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).
Conflict between performance and silence, specifically regarding knocking from aluminium pistons and suggesting a switch to cast iron.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\2\ scan 117 | |
| Date | 2nd September 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From CJ. c. to Ph. c. to W'r.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to BJ. copy c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to A.{Mr Adams} c. to Bp. X.2448 CJ12/D2.9.19. My Dear R, I am afraid that there is a danger to the Company luring in the misunderstanding between the Designing Dept: and the users of Rolls-Royce Cars. The reputation of a Rolls-Royce Car was made mainly on its silence and smoothness. Recently, since the War, the Technical Dept: seem to have put particular emphasis on the desirability of high horse power, that is acceleration, etc. If you were to interview, and I think you ought to interview those who have to deal with the Owners of Rolls-Royce Cars, such as the head of our Repair Dept: at Derby, the Head of our Repair Dept:, London, our Sales Officials, Mr. Northey, Mr Hanbury, etc., they would convince you that the majority of Rolls-Royce owners hate above all things any engine knocks or any other disturbing noise. You, in a recent memorandum which I saw yesterday at Derby, suggest that we should educate the Rolls-Royce owner to put up with knocks and to understand that he is going to be possessed of an engine, which if it ceases will go on again, and which accelerates quickly and goes up hills quickly. In my humble opinion no qualities in the Rolls-Royce car are comparable with its silence. The people at Derby assured me yesterday that they saw grave difficulties in overcoming the knocking of aluminium pistons, therefore, I suggest to you that you should at once authorise us to make cast iron pistons and that we may use these in standard manufacture and in repair until you have produced aluminium pistons which are free from the defect which is regarded by Rolls-Royce owners as being the greatest abomination. Mr. Wormald is strongly of the opinion; I am strongly of this opinion; BJ agrees. I note now that you say that cast iron pistons have been produced giving a clearance to which you never agreed. Contd. | ||