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).
Disadvantages of the American branch supplying their own road springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\7\ Scan326 | |
| Date | 15th November 1930 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X7 410 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MW.15.11.30. R.R.A.I. Referring to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}25/E14.11.30. There appear to be certain disadvantages in R.R. of America supplying their own springs. (1) Now that Oy. has left the American Co. we do not know who would be sufficiently capable technically to develop the required standard for American conditions. Obviously, if they make their own springs we cannot control what they make. (2) The road springs not only control the riding comfort. They also control - (a) The steering selectivity, high speed wobbles etc. (b) Road holding. (c) Braking. It is therefore possible that the steering, braking and general safety of our chassis might be severely criticised, when the fault in reality would lie with the fitting of over-flexible road springs after the chassis had reached U.S.A. (3) Presumably the chassis will be road tested here. If we adhere to our general practice they ought to be run on the same type of spring as they will eventually have fitted. This may introduce complications. The above we think may be R's view of the situation. We appreciate the commercial advantage of transferring the responsibility for riding comfort to Springfield, as it is certainly the most controversial complaint on the chassis. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||