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 difficulty of fitting standard Houdaille shock absorbers to the 40/50 chassis and a request for a solution from the manufacturer.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\2\ Scan056 | |
| Date | 2nd June 1922 | |
| W/S Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X/1152 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/T2.6.22. RE HOUDAILLE SHOCK ABSORBERS. We find it is impossible to fit the standard Houdaille shock absorbers to the rear of the 40/50 chassis. In order to allow for themaximum bump and rebound we require a shock absorber which allows 15" of movement. With the standard Houdaille, with this movement the shock absorber connections toggle. We found in order to fit a single lever shock absorber which would take care of our rear axle movement, it was necessary for the lever to be approx 12" long and the lever to be practically level in the normal position. I expect the houdaille people will say that there are a number of R.R. cars running about fitted with these shock absorbers. We quite agree that for ordinary conditions they will work satisfactorily but on the maximum rebound they will certainly toggle. In fact we have had a car come in fitted with Houdaille shock absorbers which have toggled. If the Houdaille Co. can send us a drawing of the arrangement which they recommend for fitting their shock absorbers to the rear of the R.R. car, which will allow for the full movement of the rear axle, we should be pleased to fit up a car in a similar manner and report to them. At the present time, however, we cannot afford the time or be put to the expense of designing brackets and modifying the Houdaille shock absorbers to do this. We do not agree to fixing the shock absorber itself on to the axle. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||