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).
Draft letter to 'Silver Ghost' owners regarding steering vibration and offering a free wheel balancing service.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\3\ 03-page62 | |
| Date | 11th December 1925 guessed | |
| D R A F T. Proposed Letter to be sent to Owners of "SILVER GHOST" Cars fitted with F.W.B. Dear sir, We think it desirable to revert to a matter which was freely discussed about fifteen years ago, namely, a device to avoid any tendency which might exist with relatively sensitive and direct steering, such as is fitted to Rolls-Royce cars, to develop an uneven vibration of the steering wheel when running at high speeds, due to a want of proper balance of tyres on the two front wheels. In these days of arterial roads, high-powered engines, increased weight of front wheels with brake drums and a tendency to lower air pressure in tyres, the wisdom of keeping the tyres properly balanced becomes accentuated. When it is realised that a wheel with a tyre only 4 ozs. out of balance will, at a road speed of 60 m.p.h., have the equivalent of 25 lbs. out of balance, it can readily be seen that reasonable steps should be taken to avoid any wobbling effect which might be produced owing to this lack of balance of the tyres. However well the actual wheel (without tyre) may be balanced, it is probable that when a tyre cover and tube have been fitted to it, the balance will be considerably upset. Having regard to this probability we feel it is very desirable that some method of balancing each wheel and tyre complete should be provided for your car, and thereby ensure steadier steering control at high speeds. To enable you to have this advantage on your car, we are prepared to undertake, without charge, (provided your car is left with us during December or January) the fitting of a balancing device to the wheels of your car which has been specially designed to afford an easy means of re-balancing a wheel after any change of tyre. The original fitting of this device can only be carried out at one of the Repair Depots of the Company. The time required is one day, and should you desire the work to be done, we would ask you to give us reasonable notice that you are sending the car in. Yours faithfully, The PN{Mr Northey} note now 'entirely amended' & adopted by B.J. | ||