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).
From Mr. Pike to Mr. Cowen discussing the performance of springing and shock absorbers on various car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\4\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 31th March 1932 | |
| COPY. X216. MEMORANDUM: 31st March, 1932. FROM: Mr. Pike. TO: Mr. Cowen. re: SPRINGING. With reference to your memo. C17/C30.3.32, I think I can truthfully say that we have had no complaints with regard to the springing on the 6½-litre models since we started to fit the B. & D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Hydraulic shock absorber as standard on the rear. Once the correct road springs are fitted for the weight of the car, a springing to suit the requirements of the individual owner can be obtained by means of the very wide range of adjustment of the shock absorbers. The owner who sits in the back and is chauffeur driven usually requires a different type of springing to that which suits the owner-driver, the latter being as a rule more interested in travelling fast and consequently being satisfied with a less resilient springing than the owner who uses the car more as a carriage. The springs on the 8-litre are considerably longer than those on the 6½-litre and we have always looked upon this chassis as being particularly well sprung and I do not think that we have ever had any complaints with regard to the springing which have not been overcome by merely adjusting the shock absorbers. Actually the best sprung of all our models is the 4-litre. Prior to the fitting of the B. & D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} shock absorber as standard, we had a considerable number of complaints about springing, the difficulty we experienced being that the friction type of shock absorber which was then fitted was not constant in its action and required continual adjustment and cleaning in order to obtain reasonably good results. I would mention that there is a stock of B. & D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} shock absorbers and parts for same held by the Weyburn Engineering Co. Ltd. This firm has been in communication with me and has put up an offer for us to purchase all the stock at very reasonable prices. I have not done anything in the matter yet, but it occurs to me that possibly it might be of interest to you to obtain a few of the shock absorbers in order to experiment with them. I can, if you wish, supply you with a copy of the list of parts which they have submitted to me. (Sgd.) H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Pike. HP/HEM. | ||