Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
The performance of American Houdaille shock absorbers compared to French instruments on various cars.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 25\2\  Scan128
Date  2nd February 1927
  
-2-

With regard to the general claim of superior workmanship, several New York importers of the Mercedes and other Continental cars, replace the French by American instruments immediately on receipt of the chassis, as the French instrument does not stand up under American conditions of use.

The makers have sent us a pair of their smallest instruments adapted for mounting transversely to the frame at either end of the front crossmember, with the connecting links attached as close to the extreme outer ends of the front axle as the brakes will allow.

This construction they say has been found excellent in controlling high-speed wobble and "tramping" on various makes of cars with front brakes.

They have asked us to try this out on a car.

Our actual test of American Houdailles on Rolls-Royce cars has been confined almost entirely to Mr. Schultz's personal cars which have all been fitted with these instruments front and rear.

He has covered a great mileage in the last four or five years and when we see his cars they appear to ride well and the shock absorbers seem in perfect condition.

Yours very truly,
Maurice Olley

MO/E
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙