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).
Difficulties and implications of fitting front wheel brakes to cars with artillery wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\3\ Scan164 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1924 | |
| (COPY) To CJ. from BJ. BJ6/H2.4.24. Re FITTING FRONT WHEEL BRAKES TO CARS FITTED WITH ARTILLERY WHEELS. With reference to BY6/P31.3.24 attached (headed 'Artillery Type Wheels, both Steel and Wood for New Detachable Design'), this matter was discussed at the Sales Conference yesterday and we feel sure that it cannot properly be appreciated by R.{Sir Henry Royce} and Derby the very difficult position we shall be placed in unless some means can be found to enable front wheel brakes to be fitted to artillery wheels. The position is as follows:- 1. We have already accepted a large number of orders for and delivered cars with artillery wheels, with the usual promise that front wheel brakes will be fitted later. We have strongly advocated artillery wheels to those people who were considering having discs fitted, as it was generally agreed that discs make our cars extremely noisy. Other customers are always in favour of artillery wheels, especially those who use their cars abroad. 2. We do not think for a minute that these customers will readily submit to our now supplying them with wire wheels; they will accuse us of breaking our contracts and want us to take cars back off their hands if we say we cannot fit front wheel brakes with artillery wheels in accordance with the original arrangement. 3. I understand the Works have a number of artillery steel wheels on order. These apparently will be useless and should be cancelled if possible. 4. We have inserted in our catalogues a statement that we can fit artillery wheels if required, so all our catalogues are wrong. 5. If we cannot supply artillery wheels with brakes, the inevitable result will be that customers will take to discs again and we shall have continuous complaints about noisy Rolls-Royce cars. Discs not only make the car noisy inside, but make the car sound noisy as it goes past, and both considerably injure the Rolls-Royce reputation. 6. Presumably until something definite is settled on this matter, we must inform our salesmen and our agents, and cable to our depots and agents abroad all over the world, that they should not accept any further orders for artillery wheels. | ||