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).
Performance of low rating springs and shock absorbers on car model 25-EX, comparing continental and English road conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan012 | |
| Date | 22th September 1931 | |
| X4013. X.4013. X.7941. X.7410. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} re 25-EX. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}3/E22.9.31 I have read with very considerable interest Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}'s report, Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}21/ET.18.9.31 in regard to the springing of the above car. In view of my own experience with low rating springs on 58-GN on the Continent, I personally was very much surprised to read what EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} and Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} had to say on the subject of the springing of 25-EX. I think it is important that they should be given a copy of Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}'s memo. on the subject. Will you please do this. I am sending a copy of it to JLE{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} as he also gave a favourable report in regard to the springing. I do not know where 25-EX is now but I think it should now be tried by the same people on ordinary English roads and by sitting in the back seat. I say this because, whilst the springing at the back of 58-GN for Continental use was considerably improved with the shock absorbers you sent to me when I was in Switzerland, it is quite evident that the same shock absorbers deprive one of the benefit of the low rating springs when used under ordinary conditions in England. It is quite evident to me that it would be wrong to standardise low rating springs with the shock absorbers having this setting, and it indicates all the more clearly the urgency of our arriving at some satisfactory solution of adjustable shock absorbers. I am putting this matter on the agenda for discussion at our next meeting. In this connection I quite agree with the views expressed in your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/AD18.9.31 regarding the dangers of more and more damping. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} [Stamp: RECEIVED 28 SEP 1931] | ||