Letter from Rolls-Royce of America detailing steering efficiency tests and road reports for various vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\3\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 24th September 1927 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X3682 OY.R.92427 September 24th, 1927. Mr. E.W. Hives, Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby, England. Dear Mr. Hives: RE STEERING The following note on Steerings should be interesting:- "At Mr. Olley's request, tests were made to show the efficiency of the steering mechanism. Six production cars were tested as well as one Silver Ghost1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial with a 2 start steering. The tests were made in the following manner:- with the front wheels jacked up in the straight-ahead position, the pull on the steering wheel was measured on a spring balance; and the torque on the front wheels was measured by means of a 100 inch bar, or lever, and a spring balance. Curves were plotted of the average results from six stage 5 cars with the 1.625" worm, the best of these - 293 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} -, the poorest - 292 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} , and Mr. Ainsworth's Silver Ghost1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial - 336HH. "The road report on these steering follows:- 336 HH Excellent 284 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Fair, but somewhat sticky 285 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Fair 288 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Generally good, though slightly sticky at times. 292 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Stiff, especially to the right. Somewhat sticky 293 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Good 294 RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Does not self-center. Very sticky. Stiff when hot. "Even with four or five hours on the cranking rig, it would seem that the present steering is by no means the equal of the 2-start Silver Ghost1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial. In spite of the fact that the cruves for 336HH and 293RM {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} are almost identical, on the road 336HH is far usuperior. In fact it is far superior to any Phantom steering I have tried. It should also be remembered that it has only a 17" wheel instead of an 18" wheel, which makes the difference even greater. | ||
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).