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).
Letter from Rolls-Royce of America to Rolls-Royce Ltd. in England regarding the qualities and adjustability of Lovejoy shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan033 | |
| Date | 24th September 1924 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE of America. Springfield. Mass. Oy3/E-92424. Sept. 24th.1924. Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Platford. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby, England. re. Lovejoy Shock Absorbers. Dear Mr. Platford, Have just come across notes for a letter in reply to yours of July 21st. on this subject. I thought my reply had gone and regret the delay. We are sending, marked for your personal attention under separate cover, one pair each of 40 lb. (nickel) 60 Lb. (bronze) and 80 Lb. (black finish) valve springs to enable you to change the rating of the pair of Lovejoys that Hives has. As regards the general qualities of the shock absorbers the most important ones are outlined below:- (1) Prevents rear axle and transmission clatter even with lightest settings. (2) Holds the car well enough even with light settings to prevent throwing to the roof except in cases of absolutely foolish driving. (3) Helps stop "pitching" on wavy roads, to which the 40/50 is rather inclined particularly with covered bodies. (Note. We consider the spring weights and the front shock absorbers are also very important for stopping pitching.) (4) The Lovejoy is sufficiently adjustable without being too much so. That is the chauffeur cannot very well monkey with them to cover up the results of neglected springs, but our service stations can set them in a few minutes, by changing the valve springs, to any setting that the average conditions of use may require. (5) No attention whatever is required, except perhaps (we are not sure of this yet) the renewal of oil every two or three years. Since oil under pressure does not come on any external joint, leakage is practically nil. The gland on the spindle is made with a gasket of rawhide I believe, and assembled under a press. It seems very satisfactory. | ||