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).
Investigation into a customer's persistent complaints about the vehicle's springing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan072 | |
| Date | 30th May 1928 | |
| Ha X 4117 For. C.N. Ch.E. O.W.B. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} T.X. Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}/ARO2/MU30.5.28. C.L.A. HARTRIDGE ESQ., - CHASSIS 11-UF. Visited at Findon near Worthing, 24th May to investigate Owners' persistent complaints re springing. Total weight of car 51 cwt. unladen. Hooper "Sedanca" body. The original springs were 2000-2100 lbs which would probably be O.K. for fast touring with a good passenger load and luggage, but in view of customers complaints, and the fact that the car is rarely driven much above 40 M.P.H. we sent new springs of 1700-1800 lbs which were fitted by N., but the customers complaint was as strong as before. I was met at Worthing Station 10.45 and spent the day in the car with Mr. & Mrs. Hartridge and the driver. We covered some 140 miles including a run to Southampton and Hamble. We did not return to Worthing till 7.45. For the first 50 miles I sat in the back with Mr. Hartridge. My own idea of the general comfort of riding is that it represents a very fair average, in fact I have seldom been in a 40/50 which rides more smoothly, and while the car cannot be described as super-smooth, it is a decidedly good "average" example. The upholstery is good, being soft but not too "Bouncy", seat and back angles are O.K. and the body is particularly free from boom, rumble or rattles, tyre noise in rear seats is very slight but more pronounced in front seats with windows open. I found that Mr. Hartridges' complaint is more one of jolting when travelling on average road surfaces at 35-40 m.p.h. he is not so much concerned with slow speed dither, which is by no means pronounced. I pressed Mr. Hartridge to say if he was quite certain he really found any other car more comfortable when going over the same roads at the same speeds, and he persisted that both his 8 year old Cadillac and also 29.MK were more | ||