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).
Letter from Rapson Tyre & Jack Co. to Mr. Hives discussing tyre mileage comparison results between Rapson and Dunlop tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\1\ Scan151 | |
| Date | 25th August 1924 | |
| v1238 CUSTOMERS' CARS ONLY DRIVEN BY OUR STAFF AT CLIENTS' OWN RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY. TYRE & JACK MANUFACTURERS BY APPOINTMENT TO H.M. THE KING. DIRECTORS: COL. R.{Sir Henry Royce} HALSEY, CHAIRMAN. F.{Mr Friese} LIONEL RAPSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR. VICE-ADMIRAL SIR LIONEL HALSEY, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., C.B. CAPT. F.{Mr Friese} MCKAY HAY, D.C.M. JOHN LOMAX (SECRETARY). Your Ref. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}8/L.G. Our Ref. FLR/BS.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} Please Quote. Rapson TYRE & JACK COY. LTD. Tyre Factory : NEW MALDEN SURREY Sales Dept. 477, OXFORD STREET, LONDON. TYRE & JACK MANUFACTURERS BY APPOINTMENT TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. Telegraphic Address: RAPSONO, NEW MALDEN, SURREY. Code: BENTLEY'S. Telephone: MALDEN 190, 191, 192. 25th. August, 1924. Messrs. Rolls Royce Limited, D E R B Y. Dear Mr. Hives, Very many thanks for your letter of the 21st. inst. and most interesting graph showing the mileages run by the different tyres in France. As I informed you in my last letter, the treads of the Rapson tyres had not had time to mature, which, as you are aware, effects tread mileage to a very considerable extent. The same remark applies to the four Rapson tyres which I preferred to be tested on your cars in England, but as these have gone to France, it will not surprise me if the tread blocks are torn away, as the tyres were despatched to you not out of the vulcaniser. However, I shall look forward with great interest to the results this new design of tyre gives, and I do hope your testers will run both front and rear tyres at 5 lbs. less than Dunlops. Taking the average mileages run by Rapson and Dunlop tyres as shown on your graph I notice that Rapson's gave substantially 13½ per cent better "average" results. The averages are as follows:- Near side rear. Off side rear. Near side front. Off side front. Rapson:- 1793. 1990. 3173. 3491 Dunlops:- 1729. 1909. 3104. 2446. All communications to be addressed to the Company, not to Individuals. | ||