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).
Testing of Woodhead and Firths springs of varying stiffness in France.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\M\2October1924-December1924\ Scan25 | |
| Date | 1st October 1924 | |
| To R, from HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} ✓ SECRET. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LGS.10.24. TESTING SPRINGS IN FRANCE. Y9941 X2628 29410 BY: M, and DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}, have approved of the Woodhead latest springs. Sets of these springs have already left for France. They will be fitted to 9-FK car which has been left out there since the last tests. We expect the 10,000 miles test to start either today or tomorrow. The programme is that the car will run 500 miles per day. It may however be difficult to keep to this mileage because the hours of daylight are less. The springs which have been taken to France are 20% stiffer. These are according to instructions. We have however received instructions from CJ, that we should also test the 12½% springs in France. It would appear that we should change the springs from the 20% to the 12½% because if the 12½% springs are satisfactory, it would seem unnecessary to repeat the test with the 20% springs to prove reliability in France. All our tests have clearly shewn that with the stiffer springs we shall get increase reliability. At present, the only springs available of the new type are those made by Woodheads. As our main supply of spring will come from Firths, we recommend that the other car which is going to France should be fitted with Firths springs. Firths springs are expected at the end of this week. contd :- | ||