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).
On the springing of cars, detailing the results of fitting Hartford shock absorbers and Continental springs to a Phantom II chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\1\ scan0278 | |
| Date | 27th June 1931 | |
| EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} K5410 Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}3/T27.6.31. Re. Springing of R.R. Cars. I have just seen EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}'s. copy of memo Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}2/KW26.6.31. It may be useful in connection with this question of fitting Continental springs to long type chassis, to put on record our experience in carrying out certain work on Captain Thistlethwaite's car. It will be remembered that this is a standard long type Phantom 11 chassis. We had to improve the controllability of this car for high speed work and to endeavour as far as possible to give it the stability of a Continental type car. It has been arranged to fit a complete set of Hartford Shock Absorbers all round and if these alone were not effective to fit Continental type springs. As the job proceeded stage by stage, we were in a position to estimate the benefit of - (1) Hartford Shock Absorbers. (2) The Continental springs. (3) Hartford shock absorbers and Continental Springs. Assuming that we effected an 80% improvement, we should allocate the percentage to the various features as follows :- (1) Hartford shock absorbers only. 10% certainly no more (2) Continental front springs only. 70% (3) Continental front springs and shock absorbers. 80% We did not make any test of Continental springs fitted to the rear of this car, as we endeavoured to obtain a sufficient degree of satisfaction for the customer as economically as possible. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} | ||