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).
Trial run with customer Mr. Hague concerning spring lubrication and tyre pressure on chassis 99-WR.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan165 | |
| Date | 16th November 1929 | |
| X4117. W/A - Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. to MOT. C. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} S. to Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hal2/W16.11.29. Chassis 99-WR. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Hague, Esq. I met this Owner, by appointment with Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester}, yesterday. In order to be sure that this Owner's man new the lubricators which should be used when lubricating the springs, I asked Mr. Hague if he would mind us going over and lubricating these points before we took a trial run: He agreed to this. Whilst this work was in operation, we noticed that there was very little flexibility in the tyres, and on enquiring from the man, he informed us that he had pumped the tyres up to 95 lbs. on instructions from Mr. Hague. I explained to Mr. Hague that the correct pressure for the tyres on his Car was 35 lbs. at the front and 30 lbs. at the rear. He objected very strongly to this, and became most abusive. He charged me with 'monkeying' with the tyres in order to get results which should be got from the springs. At this time it was useless trying to argue or discuss anything at all with him. The slightest remark which was made seemed to give him an opportunity for further abuse. He continued in this frame of mind whilst I sat with him in the back of the Car during the trial run, and so I decided the only thing to do was to sit quiet until the storm had blown itself out. On the return journey he was quite calm, and I waited for him to make any remarks he wished to about the Car, without referring to it at all myself. I was very much surprised when he volunteered the remark that the road we rode over was one of the worst bits in the north of London: he went on to say that we had made a wonderful improvement in the riding of the Car. A little later he volunteered the remark that he could not have believed that such an improvement could have been effected. contd. | ||