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).
The test of a car to investigate a 'booming' noise by substituting the axle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0214 | |
| Date | 25th September 1924 | |
| X9940 PN{Mr Northey}12/DN/25.9.24. TO Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. c. to BJ " " EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} FROM PN{Mr Northey} 59-PK. I have today tested this car again, having substituted another axle taken at random from a chassis. This was done purely to demonstrate whether a change of axle could make any material difference to the "boom" at intervals in the back of the car, although one had reason to feel that such "booming" might equally be derived from engine periods. I find that the "booming" with the different axle is considerably improved, especially at 20 m.p.h. We cannot, however, retain this axle and am therefore having the old one put back and sending the complete car to you tomorrow. The brakes are giving satisfaction in every way, but the car is useless to us for purposes of demonstration until the engine is capable of giving a better performance. I cannot remember ever driving a 40/50 HP Rolls-Royce which gave one so poor an impression of power, and this is aggravated by the fact that the engine is not soft. Whilst the car is with you, I am hoping that EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} will be able to find an axle which in combination with the improved engine, will not cause the complete car to be a "boomer". I do not know the history of this car, but I cannot understand why a car having no power and being a bad "boomer", should have been sent down to Sales Dept. to sell in this condition without any, as far as I am aware, report or warning as to the sort of job lot it consisted of. PN{Mr Northey} | ||