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).
Reasons for temporarily deferring the incorporation of servo and front brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\2\ scan0049 | |
| Date | 15th September 1925 | |
| Oy1-E-91525 -2- September 15, 1925. As the result of various conferences since the return of Messrs.Nadin, Bagnall and Hulley, it is proposed that we should devote our efforts for the moment towards the production of the new engine and steering in our next series, commencing at car 1701. Thus the application of the servo and front brakes will be at a later series, possibly at car 2001 - by which time we shall have had experience with 12-MC during the Winter, and under American operating conditions as concerns full extremes of climatic conditions, roads, etc. Our reasons for temporarily deferring the incorporation of the front brakes are: (1) We have not had an opportunity of observing their performance during our winter conditions. Reports from our depots in parts of the country where severe weather is encountered show that not only our own, but all makes of cars with front brakes have shown a tendency to give more or less trouble in winter conditions. (We have already reported to England, June 22nd, that on Sir Vincent Meredith's car the front brakes froze up on several occasions and also that the operating pin in the servo drum bent in use and required replacement.) (2) The riding qualities of the cars fitted with front wheel brakes appear to have lost something of the smoothness which by many is regarded to be the greatest asset of Rolls-Royce cars in this country. (Probably due to the necessity of fitting stiffer front springs.) (3) England has warned us against the use of "balloon" tires on front-brake cars, because of the increased tendency to steering wobbles. While the 4 ply "full balloon" tire has not been successful in America, the present 5-ply "low pressure" tire is so popular that, out of 105 current American models, 86 fit low-pressure tires as standard, 13 (including Ford) have them as optional equipment, while only 6 remain with high-pressure tires. | ||