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).
Proposal to revert to a pre-war type of rear spring for the chassis, and the plan to approach the supplier, Messrs. Woodheads.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\2\ scan0123 | |
| Date | 21th April 1920 | |
| Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} from BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} X.2628 b. BY10/H21.4.20. X.2628 CHASSIS - REAR SPRINGS. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} confirms that Mr. Royce appears to be inclined to revert to the pre-war type of spring with the exception that the bottom plate will have to be produced with the central eye either solid forged or rolled. We are producing drawings to incorporate this particular feature in the pre-war type of spring, in order that you may submit drawings to Messrs. Woodheads at an early date. We consider however that it would be an advantage if you could find out from Messrs. Woodheads what it would mean to revert to the old type of spring as suggested above. We do not propose at the moment that anything should be done to stop production of the present type of spring, but we certainly would like to have Messrs. Woodheads' views as to what it would involve to make the change, and how long it would be before they could start producing the old type of spring. I know that the spring is a very delicate question, but after hearing what Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, and Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} had to say in regard to R's views, on the spring question, also taking into consideration his letter to Mr. Worthey Fawcett, it certainly would appear desirable to approach Messrs. Woodheads. This of course would have to be done very diplomatically, rather with the object of sounding them than at the moment making any definite change. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||