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).
And clarifying vehicle testing procedures, including a 10,000-mile test and an Alpine pass run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0007 | |
| Date | 18th June 1926 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. We will arrange to make a long test on one of the production chassis as soon as they come through with these latest points standardised. We consider your suggested procedure for 10,000 miles tests for the future to be excellent. It is almost identical with the original suggestions made in CJ1/E28/9/25 with the exception that he suggested the car should be run 2,000 instead of 1,000 miles by Sales and that the car should be run in traffic for this test and, as regards these points, your programme should be amended to allow of this. With regard to trying Alpine passes, we will arrange for Sales officials to join the car in France towards the end of its run. They can then drive it (accompanied by your men if you like) to the Alps. Your men can remain at the bottom of the Alps resting whilst the Sales officials have two days on Alpine passes. They can then drive the car back across France. The drive in both directions across France will represent approximately 500 miles which will be part of the 2,000 miles to be driven by Sales. With regard to BJ3/DN4/6/26, please set out a list of the tests proposed therein and opposite each say whether you consider the test is desirable or not. If it is undesirable please state for what reason you consider it is unnecessary, so as to help me more clearly to understand your suggestions and how the tests might be reduced or modified. My aim is to adhere to the policy originally laid down that alterations to cars should be tested for 10,000 miles and that all tests should be made with covered bodies such as are used by 90% of our customers. With regard to the request made to you as to hydraulic and friction type shock dampers which can be inter-changed for the purpose of making comparative tests and to change the rear springs over from one car to another, please let me know who has instructed these and whether you consider they are unnecessary and in what way the suggested tests could be made without. As regards the card index system, you have read BJ16/E7/6/26 incorrectly. It reads: '7, 14 or 30 days' and not '7, 14 and 30 days.' BJ. | ||