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).
Mr. Royce's views on front spring stiffness for the 20 HP car and the introduction of new side levers and gearcases.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\3\ scan0248 | |
| Date | 4th June 1925 | |
| Private Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X8770 To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from CJ. c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BJ. c. to EY. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} CJ1/D4.6.25. Mr. Royce saw me this morning on two matters. Firstly, on the question of Front Springs for the 20 H.P. Car. He said that he would consider it dangerous to issue these cars with front wheel brakes unless the front springs were 25% stronger than standard springs, but that he did not recognise that this should seriously affect the comfort of the chassis, provided that the back springs and shock absorbers were of the proper stiffness. The same remarks applied in a lesser degree to the 40/50 H.P. CJ. said that Sales should be given an opportunity of testing cars with the altered springing, both the 40/50 and the 20 but that cars should not be submitted to Sales for this purpose until they have been tested by Mr. Royce and he is satisfied that the cars submitted are sprung in the manner desired by him. The second point was Mr. Royce was very anxious to introduce at the earliest possible moment into manufacture the improved side levers, because as soon as these are introduced as standard, then the under-frame can be applied to chassis fitted with these side levers as soon as the under-frame has gone through its necessary tests. Mr. Royce points out that the introduction of the side levers does not mean an entirely new gearbox, but it may mean a new gearcase, and, therefore, he considers it desirable that we should not proceed with making the present gear cases further than is necessary to prevent interruption in output. The information which we require from the Works and which should also be sent to Mr. Royce is as follows:- (1) Up to what chassis have we made the standard gearcases? (2) After the receipt by Derby of the drawings for the new gearcase, how many chassis would have to be made with the present gearcase before the new gearcase could be introduced without interruption of output? (3) Are the new side levers and the new gearcase such departures as would render 10,000 miles trial necessary before ordering material for them? In this connection it must be borne in mind that we do not wish to manufacture in parallel with the running of 10,000 miles | ||