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).
Unsatisfactory springing issues and testing on car 46-PK.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\1\ scan0008 | |
| Date | 16th July 1924 | |
| X. 8410 S E C R E T. R4/M/16.7.24. To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.A.C. RE. 46-PK. X.8410. I agree with most of the comments contained in BJ11/H11.7.24., and will not trouble you with a reply until you have again had an opportunity of testing the car with different springing. Strictly speaking we are doing this job the wrong way about. The car should have been brought to me, and if it met with my approval should then be criticised by the Sales Committee. I should not have sent you the car 46-PK, but should have returned it to Derby as not representing a good standard - (springing, and slow running). I do not however propose to alter the sequence unless you think it is wasting the time of too many of your most valuable Sales Officials, because naturally Derby would not bring it to London unless it were thought to be as good as they could produce under the circumstances. The greatest mystery about this car so far is the very unsatisfactory rear springing which shewed a tremendous amount of friction even when the Shock dampers were entirely slacked off. This was even a greater sin than the fact that the springs were too stiff, the two together giving an extremely bad impression. I trust however by now you have received a car with the springing in the same condition as that on your trials car. I fear our more recent springs are turned out by the spring makers with the maximum possible internal friction. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||