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).
Experiments with springs, shock absorbers, steering, gear ratios, and seating for car testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0378 | |
| Date | 1st June 1928 | |
| To C. from BJ. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} CHB. We understand that further experiments are being made with these springs, and we should be glad of an opportunity of testing a car with them so adjusted and damped as to overcome this difficulty. We understand it is hoped that this may be effected by the alteration in the proposed viscosity modification to the hydraulic shock absorbers, concerning which experiments are now being made. In regard to steering, PN{Mr Northey} and all of us realise that it is generally understood that we have by no means arrived at satisfactory finality on this point, and that we, like all other makers of heavy fast cars, are in the same difficulty of trying to overcome the new conditions which have recently arisen. At present we do not know of any car with better steering than our/own, but we understand that further experiments are to be made in our endeavour to improve and make safer the steering at high speeds. Meanwhile PN{Mr Northey} agrees that the 1 to 2 5/8 gear ratio is satisfactory with side steering springs as in 8-HX. We all consider it desirable that, before a car is sent to S. officials to test the springing, in future it should be fitted with a seating accommodation of the same shape, springiness and type of cushions as are fitted to our standard cars, as anything which is worse or less comfortable than our standard cars is apt to give an adverse impression in regard to the road springs. BJ. | ||