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).
Secret memo on chassis quality and steering problems for the 44-PK model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\3\ scan0128 | |
| Date | 13th March 1925 | |
| COPY. CJ. SECRET EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}7/H13/3/25 re. E.A.C. 44-PK. Many thanks for your CJ3/E9/3/25. My anxiety on this matter was that Sales Dept. should keep me in touch with their criticisms on these cars, and also the stage of quality which they expect from the cars. It is necessary that I should know what limitations can be allowed in the quality of chassis which are to be accepted. I understand it has been arranged for me to accompany Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} sometime next week with EAC cars to settle Sales criticisms, so will take full advantage of this opportunity to deal with the above. I appreciate the list of features raised by Sales Dept. report CWB16/LH{Mr Haworth}9/3/25 do exist, but, except for the steering, do not feel they are sufficiently serious to cause any delay in turning out these cars. The car, as a whole, I consider is an improvement on the present 40/50. The steering is a point which I do not like, and judging from the complaints and trouble we have had in satisfying customers in this respect, both on 40/50 and 20-RR cars, feel quite sure that if cars are delivered to customers with similar steering to 44-PK, we shall have numerous complaints. The steering gives one the impression of being particularly light, but when serious corner work or quick steering is undertaken, the steering becomes too stiff and appears to 'bind'. The driver immediately becomes aware of the fact that he has to steer the car with a definite effort. There is a tendency for the steering to joggle at low speeds over bad roads, and if the wheel is gripped to avoid this joggle, the steering builds up a very serious 'steering wobble'. Apart from the above, generally speaking, there is no other serious criticism on 44-PK, but there are several detail points which I will go into during our final discussion on this matter at next week's meeting with Sales Dept. as abovementioned. The report I have given is upon the running of 44-PK. I am keeping in touch as far as possible with the EAC cars going through production. These cars are not as modern as 44-PK, nor has the time been spent on them which has been spent on as 44-PK. It will be necessary for close co-operation to exist between the Experimental Dept. and the Production Dept. during the early production as stages if the production chassis are to be up to the standard of 44:PK when this chassis is finally passed by all concerned. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||