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).
Demonstration and assessment of the S. & S. Shock Absorber device.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan069 | |
| Date | 20th March 1925 | |
| PN{Mr Northey}3/DN20.3.25. TO CJ FROM PN{Mr Northey} The S. & S. Shock Absorber. This is the device which had publicity in the "Daily Mirror". I was given a demonstration, along with CWB., of this device fitted to the springs of two cars, a Dodge and a Ford. The cars were taken over obstructions such as baulks of timber at various speeds, and in the case of the Dodge, we arranged for similar tests to be made also without the special device, that is, leaving the road springs normal. Undoubtedly this special fitting did enable excrescences to be absorbed in a very striking manner, but our impression was definitely that the difference was in effect, occasioned by lengthening the radius of the spring, therefore by increasing the leverage, enabling the spring leaves to flex considerably more than otherwise would be the case, there being sufficient clearance between the springs and the axle for this. I do not think that the special shape of this device or the fact that they have got a roller which is supposed to do wonderful things, has any bearing on its functioning, but that it is essentially merely a device for increasing the length of springs. If applied to the 40/50 HP, where the clearances between the buffers are already small, my impression is that the car would tend to bump very frequently. I think it would be interesting for HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to have these particulars shown to him. PN{Mr Northey} | ||