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).
Suspension upgrades due to cord tyres and addressing complaints about axle and gearbox noise on Rudyard Kipling's car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\3\ Scan029 | |
| Date | 31th August 1921 | |
| To CJ. from R c. to BJ. c. to HS. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X2628 R2/C31.8.21. RE 6-UE - RUDYARD KIPLING. X.2565 (CJ6/D30.8.21. X.2628. You will remember that for a very long time I have recommended for the rear of our cars very flexible springs and ample damping friction. This is more than ever necessary owing to the use of cord tyres which are more resilient with less internal friction. Therefore fit/all cars we are sending out, thin leaved springs and shock dampers. It seems waste of time and energy to do anything else, and waste not to take advantage of this knowledge. It will be realised that even doing this will still leave cars quite bad enough owing to this change in the type of tyres used. X.3457. Regarding the expression of "clapping" of the back axle, I do not know to what this refers except the possibility that the controlling springs or rollers have side play. This has been dealt with. X.3426. Regarding gear box noises, no alteration has been made for a very long time in our gear boxes, and therefore it is a question of the Works getting the gear teeth right, unless it is possible the quality of the ball bearings has gone down, in which case another make should be tried. Generally we have such excellent expressions of pleasure with reference to the running of our cars that it is rather pitiful that Mr. Platford cannot turn out cars which give greater satisfaction than appears to be the case with Mr. Rudyard Kipling and to suggest that a works trained man should accompany every car, is quite impractical, but I do think that when a complaint is received it would be cheaper to send an expert contd:- | ||