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).
Proposed improvements for a Phantom car in France before its 10,000-mile trial.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\2April1928-June1928\ Scan061 | |
| Date | 28th April 1928 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} C. to BJ. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C. (crossed out) WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} (crossed out) ORIGINAL (stamp) PHANTOM - re. CAR IN FRANCE. (Handwritten) Xs4904-X7770 (Handwritten) Xu66s (crossed out) During your visit we wired for this car to be returned to England for certain corrections and further improvements before it commences the 10,000 miles trial. I agree however to ordering at once the materials embodied in the improvements that we are so anxious to get into production. They consist of: (1) Side by side brakes giving an improvement in the hand brake, a saving in weight of approx: 40 lbs., and also cost. This improvement is extremely desirable. (2) Shorter hubs and wheels which help to make the car more manageable in traffic, and saves some weight and cost - also a desirable improvement. (3) Moving the engine forward, economising the body space and enabling us to cancel 'B' steering, short scuttles, and the high roof, very definitely improving the appearance because of the lower roof and the better shape of scuttle, and making the car more popular with the Chauffeur driver. So that as soon as this can be in production we positively refuse to supply any more 'B' steering. We must make this point very definite to the extent of losing a certain percentage of orders rather than spoil the appearance and popularity of the whole of our cars. This modification to the roof will add somewhat to the riding and steering qualities of the cars, and we cannot obtain this low appearance in any other way, and we shall be forced to adopt this policy in conjunction with "SS{S. Smith}" model and the 20HP. The beauty of the idea is that it can be applied at a very early date. (4) The central oiling when the car is returned will be modified in view of the policy of doing this moderately instead of universally, HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}' idea being that on the front axle we shall connect together all the parts to be lubricated at one point where we can apply an Enots. The same may be carried out on the back axle if we find there are places that are difficult to make self lubricating for the period of time we have suggested. We are in hopes that before this car returns to France it will be fitted with a weir type of induction pipe which has lately promised to be valuable, in that we can cut off the exhaust heating to the throttle and its objectionable valve in the exhaust pipe. There are some modifications to the steering: when I saw it, it had an objectionable long: tube which I could not agree to. Steering is dealt with in another memo. Pistons are dealt with in another memo. If there is any advantage in the single bolt pedestal skirt, here is a chance of fitting 6 more for confirmation. (The following sentence is typed with handwritten amendments to form the final version) We shall be sending on the 30th the modifications we think would make this piston the best we know. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||