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 to the Managing Editor of 'The Autocar' discussing the use of a chronograph for performance testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0106 | |
| Date | 30th June 1939 | |
| B22 261g. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 30th June, 1939. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Smith, Esq., Managing Editor, "The Autocar", Dorset House, Stamford Street, LONDON. S.E.1. Dear Mr. Geoffrey Smith, Thank you for your letter of June 29th. The chronograph which you mention in your letter is a remarkably good instrument for exceedingly accurate measurements of acceleration and deceleration, but as it records a space time diagram, the process of transferring this to acceleration is somewhat laborious. The biggest advantage which its use produces is that all results are entirely independent of the speedometer, a notoriously unreliable instrument. The simplest way to adapt the chronograph to recording acceleration and deceleration is to use a 5th wheel which runs alongside the car. If you would like to send you Representative up here, we will show him the set up. Personally, I am a little doubtful if the instrument is not a little too delicate for your tests, but you can form your own opinion. I am going 'Dolomiting' next week, and will not be back at the Factory until July 10th. Yours sincerely, | ||