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).
Customer complaints about the springing and riding qualities of the Phantom II and 25 HP models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan275 | |
| Date | 23th May 1930 | |
| COPY. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} OY. c. to PN.{Mr Northey} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X4117 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}2/MJ.23.5.30. X.4117 X.7410 X.5410 X.7520 X.5520 RIDING QUALITIES. PHANTOM 11 & 25 HP. With reference to R.1/M19.5.30. Attached is a list of Phantom 11 springing complaints in customers' hands. Twenty-one are complaints of hitting the buffers, and these have been dealt with so far by increasing the rear spring poundage. Of the remaining fifteen, in three cases the springs can definitely be said to be too weak. Therefore, of the Phantom 11 complaints so far in 60% of the cases we have erred by fitting too flexible springs and in no case so far have we felt justified in decreasing the poundage. The type of complaint we do not know how to deal with is No.13 "Hitting the buffers, and dithers". Nos. 18, 19, 20, 21, and 25 are of the same type. "Dithers" is the expression used by the customer who does not know how to classify his impressions, and may mean "Pitching" or poor low speed riding. Our rear springs are now such that when four people get in the car the buffer clearance decreases by 1.250". Thus if we spring for a buffer clearance of 3.75" with three passengers, the addition of a fourth person and luggage brings us to bumping on the buffers. If we have to rely on the last half | ||