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 Rapson Tyre & Jack Coy. Ltd. regarding a steering wobble issue on a car belonging to the Prince of Wales.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan219 | |
| Date | 18th December 1924 | |
| COPY. Telephone - MALDEN 190, 191 & 192. Telegrams - RAPSONIO, NEW MALDEN, SURREY. RAPSON TYRE & JACK COY. LTD., Telephone Malden 190, Tyre Factory, 191 & 192. NEW MALDEN, SURREY. Our Ref: FLR/DLM. 18th. December, 1924. For the attention of Basil Johnson, Esq. Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Limited., D E R B Y. Dear Sirs, I was naturally concerned on arriving at work this morning to hear that you had returned the Rolls-Royce car belonging to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales fitted with two Dunlop tyres on the front wheels - I also learn that a report from your goodselves has been sent to St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} James's Palace drawing attention to the reason for the change of tyre. Having had the honour for something like four years of exclusively supplying His Royal Highness with Rapson tyres for use on his different makes of cars and having been personally informed by His Royal Highness that the same had given him every satisfaction, you will realize that this entirely new and unheard-of trouble on the front wheels, which is apparently confined to the Prince's new Rolls-Royce car fitted with front wheel brakes, is sufficiently important that I do not feel I can allow the matter to end by consenting to Rapson tyres being changed for another make. In making the above statement I do not wish for one moment to suggest that our tyres are not the cause of the steering wobble trouble complained of by the Prince, but I do most emphatically maintain that this is the first time in the history of this Company that such a charge has been brought against us, and I therefore feel justified in asking you to allow me to come to Derby so that I might be loaned one of your chassis in order to enable me to ascertain the cause of the trouble and to take immediate steps to remedy same. In making this suggestion it will be obvious that I cast no reflection on the efficiency of your experts, because this seems to be purely a tyre difficulty and, therefore, requires solving by a tyre expert. You are no doubt aware that during the past racing season, this Company has supplied its Oversize Super Comfort type of tyre to the majority of the best-known chassis manufacturers | ||