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).
Policy on fitting front wheel brakes to pre-1923 cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0326 | |
| Date | 23th June 1927 | |
| From: "Ps" To: "WH" c.c.: "HB{C. E. Harcombe}" LONDON "HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}" DERBY x9940 Ps24/RJ.23.6.27 Re: Front Wheel Brakes & Pre-1923 RR Cars I have, on one or two occasions recently, raised the question as to the advisability of seriously examining the pros and cons of recognising, or otherwise legislating for, F.W.Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} on pre-1923 Rolls-Royce cars. The fitting of F.W.Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} by outside firms necessitates certain important changes to our chassis, hence the transformation is effected by the bedevilled car policy, with the result that all R-R repair organizations must refuse to repair the cars. I am strongly of the opinion that the prosecution of this policy as applied to F.W.Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} may lead us into difficult pastures, and I believe the time has arrived when we should get/out a scheme of our own, or give our blessing to a reasonable scheme by outside firms and not ostracize the car/because it is so treated. I consider we ought to appreciate the fact that at least a dozen RR cars have Perrot System F.W.Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} fitted in spite of our intense propaganda to the contrary, and scarcely a day passes, as you are aware that we do not get one or more requests to fit Perrot brakes to existing cars. I cannot think that our refusal to fit F.W.Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} to an [handwritten: old] car [strikethrough: effects our Sales.] [handwritten: in France] I tried a Rolls-Royce car this week fitted with Perrot brakes and a Dewandre Servo, and I was extremely surprised at the smoothness of the application and braking efficiency. I doubt if the ordinary man in the street could have detected our own brakes from these. I am not advocating any particular system. I realize any system must be thoroughly examined and tested, and above all I thoroughly understand the circumstances which prompt our policy. It is with this knowledge that I, the man on the spot coming more directly in contact with Continental customers than any other official, that I give you my private views on this very important subject. Ps. B 15 | ||