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).
Complaints about poor ride quality in Springfield cars and the recommendation to fit shock dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\1\ Scan009 | |
| Date | 28th June 1921 | |
| CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} X1494 R5/G28.6.21. X.3719 X.3461. SPRINGFIELD COMPLAINTS. X.1494. REGARDING RIDING OF CARS. You will notice that in the most recent complaints Springfield include the bad riding of the car on the road. If it was a thing of the past, and only applied to the thick leave springs, they should drop the subject. If they are still dissatisfied, I have given my advice that the only thing to do is to fit shock dampers. It will be remembered that all the best riding American cars that we have tested have some shock dampers in addition to springs which naturally have a good deal more friction than ours. The noticeable exception is the Buick but this is a bad car on the road, as Mr. Basil also found. Personally, I think the shock dampers we seem to have at last succeeded in making satisfactory are a decided improvement in steadying the back of the car, and enabling softer springs to be used without bumping on the rubber buffers. I therefore recommend, especially with our canti-lever springs, additional friction damping, as can be obtained by either Gabriel Snubbers which are a rough but effective device, or by the shock dampers that we have produced. It must be remembered, however, that these are additional and complicated fittings, cost money, give trouble, and perhaps from some points of view, are not worth their cost and therefore I do not press the matter, providing the R-R English and American Companies' Technical and Sales officials are satisfied with the present standard springing. With reference to your memo to Mr. Hives (CJ5/E16.6.21) the dictation I gave at your office did not turn out well; it should have read; "We think you will find that the riding of all the new cars until the leaves become rusty with use, will be thought defective through the absence of friction. If still more damping is thought desirable, I recommend that a trial be made of the Gabriel Snubbers on the back axle, or the fitting of the shock dampers we have already supplied. Personally I think all future cars should be fitted with these devices". Yours ever, R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||