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).
Shock absorber issues, customer experiences, and proposed tests on cars in the U.S.A.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan166 | |
| Date | 13th November 1930 | |
| To H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (In U.S.A.) c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} 832 13.11.30. - Ba.1. x832. x7520. SHOCK ABSORBERS. The trouble with shock absorbers here is worse than in England. The people at Springfield admit that 90% of their troubles are due to poor workmanship, but they consider the accuracy demanded to make the shock absorber work effectively and silently is very difficult to obtain. They are arranging for me to meet a certain owner who has had the following experience. He has had in all eight R.R. cars. He bought a Springfield Phantom 1 and was in continuous trouble with his shock absorbers. Finally he threw them away and bought Delco Lovejoy which he claims gave no trouble. This same owner then bought an English 25 HP. but after a short time he had trouble with shock absorbers and as the service people did not overcome his complaint he threw them away and fitted Delco's. He has now just bought a new English Phantom 11 car, but says that he will not risk being bothered with R.R. shock absorbers and wishes Delcos to be fitted (which he will pay for) before he sees the car. He claims the cost of the Delco shock absorbers is very little compared with continually having to send his car in for attendance. I have ridden a short distance in the 25 HP. fitted with Delco's and I could not criticise them compared with a standard 25 HP. The proposal is that I may be asked to see this customer to try and convince him to leave the R.R. shock absorbers on. In the meantime we are making tests with the Delco shock absorbers on the 25 HP. The Delco shock absorber is very different to the old Lovejoy, it is very similar to our own except that it has no pin joints. It is horizontal opposed piston type, oil pressure fed to each end (have we a patent on this?), valves with fixed leaks. I propose buying a set of these and sending to England. We propose visiting the Delco Works at Dayton. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} -116- | ||