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).
Letter discussing issues and solutions for improving vehicle riding quality.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan233 | |
| Date | 15th November 1927 | |
| X2900 ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. POST RECEIVED 28 NOV 1927 RECEIVED NOV 1927 OY9.R.11.15.27 November 15th, 1927. Mr. Robotham, Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby, England. Dear "RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}": RE: RIDING QUALITY Your note Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LG28.10.27 referring to difficulty experienced with the American front springs, brings up a subject which I think is so incapable of solution at 3000 miles distance, that it should be left until such time as you can come over here and really see what our experiences are on riding quality. For example, we have fitted American front springs on a number of English Phantom cars to overcome complaints and in at least 50% of these cases, we have satisfied the owners. The English Phantom car recently sold to H.M. Crane of General Motors has been on General Motors Proving Ground near Detroit, and one of our service men has been called in to make carburetter adjustments etc. The general comment of the General Motors officials on this car is one of very great enthusiasm with regard to the power, speed, silence and in fact everything except the riding quality. It is fair to say, however, that this car is fitted with R.R. hydraulics in front and Hartfords at the rear, and their opinion might be changed very much by fitting hydraulics front and rear. However, as I said at the start, I think that the only way we can get together in this matter is to have you test our cars and one of your own experimental cars under our road conditions. Referring to your interesting report Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LG2.11.27, in which you emphasized the fact that riding quality is more a matter of mass distribution than anything else. Can you not find time to carry out the very simple experiment of swinging a 20 horse car, as you proposed to do last July, so that the ratio of k2 to A x B can be definitely established. (Continued) | ||