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 Thomson & Taylor discussing axle control, front spring deflection, and patent oil seals.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0214 | |
| Date | 21th April 1936 | |
| Header: -RAILTON CARS- CARS DRIVEN BY OUR STAFF AT CUSTOMERS' OWN RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY. Letterhead: THOMSON & TAYLOR (BROOKLANDS) LTD. AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERS WORKS AND RACING STABLES- BROOKLANDS TRACK BYFLEET, SURREY. TELEPHONE: BYFLEET 520 & 521. TELEGRAMS: TEEANTEE, BYFLEET. GARAGE AND SHOWROOMS- PORTSMOUTH ROAD, COBHAM, SURREY. TELEPHONE: COBHAM 85. DIRECTORS: KENNETH J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} THOMSON. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} K.{Mr Kilner} TAYLOR. REID A.{Mr Adams} RAILTON. W. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} HAYWOOD. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} KENNEDY. S. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} WHIDDINGTON. REID A.{Mr Adams} RAILTON - DIRECTOR & CHIEF ENGINEER. PLEASE REPLY TO: BROOKLANDS TRACK. YOUR REF. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW. OUR REF. 52. RAR/MVG. [Handwritten Note]: LES MARTINDALE To: W.A. Robotham, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Limited, Derby. Date: 21st April, 1936. [Handwritten Note]: noted} Understood that - the front axle cannot be used as a roll rod. Why not if Hudson's get away with it? Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Body: Dear Robotham, The axle control to which you refer consists simply of two radius arms, hinged on a vertical axis to the axle beam, so that they take the brake reaction, and allow the axle to be located laterally by the springs. The spring seats themselves are pivoted on the axle beam so that the springs do not produce any artificial stresses in the radius arm and vice versa. [Handwritten Note]: The springs are, of course, shackled at both ends. The chief feature of the device is that the axle beam itself is used as a torsion bar, and the whole thing works very well in practice. In answer to your last paragraph, I think it is a very good way to get a high front spring deflection without spoiling the directional stability. It does, of course, not alter the possible adverse effect of the low period springs on the tramp and shimmy condition. The Hudson is, however, fairly free from these troubles. Can you tell me which of the various patent oil seals, such as "Gits", is in your experience the best, and which do you use yourselves? Yours sincerely, [Signature of Reid A.{Mr Adams} Railton] [Handwritten document number top right]: X1104 | ||