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).
Comparing English and French coachbuilding techniques, specifically regarding joint construction and the 'Silent Travel' principle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0167 | |
| Date | 30th January 1935 | |
| CWW/MO. 30th January, 1935. When our representative went to France we gave him instructions after the test was completed to go on to Paris and visit French Coachbuilders. From his visit to these coachbuilders it was apparent that most of them are building the bodies exactly as we build, with the exception that they are using steel panels instead of aluminium. During the Show period Mr. Sclater paid a visit to our Works accompanied by Mr. Evernden and passed a remark that no wonder our English coachwork rattled when he saw that all our joints were slip tenioned, glued and screwed. He informed us that not one of the French coachbuilders would carry out this procedure. They adopted the method of making every joint flexible and floating. In view of these remarks we ourselves built a Standardised Bentley Saloon on these lines but it proved so flimsy and weak that we could not fit it to the chassis. It was, therefore, built up in the ordinary way again. In view of these remarks we asked our representative to pay special attention to these flexible and floating joints and we are amazed to find that we were entirely misled. All the joints constructed by the French coachbuilders are exactly similar to our own, tenioned, screwed and glued, with the exception of Messrs. Van Vooren's who adopt "Silent Travel" principle. Speaking of the "Silent Travel" principle, this again is very interesting as when this principle first came out the whole of the body was subjected to Silent Travel blocks. We understand now from Messrs. Van Vooren's representative that they have abandoned this idea and only adopt the "Silent Travel" principle on what we call the bottom sides, this being the part where the body joins the chassis. Whilst our representative was looking around the body at Van Vooren's which we believe they are constructing for you, he noticed that the body was bolted permanently to the chassis at the rear end. He drew Mr. Sclater's attention to this and also the French coachbuilder's. The French coachbuilders were rather amazed at the explanation given that | ||