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).
Issue of frame and radiator jellying on the Phantom and testing a new radiator mounting solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\4\ 04-page084 | |
| Date | 9th July 1932 | |
| G.W.Hancock from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. X 7941 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/AD9.7.32. RADIATOR MOUNTED ON THE ENGINE As you know, frame and radiator jellying remain one of our worst features on the Phantom. We have exhausted our cures on this subject without making a great deal of impression on the problem. The one test which logically should give us some improvement is mounting the radiator on the engine. When this test was carried out over here on 25-EX we know that there were some conflicting views on the results which were produced. My own impression was that if the torque reaction dampers were suitably adjusted we did improve jellying. I believe that you were not in agreement with this at the time. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} thought there was some merit in it and additionally thought that it might improve the steering. The car to which all these pieces have been fitted was 60-JS{Mr Johnson's Secretary} which is now in Paris. Roberts took the parts over with him and put them in the stores at Sevres. We want you to repeat the tests under the French conditions and with the opportunities of forming a clear opinion which you will have in France. I attach copies of two memos which have been written on the subject from which you will see that they want to get the car back in England on the 20th inst. and therefore we want you to make the tests as soon as you can. It will be necessary to fix up with Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} as to when the car will be available. We think that the job is worth doing thoroughly so that we can once and for all put a value on the experiment. Personally I am quite as interested in the steering shocks as in jellying because some of the cars with low rating springs at present suffer from the most appalling steering shocks and we have no cure under consideration. You will note that at one time I was thinking of coming out to join you but we have so much Peregrine and J.III work that this is not now possible. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Attached. Copies of Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/AD6.7.32 and CX{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}23/KW8.7.32. | ||