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).
Technical review and rejection of 'Rapid' Jacks for use on cars due to weight, safety, and quality concerns.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 76\4\ scan0013 | |
| Date | 27th June 1919 | |
| R.R. 265 a (100 T) (S.P.575. 16-4-19) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2354. Contd. -2- EH5/LG27.6.19. We are not impressed with the "Rapid" Jacks and should not recommend them for use on an R.R. car. The obvious thing against them is that they add considerable weight (about 23 lbs) to the axles; a place where we would give anything to be able to reduce the weight. Another point against them is that the locking device for holding the jack when not in use is not anything like good enough. We feel, after the car had been running over rough roads for a few thousand miles, the lock would certainly give way. The finish and pieces of these jacks look very cheap and rough. We think they suffer because the Makers are trying to compete with a single jack as regards the price. It will be noticed that Mr. Rapson in his letter invited us to shake the car as violently as we could when it was jacked up to prove the safety of these jacks. When we had got one front wheel jacked up, we got a man (under the average size) who pushed the car off the jack with very little effort. We found on examination that the end of the lever which locks the jack, was broken off. The illustration of the jack shews this lever. Although we think these jacks clipped to the axle, are, on the average a little more safe than the usual method of jacking, we do not consider they are by any means good enough. The jacks being permanently fixed in position to the axle makes them very convenient when they are required for use, but we think that the convenience would be more appreciated by the chauffeur for jacking up the car when washing the wheels than it would be on the road. It so very seldom happens that it is Contd. | ||