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 Sir Henry Royce providing feedback and listing seven design faults of a car to Messrs Park Ward & Co. Ltd.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\5\ Scan136 | |
| Date | 18th December 1930 | |
| COPY TO HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X8992 "CAMACHAHenry Royce's office in West Wittering" WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town. CHICHESTER. 18.Dec.1930. Messrs Park Ward & Co. Ltd. 473 High Rd. N. W. 10. FOR ATTENTION OF MR. PARK. Dear Sirs, 27-EX. - SIR HENRY ROYCE BT.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} Sir Henry was very pleased with the car and wished me to convey to you his appreciation of the efforts which you made on his behalf. As is usually the custom we only trouble to tell you of the bad points. we will give you them in tabular form: (1) The shape of the rear luggage boot is not in conformity with our design - it is too 'humpy' and does not reproduce the curvature of the roof and rear quarters. (2) The sunshine roof leaked very badly on the near side at the front. There is a pulling down device on the off side only. Also we feel that it is wrong to expect the water collected in the gulley around the roof to drain out at the front. The enormous wind pressure at the top of the screen at speeds from 60 - 90 MPH. would hold the water back. (3) The ventilating louvres on the tops of the doors would have looked better built in rather than stuck on as cheap cars. (4) The inside handles of the main doors were awkwardly placed, and had very little movement, so that they were extremely difficult to operate. The handles would be better placed vertically. (5) One is very liable to damage one's person on the sharp corner of the side arm rest of the rear seat on entering the car. They extend a shade too far forward. (6) The front pillars are too thick at the base. (7) The fixing holding the halves of the metal wheel cover together had torn themselves off on the journey to west witteringHenry Royce's home town. | ||