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).
Letter discussing the suitability of Balloon Tyres for cars owned by Indian Maharajas for Shikar (hunting) purposes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\3\ Scan111 | |
| Date | 22th June 1928 | |
| COPY. FROM. Managing Director. D.R. Co. (India) Ltd., BOMBAY. TO. W. Bond, Esq., Technical Director's Office, FORT DUNLOP. 13234/X.6. 22nd. June. 1928. ROLLS-ROYCE. DERBY. Dear Mr. Bond, Reference your WB.{Mr Brazier/Mr Bell}5.66 dated 6th. June. I should be only too delighted to get in touch with the staff of the Maharaja of Patiala, who himself is at the present moment in England, with regard to the equipment of his Rolls Royce Cars, and I will also see Mr. Fenn, the Rolls Royce Manager for India. I quite understand your point with regard to Balloon Tyres, and agree that it is not a question of climatic conditions. At the same time, no doubt you will realise that these multi-millionaire Maharajas have absolutely no regard for cars or tyres. They purely want a machine to take them across country possibly 30 or 40 miles without any sign of a road, and I venture to suggest to you that under the circumstances, the contention of the Maharaja has a good deal in it. Balloon Tyres, in my opinion, look at it as you may, are not suitable for Shikar purposes, where a B-line is taken across the country, irrespective of the car or the tyre, and this I think has been conclusively proved from the results of all classes of cars used by the Maharajas even down to Fords. Furthermore, I can say that all makes of Balloon Tyres are subject to the same complaint as the Maharaja of Patiala puts forward. | ||