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).
Customer feedback and potential design improvements for the 20 HP chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\5\ Scan021 | |
| Date | 18th November 1925 | |
| To By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from BJ. Copy to.... Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BJ13/H18.11.25. Handwritten: Y4118 Re 20 H.P. Chassis The following is an extract from a report by CWB. in regard to his conversation with a customer who was considering the purchase of a 20 H.P. Can you please let us know whether these two items are receiving consideration, or whether there are some reasons which make it undesirable for us to adopt them. B.J. Extract from CWB5/LH {Mr Haworth} 17.11.25, re Mr. Gerald Mere: GAK-65. He had three criticisms of our cars which he thought were important, and in which respect he considered we were a great deal behind the times. He specially asked whether it were possible for him to be provided with a car which was modified in these respects to suit his wishes. I advised him that we could not make alterations in design in particular cases, and that we had a very good reason in all cases, for any particular design we had adopted, although such reason might not be obvious. He then requested that his views on these matters and his wishes might be put before the highest authority, which I promised to do. His criticisms were: (1) The adjustments of the brakes were such as to require the use of a pit. He considered that it should be possible by merely turning some hand wheel conveniently placed on the chassis to make a very considerable amount of brake adjustment. (2) The emptying of the oil from the base chamber and removal and cleaning of the filter was a messy operation. He considered that a valve of some description, accessible from under the bonnet, should be provided to empty the oil out, and that a readily accessible filter, which could be removed without disturbing the oil in the base chamber, should be embodied. (3) He considered that the oiling up of the chassis was altogether too laborious an operation, and that it should be possible to arrange for a chassis to run, without damage, with oilings at intervals of not less than six months. He quoted 'The Bentley' as an example of high class cars in which this was possible. | ||