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).
Steering difficulties on the 12-IX model, related to tyre size, shock absorbers, and axle design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan056 | |
| Date | 23th August 1926 | |
| [Handwritten:] Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, X7430 [Typed:] BJ2/D23.8.26. To P.H. from B.J. c. to W. [strikethrough] c. to W.F. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to C.M.B. Steering on 12-IX. I have discussed this matter with R.{Sir Henry Royce} and later with Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, and they inform me that we need not be at all distressed at the reports we have received from France on the difficulties experienced with the steering of this car, as they are caused by the fact that the car is fitted with the large size tyres, but that both the light axle and the hydraulic shock absorbers on the front would be quite satisfactory if our present standard tyres were being supplied. Therefore as there is no intention of fitting anything but our present standard tyres in future, the car is quite satisfactory. Of course they will still experiment with the steering systems which we hope will enable us to use semi-balloon tyres in future. These will not be adopted until we are all satisfied they are entirely satisfactory. In the meantime it is very desirable that you should satisfy yourself that from a customer's point of view the light axle and new hydraulic shock absorber on the front are quite satisfactory. Please, therefore, arrange with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} for you to try a closed car thus fitted at the earliest possible date. Your test should not only be on English roads, but on Continental roads, as so far I understand you have not yet tried this combination. So far as the rear hydraulic shock absorbers are concerned, I understand it is not intended to standardise these until they have been redesigned and proved themselves O.K. on a further long test. BJ. P.S. Of course you will appreciate that the light front axle and the front shock absorbers are now in course of manufacture and standardised for our future chassis at Derby, and it is for this reason that this test is extremely urgent and important. [Stamp:] RECEIVED 21 AUG 1926 H4 | ||