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).
Tests on rubber body mounting and tyre noise on the Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\1\ scan0222 | |
| Date | 29th January 1936 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} X 304 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}17/KW.29.1.36. Rubber Body Mounting & Tyre Noise on the Phantom III. In conjunction with Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} we have made tests in London on 34-EX, which is the brown limousine car fitted with rubber body mounting only, to determine the improvement in tyre noise effected by this modification. We are of the opinion that this has reduced tyre noise by 50%; in fact, we think that the car might be considered passable in this respect if the original Dunlop '90' type tyre was used with it. We know that Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} has expressed views that are opposed to this, but we do not agree with him, and he came with us when we tried the cars on Thursday last and agree with our results verbally at the time. We carried out tests round Derby and came to the conclusion that the body movement relative to the frame was not increased to an appreciable extent by the rubber body mounting, particularly with the stays in position. The tests in London were carried out with the stays in position. It is quite clear that it would be some little time before we can get rubber shackles ready for production, though there is no doubt that these make a further improvement and bring the Ph.III up to Ph.II standard. We are of the opinion that we have got to take a stand and say that the first cars should be produced with the rubber body mounting only, and in difficult cases we have the special tyre, which when coupled with this rubber body mounting will raise any Ph.III to a better standard than the present 20/25 for the tyre groans complained of. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} A 15,000 miles test is the only satisfactory way of ascertaining whether the body life suffers from this alteration in mounting. The increase in body movement being so slight, we should not expect serious trouble. | ||