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 from America to Derby discussing front shock absorbers, comparing Lovejoy, R.R. hydraulics, and Houdaille types.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\3\ Scan292 | |
| Date | 12th November 1926 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X235 Oy3-E-111226 November 12th, 1926 Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. Dear Mr. Hives: Re Front Shock Absorbers Many thanks for yours of September 29th. Lovejoy uses a leather or cork packing which is jammed up tight once and never touched again. We have taken the Lovejoys off 102-CX{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} (axle test car - old series) after 56,000 miles they are still full. Why not use a substantial gland packing of a high-grade leather, screw it up tight and lock it, and not use a spring? We have recently started using the R.R.hydraulics again, using Mobiloil E as recommended in Hallam's sheet, and find them perhaps a trifle rough, but definitely better than Houdaille or friction type for stopping "tramp" of the front axle. We are using springs marked "75 lbs." for the upstroke. We have ordered a complete new set from Derby - front and rear. The car is away on test so we cannot tell whether leakage has been cured on the R.R.hydraulics. We are using leather glands screwed up tight. Have handed your letter to Na.{Mr Nadin} and W.H.H. for their information and for futher work on water splashing. We did give this scheme a trial but our container was 4" dia., probably too big, and the water had a very marked low frequency so that really rough riding would not affect it while a slow swing might throw out a lot of water without affecting the passengers. | ||