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 the springing of the Phantom II chassis and proposing further tests to improve riding quality.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\7\ Scan209 | |
| Date | 28th February 1929 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X7410. Sèvres P/W "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}" copy "Sp{Mr Spinney}" " "HPN" RECEIVED 9 1929 Psl5/RJ.28/II/29. Re: Springing of Phantom II Chassis Your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/AD.21/II/29 is very edifying, and will greatly assist in endeavouring to find a solution which will be satisfactory for our customers who complain of harsh riding at slow speeds over pot holes. I still think that in spite of the considerable tests which have been carried out in France in connection with the shock absorber damping of the Phantom II car, there is possibly still room and necessity for further experiments. In this direction, and I would suggest that the complaints would warrant a special visit to Paris of someone from Derby who could carry out tests with our own Trials car in conjunction with ourselves, in order to find a compromise setting which would give satisfactory results at slow speeds without unduly altering the riding qualities at high speeds. Would you be prepared to consider such a suggestion? I could of course carry out these tests myself, but I feel that I might be repeating experiments which have already been carried out, and the presence in Paris to help in these tests of someone who has previously carried out experiments with shock absorbers would considerably reduce the time it would be necessary to take our Trials car off its regular service. I have spoken to "HK{Col. T. Harker - Sales}" on this matter, and he is in agreement of course to conform to any arrangement which would have for its tendency the elimination of these complaints and improvements in the riding qualities of our cars. A further advantage of a man from Derby would be that he could bring with him from the Experimental Dept. such parts as you have at your disposal to increase the range of experiments, and furthermore he could be more au courant as to how far we could go in certain directions without upsetting other conditions. Ps.-B. P.S.- Our Trials car is going to Brussels for the Brussels Show and will return to Paris on or about the 15th. of December, and Hk.{Col. T. Harker - Sales} informs me that he could place the car at your disposal any time after that date which would suit you. | ||