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).
Customer complaints about continuous and irritating popping in the exhaust of the New Phantom model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\2\ scan0183 | |
| Date | 17th March 1926 | |
| X. 8230 Extract from BJ3/H17.3.26. X. 8350. Popping in Exhaust of New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I. 2. Popping in the Exhaust of New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I 'B'. I enclose copy of correspondence concerning this. Briefly, the position is that we are obtaining a very large number of complaints from customers concerning the continuous and irritating popping in the exhaust. It was only yesterday I was again attacked by Mr. Arthur Gibbs, who mentioned that he had taken on old motoring friend of his for a run in his Phantom, feeling sure that he would be so pleased with it that he would order one or two, as he has a number of cars of different makes. After driving for half an hour his friend said he would never think of buying a Rolls-Royce if that was a sample, on account of the continuous noise in the exhaust. Later he went out in a 20 HP. and on account of its comparative silence, was delighted with it. On all sides we hear that the popping in the exhaust is insistent unless the hand throttle is kept closed. On the other hand, we know from experience that drivers will not take the trouble and risk of keeping the hand throttle closed, as they know that if they put their brakes on and forget to open the throttle in time the engine will stop; the average chauffer is altogether too tired to worry himself continually by manipulating his hand throttle, while the owners are merely told by the men that the popping is a Rolls-Royce failing and they must put up with it. Even with the hand throttle closed, most cars make a certain amount of popping in the exhaust. Perhaps you can clearly place this position clearly before Mr. Royce, to ascertain what he thinks can be done in future. Yours sincerely, sgd. B.Johnson. | ||