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).
Improvements to the Phantom model's rear springs, shock dampers, and tyres.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\January1926-March1926\ Scan130 | |
| Date | 15th March 1926 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}) TO BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}) (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) C. to CJ. BJ. LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} CWB.PN.{Mr Northey} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} ORIGINAL PHANTOM. re. ROAD SHOCKS. Handwritten: X8410 X8820 X8520 X8830 REAR SPRINGS. I do not think we can make any great changes in these. One understands that there is no difference between our Silver Ghost practice and our Phantom practice. We must do all that is practical to get the maximum initial deflection which is from 6" to 7"; and that more than this would give too great a change in the axle position for a change of load. There is not undue friction in the leaves because all of us are agreed that the cars do not ride well without additional friction by the shock dampers. As far as I can see after we have made sure that our standard springs are not too stiff for the load, (this is the point I doubt) we cannot make any alterations to these which will be beneficial. SHOCK DAMPERS. These being adjustable are often wrongly set. Naturally for the rough roads in France they must be tighter than for England, and for high speeds in France very tight, and for slow speeds in England they might be better quite slack-ed{J. L. Edwards} off. We can hope for an improvement from the hydraulic ones both front and back, and such improvement can be demonstrat-ed{J. L. Edwards} to Sales at a very early date, i.e. at once on the front, and in a week or two on the back. It will be understood that these will not be adjustable, and for many reasons I am pleased because those that can be are so often wrongly adjusted. More important still is that owing to their one way characteristics they can be more effective without harshness at slow speeds. In fact I have considerable hope that these will prove a distinct advance in comfort and security. TYRES. The pressure in, and size of the tyres are of enormous importance, and I feel that we must at the first possible minute supply something better than the ordinary tyres with the 60lbs. per sq. in. This I am sure often happens under present standards, and our cars are uncomfortable and dangerous at high tyre pressures. There is no contradicting this: anything over 45 lbs. for a light open car, or a car with a light body, is uncomfortable, and will not hold the road at the corners, and will not brake well, or shunt well, unless the shock dampers are very tight indeed. So, to me the quicker we realise that we (1) | ||