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 from Rapson Tyre & Jack Co. Ltd. detailing a successful high-speed tyre test on the Prince of Wales' car, comparing Rapson and Dunlop tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan223 | |
| Date | 23th December 1924 | |
| Telephone - MALDEN 190, 191 & 192. Telegrams - RAPSONIO, NEW MALDEN, SURREY. COPY RAPSON TYRE & JACK COY. LTD. NEW MALDEN, SURREY. Our Ref: FLR/MW. December 23rd.,1924. Dear Sirs, For the attention of Mr. Basil Johnson. Further to my letter of the 18th inst., in connection with which I have not up to the time of writing received any reply from you, I have pleasure in informing you that yesterday, having obtained special permission for Brooklands Track to be opened to test H.R.H. The Prince of Wales' Rolls-Royce car fitted with Rapson tyres all-round, a speed of 80 miles per hour was achieved without any signs of front wheel wobble being perceptible. You will perhaps be interested to hear that at 75 miles per hour, the same car fitted with Dunlop tyres commenced to show signs of front wheel wobble, which developed into a very excessive wobble at 80 miles per hour. I understand from His Royal Highness' Chauffeur that the Prince intends to invite a representative of your Company to be present on the car when a demonstration will be given to support the above, immediately after the holidays. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that during comparative trials of the above-named tyres, during which I drove the car personally, both on road and track, I came to the conclusion that it was undoubtedly the best car I have ever handled in the whole of my experience. The efficiency of your new four wheel brakes is really most extraordinary. Yours faithfully, (Sgd) F.{Mr Friese} Lionel Rapson Governing Director, RAPSON TYRE & JACK CO. LIMITED. P.S. In view of the foregoing, it will now obviously not be necessary for me to visit Derby, or cross to Montlhery, as suggested in my last letter. Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., D E R B Y. | ||