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).
Essential need for hydraulic dampers on the 20 HP model to prevent high-speed wobbles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\1\ Scan066 | |
| Date | 11th June 1926 | |
| To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X3809 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG11.6.26. X235 HYDRAULIC DAMPERS. Replying to BJ2/ES.8.6.26 and BJ1/E9.6.26. In our opinion the hydraulic dampers are an essential improvement on the 20 HP. When we mentioned that the 20 HP. car is safe from wobbles with medium pressure tyres, this statement was made with the knowledge of all the facts. It is quite impossible to give all those facts on a standardisation sheet. With the medium pressure tyres on the 20 HP. we estimate that we are in the same position as regards the risk of high speed wobbles as the present Phantom cars we are now delivering. During the last 10,000 miles test on the 20 HP. in France which was fitted with medium pressure tyres, it was reported that when one of the hydraulic shock dampers failed, there was a noticeable increase in the tendency for high speed wobbles, although the actual periodical wobble was not experienced - see final test report GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}3/EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}4.5.26. We have Mr. Royce's definite instruction contained in RL/M22.4.26 that hydraulic dampers must be fitted at the first opportunity. He, having signed the standardisation sheet is anticipating these shock dampers being fitted to production cars almost immediately. In our opinion, the fact that all the contd :- | ||