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).
Intention, challenges, and policy regarding fitting shock dampers to post-war cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 78\2\ scan0358 | |
| Date | 23th November 1921 | |
| To C.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X3461 R7/G23.11.21. X.3461 - RE SHOCK DAMPERS - CJ3/E17.11.21. X.2628 I am in receipt of your memo of the 17th. I do not think I made myself quite clear about shock dampers. I said it was my intention and recommendation that the post-war cars were to be fitted with flexible and frictionless road springs and shock dampers on both front and rear axles. That was the intention, and it was good, but the execution was damnable. I do not blame anybody else for my short-comings in not being able to fit satisfactory shock dampers to the back of our post-war cars, but on the understanding that our front shock dampers were passably satisfactory it was only natural to suppose that we could produce at least equally good ones for the back of the car. One or two attempts were made, however, which were not very successful, still it was always my desire that shock dampers of the progressive order or single acting ones should be fitted to the rear of the car. Later it was thought by the Works that these fittings were unnecessary and that thin leaf springs did all that was necessary. I agree that, providing satisfaction can be obtained by changing the springs, this was the better policy, rather than fitting shock dampers. On my own car I have consistently persevered, when time would allow, to get shock dampers fitted to the back axle, and contd:- | ||