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).
Report from Paris discussing De Ram shock absorbers, including feedback from Mazeratti and problems experienced by Hispano-Suiza.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 152\1\ scan0174 | |
| Date | 5th May 1935 | |
| Handwritten Top Left: E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} This may interest you. Please return Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Handwritten Left Margin: Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Thank you F 5/35 Handwritten Top Right: 4698 Typed Content: To: R.R. Ltd, DERBY. "Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ". PARIS Sr21/Dm {D. Munro} 3.5.35 re De Ram Shock Absorbers. Your Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 9/KW.29.4.35 safely received, and contents have been noted with interest. I immediately got into touch with De Ram, and will be informed by them of price and delivery date of these shock absorbers, similar to those supplied to Mr Zehender, who is Manager of the Mazeratti firm, and who is one of the greatest admirers of the Bentley. He said to me when he was driving our Bentley up La {L. A. Archer} Turbie, that if we fitted De Ram shock absorbers on it, we should not know the car because it would be so marvellous. He added that they had fitted these shock absorbers to their cars, and after carrying out extensive tests, found them to be the last word in shock absorbers. I have just taken on a salesman, who used to be with Hispano-Suiza, and he is also a very thorough mechanic. I have not pumped him very much yet re Hispano-Suiza and their agents, but have ascertained from him one of the biggest snags they are up against, viz. the apparent impossibility of properly lubricating the cylinder walls, owing to the angle at which the pistons are set. As soon as one "blinds" a car for any time, the pistons dry, and piston slap develops, and it seems that they have found no solution for this. Another very interesting news item is that one of their very latest "boxed-in" chassis has just broken in two in the hands of the customer! I will keep you informed au fur et à mesure that I get any further dope on this subject. Our new man considers the Bentley simply amazing, and has not yet been able to understand the "S". | ||