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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).
Need for controllable shock absorbers, citing performance issues and retailer feedback.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 16\5\  Scan026
Date  24th September 1931
  
COPY. x7520.
To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re. Shock Absorbers. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}19/E24.9.31. X.7520. X.5520. X.235.
c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}

I understand that Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is probably bringing a car down to you tomorrow fitted with similar shock absorbers to those fitted to the Packard car about which I wrote to you the other day.

The question of controllability of shock absorbers for varying conditions seems to be one of extreme importance.

One or two illustrations of what I mean may be given in the following :

58-GN., the car I use with low rating springs was excellent under all ordinary conditions in England.

When taken to France it was hopeless.

When fitted with hydraulic shock absorbers with a different setting giving greater damping it was very much better, but when brought back to England and used under normal conditions, I find that I have lost the advantage of low rating springs and am back almost where I was before.

This afternoon we had a meeting with our principal retailers discussing chassis prices and various other things.

At the end of the meeting I asked them if they had any points to raise.

Mr. W.E. Rootes, who, as I think you know, is the leading light of the motor traders in this country, spoke in very high terms of the P.II car and of the 20/25 HP but deplored the fact that our springing was not very much better than it is.

He emphasised the fact that it was the weakest point in our car and, although he did not actually say so, I know at the back of his mind he is quite certain that their mass production cheap Hillman Wizard is a better sprung car, but he did emphasize the need for controllable shock absorbers and explained that, whilst his car might be good for running about in London, yet if he drives down fast to Maidstone, it is bad, and if he gets it right for the latter conditions, it is wrong for the former.

I do hope therefore, that every effort will be made to let us have adjustable shock absorbers as soon as possible, even if as the first step it is necessary to adjust them individually as distinct from dashboard control.

Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}
  
  


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