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).
Informational leaflet for King's Spring Leaf Lubricators, explaining their function, installation, and benefits.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\5\ Scan077 | |
| Date | 8th November 1920 guessed | |
| STOP THAT SQUEAK !!! SPRING LUBRICATION NOT A FAD. AUTO SPRINGS MUST HAVE OIL. Spring leaves are made to slide over one another and thus take up the shock. If the surface of the leaves is not lubricated, they grow rusty and squeaky, and eventually become like a solid bar of iron. Every jolt is communicated to the rider instead of being taken up by the springs. Some motorists conscientiously and laboriously pry the leaves apart, one by one, and insert oil or grease, only to have it squeezed out again when the wedges are removed. This is a dirty job at best, and the effect is short lived. Some at great expense have metal strips filled with lubricant placed between the spring leaves. Most people neglect the spring altogether, however, and sooner or later it breaks. When the jolting becomes too disagreeable they buy shock absorbers. KING'S SPRING LEAF LUBRICATORS solve the problem cheaply and effectively. There is no trouble in putting them on and none in keeping them at work. THEIR ACTION IS AUTOMATIC. The automatic action is based on a strictly scientific principle—capillary attraction. The sliding leaves of the spring act like the fibres in a wick, and draw the oil up or down in the same manner as a wick. The thin film of oil constantly being spread between the leaves supplies just the right kind of lubrication just when and where it is needed. When the car stops, the feeding of the oil stops also. When the oiler is first applied there may be a slight drip from the soaked pad, but afterwards, when the motion of the car has brought the capillary attraction into full play, the action is automatic and no such waste need occur. WHAT THE LUBRICATOR IS. Each oiler consists of one circular metal cover containing felt or absorbent material, one grooved, oblong back plate, and two small coil springs. The cover which is provided with a deep projecting recess or reservoir is applied to the nearer side of the spring, so that the absorbent material presses against the edges of the leaves, with the metal back plate directly opposite on the other side of the spring, as shown in the upper part of the illustration. Care should be taken to see that the back plate is fastened with the flat face against the side of the auto spring, and that the oil hole in the reservoir is at the top, as in the illustration. The two small coil springs, one above and one below the auto spring, hook into the eyes of the cover and back plate, holding oiler in position, as shown in the illustration. The coil springs will extend sufficiently to accommodate almost any auto spring. The oiler, thus held in position by the tension of the coil springs, will not slip down the auto spring, but will stick where it is attached. The oiler, being small and-round, and possessing no sharp corners, is not unsightly, and does not interfere with the washing of the car. HOW TO ATTACH. Two oilers are required for each ordinary half elliptic spring. As shown in the lower part of the illustration, these should be placed five or six inches from the middle of the spring on each side. On most springs this locates the oiler at a point where it will include the end of next to the shortest leaf. To oil the lubricator the first time, soak the absorbent material with oil before attaching. If the springs have been neglected for a long time and are very rusty, or the weather is very cold, paraffin mixed with engine oil, should be used at first; otherwise ordinary engine oil will do the work. After the oil has worked through the rusty leaves, it will be necessary to re-oil only about once or twice a month, according to the amount of use which the car gets. RE-OILING. To re-oil, apply the oil-can to the hole in the projecting part of the cover, and fill the reservoir with oil. Repeat, after allowing it time to soak up, until the reservoir will take no more oil. There being very little pressure on the pad in the centre, it will absorb the oil and feed it into the spring leaves. The reservoir is provided with a new device which prevents the absorbent material from backing into it and closing the oil hole. The occasional use of the oil-can with this oiler will keep the auto springs in first-class "springy" condition. The result is effective beyond the belief of those who have not actually tried it. SOLD BY ALL DEALERS. SAMPLE SETS AT 1/6 PER SET, OR 1/9, POST FREE. FOUR SETS, POST FREE, FOR 6/6. SAVE YOUR SPRINGS, AND RIDE IN COMFORT. | ||