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 Paris trials of car 24-EX, detailing issues and the results of fitting a shimmy shackle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan053 | |
| Date | 12th May 1932 | |
| X4013. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 12.5.32. RE. 24-EX, PARIS TRIALS CAR. I went up to Sevres as instructed, and tried 24-EX before fitting the Shimmy shackle. (1) Selectivity was very bad, this feature has always been so with this car, and is definitely worse than any of our left-hand steerings. (2) Shocks from the steering were very bad when running over cobble stones and almost any road round the Depot. (3) The car is bad for booms. ----- I could not arrange to try the car and then return here as it is consistantly in demand for trial runs, but got them to agree to do the job right away whilst I was there. a trial run having been cancelled. It took them a day and a half to fit it, and I doubt whether the job would have been completed in that time had I not stayed. It was finished by noon yesterday the 11th, and I had half an hour to test it, the car being wanted for the Prince of Wales. My impression was - (1) The shocks from the steering at medium speeds over cobbles had been reduced 50%, at higher speeds there was not the same improvement. (2) Selectivity. I could not obtain high speeds owing to the treacherous conditions of the roads, the weather being vile, but from the tests I could get, I should say that there was no improvement at all. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} was under the impression that it was being fitted for this complaint. --------- Whilst I was there I dealt with two customers complaints. A new PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I II with diamond mounting complaint of vibrations upon accelerating approx. 20 M.P.H. I found that the torque reaction dampers had become solid, the fabrics had not been changed. The radiator was fouling the crossmember. These two jobs were made O.K. with a slight improvement with the vibration. | ||