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).
Springing issues, 'booming' and 'bumping' on a Phantom II trials car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\3\ Scan067 | |
| Date | 17th January 1930 | |
| Her. C. RN.{Mr Robinson} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Ex. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} +7960 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}5/H17.1.30. re. 29-WJ. London Trials. With reference to PN{Mr Northey}'s memo. PN{Mr Northey}1/WT16.1.30. There may be some misunderstanding about this car, and I ask you to refer to our previous memos. on this matter, EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}12/H20.12.29. and EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}10/H24.12.29. We understand that in the first place this car was chosen as a trials car by PN{Mr Northey}, the car being then complete fitted with body etc., He considered the springing was too hard, however, and had weaker springs fitted. This raised the controversy re futility of changing springs of such a low poundage difference, refer Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/WJ.14.12.29. and PN{Mr Northey}1/WT19.12.29. I am not surprised that PN{Mr Northey} now reports bad booming etc. This was considered a bad feature when the car was at the Works, as per our report EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}10/H24.12.29., hence our surprise that the car should be chosen as a trials car. Referring further to PN{Mr Northey}'s first point, in fairness to the Works, the opposite view must be considered, i.e. "that the body is a bad example to our mind of booming, and we do not consider that this body would give any chassis a chance at this speed". If the body in this respect can be improved as suggested in PN{Mr Northey}'s first point, I certainly consider this should be done, even to justify it to be sold as a "reasonably good example of R-R Phantom II". Can PN.{Mr Northey} arrange for this to be done so that the car can arrive at the Works with him for his visit on Wednesday morning next. We can then arrange to go over the points together with the Experimental Dept. Meantime, as the car is now to be used on different work from that previously suggested (required for use by Sa. Spain, and that bumping at moderate speeds now takes place) I suggest the Experimental Dept. should prepare a pair of rear springs of about 1200 lbs.+ which have been "exercised" or specially "ran in and bedded". As Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has pointed out it is not so much a question of strength of springs in this case as possibly the great variation in their self-damping. P.S. Just find that above car now arrived at Works. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||