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).
Compilation of private, trade, and press testimonials regarding the Houdaille hydraulic suspension system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\2\ Scan121 | |
| Date | 18th May 1920 | |
| A Few Private, Trade and Press Appreciations. The HOUDAILLE Hydraulic Suspension or Self Compensating Shock and Recoil Absorber for MOTOR CARS. SOME METHODS OF FITTING TO AXLE AND CHASSIS OF ANY CARS IN ADDITION TO THOSE MENTIONED. IMAGE CAPTIONS: - HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO FRONT OF 6-cyl. SUNBEAM 1920 MODEL. - HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO BACK OF 6-cyl. SUNBEAM 1920 MODEL. - HOUDAILLE AS FITTED TO BACK OF BUICK 1920 MODEL. - HOUDAILLE AS FITTED to one side of car as shown, or outside of frame. - Front Axle Fitting for Wolseley & other Cars. COLUMN 1: SUSPENSION OF MOTOR CARS. THE HOUDAILLE. SHOCK ABSORBERS TRIAL. By John Prioleau. "Daily Mail," March 26th, 1914. (A brief Extract from.) On bad bits of road, that I am accustomed to crawl over when the suspension is not fitted, I now drive over at ordinary speed without finding any necessity for slowing down whatever, the saving of wear and tear on the car must be very considerable indeed, as there is, comparatively speaking, no "dithering" vibration from even the worst surfaces. ... What appeals to me most is the absolute steadiness of the car in running under all conditions and the way in which it sticks to the road. ... The effect is such that every road seems to become a track. It is only essential to record the fact that on only two other occasions in 17,000 miles has my engine been so entirely pleased with itself. It is possible to drive "all out" at my own sweet will, with scarcely a bump or jolt to mar our pleasure. It was the fastest fifty-mile run the car has ever accomplished, and it has done over really inferior surface which, in previous days, would have shaken us to a jelly at a 30 per cent. lower speed. THE RESULTS. But I must distinguish between the effect of these remarkable Shock Absorbers on the running of my car and the effect of the latter on our spirits. At any speed of which the car was capable the wheels were successfully kept in constant contact with the ground. Again and again I was amazed at our shock-less progress over certain stretches which I have long learnt to regard with dread. Instead of jolting over them slowly, knowing in reality that we ought to slow down still more, we sailed triumphantly over them at twice the speed and more. ... It was certainly one of the most satisfactory trials I have ever carried out for The Motor Club on the February, 1914, Trials. The car ran with exceptional smoothness. The car, a 12 h.p. Rover, has always possessed a wonderfully smooth suspension, but with the Houdaille Shock Absorbers fitted it was a revelation. In addition to that the Houdaille enabled the car to maintain its speed over the worst roads, so that it is able to execute a better average time. From "The Nottingham Guardian", July 19th, 1916. The technical press is at present discussing the merits or demerits of the Houdaille Shock Absorbers. It would be a great pity if any fancied criticisms were allowed to weaken the reputation of an excellent and well-tried and proved device; every brand of Shock Absorbers on the world's markets, and I have no hesitation in saying that the Houdaille type is the most efficient I know. It transforms bad springing into comfort and it adds the last ounce of comfort to good springing. COLUMN 2: From Messrs. T. C. Smith & Co., Aberdeen, W. It is exceedingly pleasing, having had so many failures, to be able to report upon the Houdaille Hydraulic Suspensions, asked me to try a set on their absorbent qualities. It is only fair to the Houdaille Co. and the inventor to report upon their behaviour in The Daily Mail. "The Nottingham Guardian," April 8th, 1914. I have tried some 20 different patents and have come to the conclusion that the Houdaille is easily the best. I may say that my car now rides with more comfort on a solid tyre, over a country road, than it did on a pneumatic before the fitment was made. I could never go back to the old style of springing, and I attribute largely to the manner in which the main springs are now controlled the fact that I can run my car with some 15 lbs. lower air pressure in my tyres. This in itself is a tremendous comfort on a long journey. From "The Autocar," May 23rd. 1914. The springing is excellent and combined with the Houdaille Shock Checks is exceptionally comfortable on rough roads, so that one is able to make a good average without discomfort. In addition to this the Houdaille spring checks ease the steering very much on bad ground as all plunging is cancelled out. "The Motor," 3rd Feb, 1914. Quite a popular piece of mechanism with our French Cousins is the Houdaille Shock Absorber which is now being placed upon the English Market. ... One can trace the origin of the basic principle adopted in the recoil cylinders to this device. COLUMN 3: Messrs. THOMAS SHAW (Dundee), Ltd. 32, Reform Street, Dundee. 6th May, 1914. We shall be pleased to fit a Set of Houdaille Suspensions to one of our Demonstration Cars. Please have these sent forward, front ones for the Chassis, the rear ones for the axle. We may say that we have already given these Suspensions a thorough trial and we are convinced that they are by far and away the best of the kind that have ever been introduced in the way of improving the springing of cars. Demonstration Cars, Pierce Arrow, Lanchester, Daimler, Lancia. The Fife Motor Co. 40 High Street, Dunfermline. 24th June, 1914. We are pleased to demonstrate to all who may be interested, the running of the Car, especially over very bad parts of the road. From the Hon. Leopold Canning, Hartpury, Gloucester. July 10th, 1914. I am writing to inform you that your Houdaille Suspensions fitted to my Kaiserpreis Minerva Car, which I recently purchased from the Bristol Motor Co., have proved invaluable. Not only do I obtain a vast deal more comfort on my car, but they give me more speed, greater mileage on the same tyres, less petrol consumption a sweeter clutch, and have practically abolished all skidding. From Mr. L. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} HORNSTED, who has broken most records at Brooklands. 27th December, 1913. I feel I must thank you personally for having persuaded me to have the Houdailles fitted; they have given me the two world's records. Without them the car was uncomfortable at 60, and almost impossible at 105 or 6, owing to the bad state of the track; with them she is without exaggeration an arm chair at 125 or 130 m.p.h. The difference they make to the tyres is extraordinary; before I had them fitted the tyres were getting quite a rough time at the end of about 50 miles. Now I've got the Houdailles, and have done quite 200 miles more at greater speeds and the tyres are no worse than they were at the end of the first 80. Warne's Hotel, Worthing. 18th May, 1920. It may interest you to know that I have had a set of your Shock Absorbers fitted by Messrs. F.{Mr Friese} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Searle & Co., Warne's Garage, Worthing, to a six-cylinder Black Car. I have heard good reports about your Houdailles, but I should never have thought that such a difference in comfort was possible. I came last night over a piece of road which I consider the worst main road in the South of England, and to my surprise I was able to touch 40 miles per hour, without the slightest discomfort, as before the Houdailles were fitted it was a misery to drive over the same road at 15 miles per hour. Yours faithfully, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} WEST. From M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} L. C. BOASTED (Signed) A.{Mr Adams} W. M.D. Without them we should have been shaken out of our seats at a much slower speed. I shall certainly recommend them to my friends. COLUMN 4: Mr. James Percy (The Motor News). July 10th, 1915. I am pleased to say my Houdaille continues to give me the utmost satisfaction. From P. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Banks, Ltd. Motor Engineers. Navigation Street, Birmingham. July 2nd 1914. No doubt you will be interested to hear of the results obtained during the short time we have taken up the Agency for your Suspensions. We have fitted these to a large number of different makes of Cars including the 100 h.p. Brazier and several 20 h.p. Light Cars. In all cases the results have given the same, viz., a revelation as regards comfort in springing, perfection in breaking, and lessened wear on tyres and transmission owing to the wheels always staying on the road. This is particularly noticeable on the Light Cars, as on one of our clients' car, he can now drive at a much increased speed with a greater degree of safety. From Mr. Ross, Hereford. Woodfield, nr. Ross, Hereford. 10th June, 1914. Jones, of Edgar Street, Hereford, has fitted your Houdaille Suspensions to my 18-24 h.p. Austin and also to my 6-cyl. Sunbeam Car, with the greatest success as to smoothness of running. As showing our confidence in these Suspensions, we are always willing to make a charge for fitting if on trial to fit them on approval, not only if our Client is not perfectly satisfied with the Results obtained. From I.I. Lord Street, Liverpool. (Signed) S.S. 15th June, 1914. I recently had two pairs of Houdailles fitted to my Car, a 20 h.p. Minerva. The Car was very well sprung before, but it is certainly greatly improved, particularly at speed on rough roads. (Signed) S.S. RIGHT-HAND COLUMN: From The Daily Telegraph. 20th June, 1914. The race also demonstrated the effectiveness of the Houdaille Shock Absorbers, as the winning Sunbeam and several other Cars used these Suspensions with excellent results. Sunbeam Cars. (Sunbeam won). Tourist Trophy Race—Hondaille suspensions were fitted to all the winning cars. Sunbeam Motor Co. Isle of Man (Races). 11th June, 1914. Houdailles stood exceedingly well.—COATALEN. Many thanks for your congratulations on the Sunbeam Race win, in the Tourist Trophy Race, Kindest regards. From Monsr. Maurice-sur-Bargoire, Rhone, Lyons. 15th June, 1914. You will be pleased to hear that the Houdaille Shock Absorbers which are now being placed upon the English Market, are proving in every way to be perfectly satisfactory, and that the basic principle adopted in the recoil cylinders is perfect, and you will be pleased to hear that my car has won first prize at the last meeting. From Jones, of Edgar Street, Hereford. We are always pleased to fit these Suspensions on any car to prove their worth, and are quite certain of our ground in so doing, as we know that in nearly all cases they have proved to be perfectly satisfactory. From a client not perfectly satisfied with the Results obtained. The client is not perfectly satisfied in making a charge for fitting if on our Client has fitted them on approval, not only has our Client not perfectly satisfied with the Results obtained. | ||