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).
From CJ establishing stricter road trial standards for alterations, specifically regarding back springs tested on fully loaded Landaulette bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\2\ Scan038 | |
| Date | 17th February 1920 | |
| COPY. To Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} From CJ. To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From CJ. c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to EE. c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C.K. CJ6/E17.2.20. X 2626 RE ALTERATION IN BACK SPRINGS. X 3066 It seems to me that the alteration in back springs, which is now recommended, would never have been necessary if the Engineering Department would realise what I have been striving for years to make them realise, namely, that there is only one proper may of testing a Rolls-Royce car which has a novelty on it and that is with a Landaulette body, fully loaded, open at the back and carrying luggage on the back grid. For the future I shall refuse to look at any report on the behaviour of a car or a new part unless this has been made under the above conditions. I shall always be happy to receive reports as to the behaviour of a new part with an open car but I will not agree to the standardisation of any new part or the acceptance of any new type of chassis until the testing, which has hitherto been carried out on/open cars, has been carried out on closed cars above referred to. The fault in this case was not discovered by the Engineering Department; it was not discovered by the Test Department; it was discovered owing to my personal discomforture in the Landaulette at Christmas time and the remarks which I then heard from Crawford and the opinions expressed by de Salamanca when he arrived at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. This fact is most distressing and shows the necessity for the regulation above referred to.. Please arrange in future that all standardisation sheets and all other reports of road trials should state definitely whether the trials are made on a closed car subject to the above conditions. CJ. | ||