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).
Inter-office letter discussing the problems and reasons against implementing four-wheel brakes.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\6\ Scan123 | |
Date | 21th December 1921 | |
R.{Sir Henry Royce} R.{Sir Henry Royce} A.{Mr Adams} V5 25m. 12-20-20 40849 INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC., SPRINGFIELD, MASS. CC Mr. Belnap Mr. Nadin Oy4 - G 211221 December 21, 1921 Dear Hives: (D) Re: Four Wheel Brake (Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LGS.12.21) In view of the outbreak of the four wheel brake disease in Europe and even in the States, we have had to answer questions from prospective customers on this subject. Perhaps the enclosed copy of a note which I sent to Mr. Belnap on the subject will be interesting to you as embodying our reply to questions regarding four wheel brakes. Undoubtedly you know that Mr. Southern was at Crossleys during the time when they used four wheel brakes nine years ago and were ruined by the necessity of changing back to rear wheel brakes. I think the trouble with four wheel brakes will be found to consist in the fact that brakes are never kept properly in adjustment by the average chauffeur. Even our own brakes, which need less adjustment than any one else's, are more easily adjusted, are nearly always out of adjustment on cars received in the Service Stations. The consequence of maladjustment of four wheel brakes appears to us to be more certainly fatal than any other result of neglect on an automobile. I think that before adopting them it would be well to try (with due precautions) the consequence of deliberate wrong adjustment of the brakes. One reason of our feeling against four wheel brakes is that they introduce complication on a car which we feel it should be the aim of everyone to simplify to the utmost practicable extent. The operation of our brakes is looked upon by owners of our cars, who are without exception experienced in the many other makes of cars, to be the most perfect they have ever known, and especially so when driving under winter conditions, when the brakes of other cars are generally defective. (over) | ||