OF ARROL-JOHNSTON 1920
HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO FRONT OF 30 h.p. DAIMLER 1920 MODEL.
HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO BACK OF 30 H.P. DAIMLER 1920 MODEL.
HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO BACK OF 18-22 H.P. CHARRON 1920 MODEL.

Column 4:
Up to the present we have had nothing but repeat Orders and recommendations.

London, May 23rd, 1914.
We have very great pleasure in writing to tell you of the results attained from Houdaille Suspensions as fitted to a “Martin-Singer” Light Car. . . . Since fitting your Suspensions the Car holds the track perfectly even at speeds in excess of 75 m.p.h., while the comfort of the Car on the road is increased enormously—in fact it was noticed at the Herts A.{Mr Adams} & A.C. Clubs’ Hill Climb (in which our Car won its class) that the Car held the road much better than any other of anything like the same speed.
Since Fitting the Suspensions the Car has competed in four events winning each—this fact we think speaks for itself.
BAMFORD & MARTIN, LTD.

Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs,
July 5, 1916.
“Having motored now daily for 8 years, I can say that the comfort is enormously increased and in this Car the state of the Tyres—a third of the Ribs still unworn after 5,200 miles—speaks volumes for Houdailles, and I would not have a Car without them.”
W..... R..... M.D.

Langland Bay, Mumbles, Glam,
May 9th, 1914.
Your Suspensions have made a wonderful improvement to my car. . . I can drive at 40 m.p.h. over the worst of roads and hold the steering with two fingers, previously it was nearly jerked out of my hand. . . . I have told the Daimler Coy. . . .
B. W..... V.....

.....House, Kinver, Stourbridge,
1st July, 1914.
With regard to the Houdaille Shock Absorbers, I am simply delighted with them as adjusted by your good selves, and I surmise that adjustment is the essence of satisfaction with these as with most other things to do with Cars. After all what is a Rolls-Royce but merely good parts perfectly suspended.
Yours faithfully, (Signed) A.{Mr Adams} M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} C. . . . .
The above letter was addressed to the Castle Motor Co. Ltd., of New Road, Kidderminster.

From The Castle Motor Co.. Ltd.
Kidderminster,
October 14th, 1919.
“We can only say that we agree with our Customer’s statement and that the Houdaille Shock Absorbers are to our mind the best things for Motor Cars ever invented.”

Woolpit, Suffolk
18th June, 1914.
I enclose cheque for the Account. I must again tell you how extremely satisfactory the Suspensions are. I drove the Car to-day over one of the worst bits of road about here at a measured pace of 45 to 50 miles an hour, and there was no uncomfortable jolting.

Column 5:
...running, and the advantages that I obtain therefrom. (Signed) J.A.L.B...

Moreton-in-Marsh, November 4th, 1913.
“The Car keeps the road better, road shocks are reduced and miles per hour increased, and tyres can be kept harder.”
H..... W.....

Kingsdown, Deal, Nov. 12th, 1913.
“After having had Houdaille Suspensions some thousands of miles on my Buchet Car, I cannot speak too highly of them. The car was well sprung before, but now she is the most comfortable car I have ever been in. When I drive in other people’s cars costing three or four times the price, I notice the great difference on a bad piece of road instead of, and it is, of course, due to Houdaille Suspensions which I have fitted in front and behind. . . . The steering is so deliciously free from vibration.” V.E.

Burgh, Lincs, December 20th, 1913
“I have now adjusted the Houdaille Suspensions as you showed me, and you couldn’t believe the difference there is in the steadiness of the Car. It isn’t the same thing at all, and we are delighted with them.” Rev. G..... R.....

Blackburn, Lancs, January 24th, 1914.
“I must say I am well satisfied with the fitting of my Car now that I have fitted Houdaille Compensators. I don’t think the wheels ever leave the ground, and the smoothness with which the Car goes over rough roads is marvellous.”
J..... B.....

Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth,
“Dear Sir, March 27, 1914.
Coming down here last Monday was a good test for the Houdaille, as the roads were awful. On a very bad bit of road (not a main road) I went at 30 m.p.h., only myself in the Car in absolute comfort.”
Yours Faithfully, C. Y..... (Major).

Dunwich, Suffolk, 30th Nov., 1913.
The Shock Absorbers are too effective, for I must have driven miles on a flat back tyre without knowing it. . . . I give you my word that it was like sitting on an Ice Yacht, yet there was the flat tyre. . . .
W. B......

From John Hargreaves Esq.
Temple Combe House,
Templecombe, Somerset.
December 22nd, 1919.
“I have been waiting to write until I gave my Hotchkiss a good trial on these bad roads to see what I thought of the Houdailles. I did so to-day, and am delighted with the marked improvement in the riding of the Car. It is quite a different proposition now, sitting inside over those dreadful pothole roads, and I am more than pleased with the result. . . . . Another thing I notice is the great improvement they make in the steering, taking away the vibration and making the steering so much smoother and easier.” (Two more sets ordered).
  
  


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