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).
Difficulties of fitting S.S. bodies to chassis and proposing a building rig for coachbuilders.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\4\ Scan042 | |
| Date | 17th April 1929 | |
| DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from AJL. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJLL/LG22.4.29. c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BODIES FOR S.S. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}9/M17.4.29. Having mounted all the SS.{S. Smith} bodies on their respective chassis here in Derby we are in a position to appreciate the probable difficulties that the coachbuilders will be up against when they come to mount their own bodies (built on our subframes) on the chassis after the body is completed. In the first place we should remember that we supply the subframe and the chassis, if the subframe does not fit the chassis after the body has been built, we, and not the coachbuilders, will be at fault. It is very evident that we must do all in our power to obviate this very possible occurrence. From our experience, which is the only experience at present obtainable, and therefore worthy of note, we should say that however clear and accurate the drgs., however accurately the chassis and subframes are made, and in spite of personal supervision, difficulties are bound to arise when the coachbuilder puts his completed body on our chassis. Our own subframes and chassis were made as accurately as possible, the coachbuilders were supervised and assisted in their work and yet trouble arose. After the first two or three bodies had been mounted we attempted to overcome these troubles by sending a man to the coachbuilders to measure up their bodies (21-EX and 22-EX) before they were despatched to Derby. In spite of this we were still in trouble. Subframe and chassis being large units when complete and being built up of various pieces on which limits in size are bound to be allowed, cannot all be exactly alike, and therefore cannot exactly fit one another. In our opinion the only safe way to ensure that the bodies will fit the chassis is to make and supply the coachbuilder with a solidly made rig on which to place the subframe while he builds his body. The rig should take the form of a chassis from the dashboard to the petrol tank, and could be mounted on four pedestals. It would be fitted with subframe supports, brake gear levers, dashboard, pedals and possibly step irons. In addition all the points at which fouling can occur would be indicated by special dummy pieces; amongst them being rear wheel arches (very important must indicate wheel position on rolling bump) - (21-EX and 22-EX had this fault), exhaust swan neck, battery box, petrol tank filler, petrol pipe and telegage pipes, autovac tank, and all other danger points. It will also be necessary contd :- | ||