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 to Mr. Howledge seeking Mr. Royce's opinion on issues with 14-tooth axles and exhaust popping on Phantom models.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\4\ scan0334 | |
Date | 17th March 1926 | |
COPY TO Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BJ3/H17.3.26. Dear Howledge, I hear Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} will not be with you at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence, but that Mr. Robotham will be there, and you will probably be discussing a number of points with Mr. Royce. Amongst the items which we are keenly interested in are the following, and we should be glad if you could obtain Mr. Royce's opinion in connection with them. 1. The Use of 14-tooth Axles on the Phantom. I attach copy of correspondence (marked 'A') concerning this. One or two customers in England have particularly asked for 14-tooth axles, and we do not like to supply them unless we know that Mr. Royce has no objection. We are anxious to learn from Mr. Royce whether he sees any objection in special cases. Unfortunately the gentleman who is keenest on having a 14-tooth axle has an open touring body. On the other hand, he does not want to travel at more than 60 miles an hour. 2. Popping in the Exhaust of New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM Is. 'B' 8230 I enclose copy of correspondence concerning this. Briefly, the position is that we are obtaining a very large number of complaints from customers concerning the continuous and irritating popping in the exhaust. It was only yesterday I was again attacked by Mr. Arthur Gibbs, who mentioned that he had taken an old motoring friend of his for a run in his Phantom, feeling sure that he would be so pleased with it that he would order one or two, as he has a number of different cars of different makes. After driving for half an hour his friend said he would never think of buying a Rolls-Royce if that was a sample, on account of the continuous noise in the exhaust. Later he went out in a 20 HP. and on account of its comparative silence, was delighted with it. On all sides we hear that the popping in the exhaust is insistent unless the hand throttle is kept closed. On the other hand, we know from experience that drivers will not take the trouble and risk of keeping the hand throttle closed, as they know that if they put their brakes on and forget to open the throttle in time the engine will stop; the average chauffeur is altogether too tired to worry himself continually | ||