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).
Brochure for 'Withers' Lubrigait Spring Gaiter', a product for protecting and lubricating car leaf springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\4\ scan0221 | |
| Date | 1st January 1921 | |
| The depreciation in value of a new Car generally amounts to at least 20 per cent during the first year of its life. After that it will be less, depending on the amount of use the Car gets and the attention given to it, to keep it in running order. Most owners of to-day are extremely careful. Haunted by that grisly spectreCodename for Phantom III, “wear,” which means “depreciation,” they ply the oil and grease faithfully. Engine, gearbox, back axle, wheels and shackle pins—everywhere in fact, except the long-suffering springs, and here, because the makers have provided no means of lubricating, save by taking them down, or the tedious and grimy method of the spring leaf separator, they stop! In time the grease inserted between the leaves when the springs were built, is used up by the friction of the leaves sliding over each other, and the springs become dry. Few parts of the Car are more exposed to the action of mud and water than the springs—they are completely unprotected, and after the original lubricant is used up, water quickly penetrates between the leaves, and forms rust. Wear then commences, squeaks develop, and the leaves move over each other stiffly, finally they do not move at all. The spring loses its resiliency and becomes hard. Instead of riding smoothly, the Car bumps over inequalities in the road. Your tyres suffer, as will the transmission and bodywork, you and your passengers suffer too, for you cease to get the ease and comfort in riding that the springs were intended to give. The importance of spring lubrication cannot be over-emphasised, the springs of the Car need protection and lubrication as much as the gearbox, and to-day complete protection and efficient lubrication of the springs is as easy to provide as for the gearbox. Spring covers then are necessary, and, of a kind, have been available for some time, but generally they have been so lacking in anything but the elementary idea of wrapping up the springs in a cover, with a mass of grease inside, that their adoption has not been usual. To fit them has been little less difficult than the other irksome methods of lubrication which we have already mentioned. Others have incorporated oil-retaining devices which are fundamentally wrong, and which necessitate frequent attention in the shape of fillings of lubricant, and none have previously attained such perfection that they lubricated, kept out the wet, and added to the appearance of the Car when fitted. “WITHERS’ LUBRIGAIT Spring Gaiter.” PATENT 5263/21 Elegance combined with efficiency. Perfect lubrication to spring assured. No water can get in—no grease can get out. By concealing the unsightly spring clip in the manner shown, it leaves nothing to be desired. Top Scroll threequarter Elliptic [Daimler]. Gaiter for front spring of 10 h.p. and 15 h.p. Wolseley. Showing grease containers made of non-absorbent material, which are in permanent contact with both sides of springs, ensuring constant lubrication | ||