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's springing and vibration complaint for Chassis No. GCK-52, detailing tests and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\5\ Scan061 | |
| Date | 5th August 1926 guessed | |
| (2) Chassis No. GCK-52. Cont: less comfortable than the same car that I previously had with two brakes, one does not get so tired riding in it as in the Phantom." After this Sir John Latta was seen and a run taken in the car with him. As regards his 40-50 h.p. after a certain amount of readjustment of the shock absorbers, he agreed that the springing of the 40-50 h.p. was reasonable, but he still does not like the springing of the 20 and wrote again on 27th July as follows:- "Thank you very much for your promise to do what you can to bring my new 20 h.p. up to the standard of the little one I previously had, and which everybody regarded as so perfect. I am quite satisfied that even if you cannot get it as good as the little one referred to, you can assuredly make a great improvement on its present state. It is not that it is terribly rough, it is more in the nature of a continuous vibration, in fact very much like sitting on a very solid foundation without springs at all." This car has been tested and my impression is that it is a fair average specimen of 20 h.p. springing, perhaps being a shade firmer than the average. There is perhaps a certain amount of high frequency vibration noticeable in the back, which is not quite normal. It is, however, certain that some very definite alteration will be required to make Sir John Latta happy with regard to this car, and more particularly Lady Latta, who is extremely sensitive on this question of springing. I have therefore made arrangements to receive this car from Sir John Latta and am sending it to W. tomorrow, Friday 6th August. It will previously have been sent to Messrs. Barker to have the upholstery sheeted over. Would you please arrange with Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to compare this car with our standard 20 h.p. by means of his cars and water test and then after testing yourself consider with By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} if any other combination or any alteration in the strength of the springs is likely to give Sir John Latta the springing he desires. At the same time perhaps it will be found possible to reduce the amount of high frequency vibration felt in the back seats, and it is very desirable that this should be done, as I rather feel it is a part of the springing complaint. My own view is that, considerably lighter springs of the same relative strength as the present ones can be fitted all round and in considering the load to be carried the driver and two passengers in the back should be allowed for. | ||