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).
Challenges of fitting and testing a shortened 'D' steering column.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\4\ scan0323 | |
| Date | 8th July 1927 | |
| +8430 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/LG8.7.27. RE: SHORTENED 'D' COLUMN. X 7+301 With reference to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}8/M6.7.27. We have no car upon which we could fit this shortened column. We cannot fit it on 14-EX because this is very different from a standard car. The simplest method of ascertaining the effect of the shortened column is to put 1¼" blocks on the pedals of a Phantom with a standard 'D' column. The steering wheel will be 1¼" out relative to the gear levers and screen but we have already experienced what effect this produces on 12-EX which has been tried by both Sales and Derby. If the reults of the trial with the blocks on the pedals were satisfactory, we could consider the means of running the column 10,000 miles. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||