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).
Test results and viability of the 'RECTASKID' suspension device.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\5\ scan0202 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1927 | |
| To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG4. 2. 27. "RECTASKID". With reference to BJ16/El.2.27. We have tested out this device both here and on a London Trials car. The principle of this invention is to eliminate inter-lead spring friction. If we do this, passengers will hit the roof on very bad roads, although we know that low speed riding comfort on good roads will be improved. Fitting stronger springs as suggested by the inventor, besides being very uneconomical from the weight point of view, will not eliminate the trouble. If there is no internal damping, and the car hits a series of evenly spaced undulations with a frequency coinciding with that of the spring, the result is disastrous. Other troubles also come up such as - axle bouncing when braking and cornering, also steering wandering at high speeds. It is for this reason that we fit shock dampers. We cannot at the moment see any future for this device. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||