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).
Three types of springs available for the Phantom II & 25 HP models and the importance of selecting the correct type for the customer.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\1\ Scan044 | |
| Date | 25th June 1931 | |
| 87410 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.25.6.31. X.7410. X.5410. SPRINGING PHANTOM 11 & 25 HP. As you are aware, we have now three types of springing available for both Phantom 11 and 25 HP cars. If these various types of springs are used intelligently it is certainly going to reduce customers complaints, and will make the majority of customers satisfied with riding. Unless, however, it is some one person's job to specify the springing for cars, we shall be in a worse position than ever with these alternative springs as we shall always have the wrong type specified for cars. In our opinion, it is necessary to get to know the actual customer's requirements and if possible let him try a car with the springs which it is thought would suit him, and give him an opportunity to criticise. We think it is much better to take a little trouble beforehand rather than let him complain later. The reason we have found it necessary to have three types of springs is because we have found by experience that we cannot satisfy the whole range of conditions with one set of springs. It is not helpful for the low rating springs to be criticised because the car does not hold the road as well at high speeds, or it is not possible to take corners as fast as with the stiffer springs. We do not understand PH's. complaint on GOS-59 (Ferrell). We are using similar springs with similar shock absorber settings on experimental cars with success. 18-G4 with these springs was tried by Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} during the Easter holidays, and 18-G4 and 16-G4 which we had on Brooklands the other day were fitted with the same springs which it is now suggested are impossible. Our own opinion is that the customers who like the soft springs are those who never go fast and would immediately 'sack' their chauffeur if he attempted to drive the car in the manner we have to do to shew up the fault. The point which has to be settled is who is going to take the responsibility of instructing the type of springs to be fitted to a chassis. Whilst we only had one type, this could be done easily from the body weights, but now we have three alternatives it can only be done by a person who knows the customer's requirements. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||