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).
Supplying different strength springs for testing in various countries with poor road conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\1\ scan0300 | |
| Date | 10th May 1927 | |
| - 2 - BY2/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 10.5.27. In order that Pt. should be able to judge for himself whether anything less than this would be workable, it was suggested that we should supply two sets of springs, as follows:- a/- 20% stiffer, 20% stronger, as defined above, b/- 15% stiffer, 15% stronger, on a similar basis, for some particular chassis specified by Pt. which he would be able to test himself, with the modified springs. I am of the opinion that we should work for the moment on the first of these two proposals, and we would like to have information from Sales as to which Countries should be treated on this basis. We would certainly include Russia with Australia. Possibly it might be considered that Poland and Sweden should come on a similar footing. As to whether South America would come in line with this or not is a difficult matter to decide at this end, as we have no information available as to road conditions outside of the towns. It may be that there are practically no roads outside towns and the railway facilities may be so bad that it could not be classed with United States, under which circumstances one would undoubtedly have to consider the car from the basis of running over very bad roads for long distances, which would mean Colonial springing now suggested. So far as Australia is concerned, this proposal would mean that we must at once order special springs, and replace the springs held by Messrs Dalgety, on this basis. Incidentally, we have been supplying springs for Australia for some little time, on the 20% stronger basis, in view of Pt's insistent demands for something better than the 20% stiffer, although we realised that by so doing we were departing from R's agreement, but considered we had no other option, as information supplied by Pt. was conclusive that some modification was necessary. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} [signature] | ||