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).
Vehicle performance, tyre wear, future testing proposals, and a critique of the bodywork.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan301 | |
| Date | 31th May 1922 guessed | |
| -2- Contd. The engine runs well and does not mess up the plugs, but simply uses too much oil. The petrol consumption is very good being from 20 to 22 miles per gall. A point which is noticeable is that tyres wear out quicker in the dry weather. The rubber gets scrubbed off due to dry skidding and wheel slip. The wet roads seem to lubricate the tyres and prevent the rubber being worn away. This may be the reason for many French drivers still using steel studded leather treaded tyres. It is just possible that they get better results on dry gritty roads with the leather and steel tread. You will notice by the mileage of 6-Cos.II that we shall soon complete the 10,000. Will you please let me know what we should then do. It might be desirable to bring the car back to the Works for examination and dismantling as probably this second car may give us more information which would be valuable at the beginning of manufacture particularly as this car has been regularly lubricated. If it is desirable to do 20,000 miles on a particular chassis 5-Cos.II could be brought back for this test and could be run in different country amongst the hills. It would have the advantage that it would have on many improved parts which it would be useful to test, and would avoid running parts which admittedly need alteration such as, brake drums and dampers, brake compensating shafts differential bevel pinions, axle shafts, dynamo commutator, spring shackles, front springs, bonnet fixing, etc. When I return home I shall have something to say regarding body work particularly wind screens. The body work is years and years behind the chassis. The body on 7-Cos.II is a monument of ignorance of how a body should be constructed. The conception is bad and the mechanics worse. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} | ||