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).
The testing of 'Rapid' Jacks from Mr. Lionel Rapson and the subsequent negative recommendation for their use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M3\M3.6\ img046 | |
| Date | 27th June 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to CJ. c. to BM. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} c. to C. c. tp EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mr LIONEL RAPSON & HIS (!) JACKS 2 ORIGINAL. He's OPINION. EH5/LG27.6.19. 27th. June 1919. RE "RAPID" JACKS. X.3553 Mr. Lionel Rapson has been in communication with us with reference to testing "Rapid" Jacks. Attached herewith are copies of his letters. Mr. L Rapson sent one of his representatives to the Works with 2 of the "Rapid" Jacks so as to demonstrate them to us on our own cars. One Jack had suitable fittings for the front axle of a R.R. Car and the other was suitable for the rear axle of a R.R. Car. In both cases the jack is clipped to the axles - no drilling is necessary. The scheme is to carry four of these jacks permanently clipped to the axles. Attached herewith is a re-print from the "Motor" which illustrates how it is intended to fix these jacks on the front of a R.R. Car. On the rear they are clipped to the axle tube. The points which are brought up in favour of the "Rapid" Jack are:- 1. Safety. They claim that the car cannot fall off the Jack. 2. Convenience. They claim that one does not have to grovel underneath the car to fix the jack. 3. Less effort is required to operate the Jacks. Below are our conclusions with reference to these jacks after having examined and tested them. We are not impressed with the "Rapid" Jacks and should not recommend them for use on a R.R. Car. The obvious thing Contd. | ||