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).
Responding to telegrams from America regarding vehicle spring modifications and testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\7\ Scan322 | |
| Date | 14th November 1930 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RE TELEGRAMS FROM AMERICA. With reference to Worl/T.14.11.30. (1) The springs Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} refers to were fitted to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s car last week. Personally we think that they gave a big improvement in riding under our conditions here, but naturally we should like confirmation of this from America and London. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has taken similar springs with him which he can fit to 25-EX. The other question is whether these springs are likely to have the required life in service. We think there is no difficulty at all about the rear springs, what we have done is to increase the maximum deflection from about twelve to fourteen inches. Our rear springs have always been under-stressed and it is a long time since we heard of a broken leaf on either Phantom 1 or Phantom 11. In any case the spring life is a thing that we can rapidly test out on the bump rig. With regard to front springs, these we have been trying out have 5" deflection instead of the standard 3". There are a number of reasons why we should not like to make as big a step as this without prolonged road tests. We think, however, that we could go part of the way without danger, i.e. America always ran 3.6" defletion front springs on Phantom 1 we also on the Silver Ghost. This is merely stating what we think we could do. R.{Sir Henry Royce} has shewn himself sympathetic towards the lower rating springs but he naturally may have different views on what we should do. We are trying to arrange to let him have Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s car on Tuesday of next week to see the results of these road springs for himself. (2) We understand that BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} has dealt with the matter of coachbuilders drawings of the battery box support. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||