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).
Technical memo providing feedback on steel wheels, axle control, and springing for a car with four-wheel brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\3\ Scan194 | |
| Date | 16th March 1925 | |
| X4586 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. BJ2/H16.3.25. STEEL ARTILLERY WHEELS FOR CARS FITTED WITH FOUR WHEEL BRAKES. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/LG11.3.25. With reference to the car with open touring body fitted with steel wheels and controlled front axle, sent to us to try this week-end, PN.{Mr Northey}, GWB. and I formed the following opinions:- STEEL WHEELS. We found nothing against these with the exception of the rough finish of the weld, which we presume is inevitable. AXLE CONTROL. Obviously the present ground clearance (which we understand By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} is dealing with) would be useless for cars abroad, as the cart ruts in which the wheels so often have to run in oversea countries are from 6 ins to 8 ins, and sometimes 10 ins. deep, and it is very essential that there should be a good clearance. We were unable to form much opinion of the effect of axle control, as the car was incorrectly sprung. We should like to try axle control with correct springing, both front and back, as it is impossible to form an opinion whether the springing is good, so long as the front springs are standard and the back springs are considerably over strength. Will you kindly let us have a car to try with correct springs, as we should of course be in favour of returning to our original standard front springs such as we used before the introduction of front wheel brakes, in place of the stronger front springs which are at present necessary with front wheel brakes. We are generally of opinion that the comfort of the stronger front springs is not so great as previously. We are not sure whether you require this car back in Derby this week, so I have left it at Gerrards Cross to be called for. It occurred to me that if you and EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} are coming to London this week-end with another car, one of you might wish to drive this car back again rather than send for it specially. B.J. | ||