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).
Competitor vehicle suspension designs (Buick, Cadillac), tyre noise (Firestone), and a test drive of a Hudson.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\4\ img085 | |
| Date | 20th November 1935 guessed | |
| -3- As regards the quietness of the Buick the tyre people say they have noticed that torque tube cars are quieter than Hotchkiss drive, and attribute it to the springs being shackled at both ends. There is no rubber in our Buick but with Hotchkiss drive rubber is necessary. The Cadillac have thick rubber bushes in the front eye of the rear spring and in the top bearing of the rear shackle. They have also a rubber pad between the spring and the axle and say it does not affect the drive, though I have not seen it yet. The spring bush is the Harris type, with thick rubber bushes, somewhat thus:- There are also many of them running about with these rubber bushes in the lower triangle bearings and the testing dept. are well pleased with them. As regards tyres I saw two people from Firestones, who claim to have a quiet tyre, Type R Firestone. They have a branch in England who will supply for test. But I have many doubts about this, as Cadillac tests say the Firestone are the noisiest tyres though they have not yet tried the very latest type. Firestones knew nothing about any difference in wheels for noise, but think they have noticed differences in bodies. Generally people we have met here do not seem to think they are free from tyre noise and are always worrying about it. We have replied jointly to your cable and hope to have more information on Friday. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} P.S. I should say that we went out in a Hudson with the front torque members and flexible conventional front springs yesterday. It seemed to give a very good back ride, the best infact, though Olley does not agree; but the steering and controllability were very bad. It could be set into a snake like oscillation from one side of the road to the other on a straight piece of road. It oversteered badly and also rolled. | ||