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).
Comparing the expensive, inefficient built-in jacks on Phantom III and Wraith models with a proposed cheaper, portable hydraulic jack.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 140\2\ scan0158 | |
| Date | 10th March 1939 | |
| 1166 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} W/S. c. Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} W/S. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}9/MH.{M. Huckerby}10.3.39. JACKS. The four wheel jacks we fit to P.III and Wraiths are a very expensive, very inefficient way of jacking a car. We think that built in jacks have become a psychological requirement as they have been well "put over" and their drawbacks never aired. B.V. will have a portable hydraulic jack costing 25/- which fixes onto any of the four corners of the car and is very easy to operate. To jack a Wraith by the present system takes about 4 times as long and requires twice as much energy as with the portable jack. Two wheels are jacked up because of one puncture. Perhaps it is not realised that since the advent of wireless and heaters the built in jack pump is not accessible. It takes less time to start jacking with the portable jack than with the Wraith scheme. Punctures are very infrequent nowadays, perhaps one every two years. For this emergency P.III's and Wraiths carry 55 lbs. weight of jacks (costing £10) whose reliability leaves much to be desired. As regards jacking up for washing, the portable jack enables one wheel to be washed at a time. Alternatively, 30/- worth of garage jack might be bought by the owner for the benefit of his chauffeur and this does not add weight to the car. There is no real case for built in jacks and there are many disadvantages. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} are in favour of the B.V. scheme for all cars. It is our intention to use this scheme on the whole of the rationalised programme unless Sales disagree. We can demonstrate the B.V. arrangement on new type cars in the Exp. Dept. or we could, by making special pieces, fit the necessary brackets to a Wraith for tests by Sales. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||