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 results of tests on front wheel brakes and spring configurations on various cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0058 | |
| Date | 11th August 1924 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. Copies to R.{Sir Henry Royce} CJ. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X9910 BJS/H11.8.24. TESTS OF FRONT WHEEL BRAKES. On the afternoon of the 1st August, (the Friday before Bank Holiday), W. sent to London an open touring car, 98-NK, with front wheel brakes and front springs 12% stronger than our present standard 40/50 H.P. springs, but the same as will be delivered to customers with front wheel brakes. We delayed the general test of this car until we had tested the closed car, as the latter was more important. CWB. tested the open car, 9-NK, during the holiday, and found the springing very similar to the springing which we had previously tried on this car (viz., when the front springs were "rated" at 12% stronger than standard, but were not of similar design to the springs that will be delivered to customers). On August 8th (Friday afternoon), C./Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} tried this car against Mr. Hanbury's demonstrating Riviera car (our usual demonstration car, 107-MG, being in France until the 11th). CWB. had previously adjusted the shock-absorbers on these two cars to be as identical as possible. The tyre pressures were also checked. The opinions of C. and Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} were that the Works car with front wheel brakes was slightly harsher than the Riviera car, chiefly noticeable over pot-holey roads. On Friday evening, BJ. tried both cars at Gerrards Cross and considered the springing of the Works car with front wheel brakes distinctly harsher than the Riviera car up to 25 m.p.h., but good enough above that speed. The tests were made with four and with five passengers. The shock-absorbers were then slackened a complete turn on the Works car and it was found that the riding considerably improved, but the Works car was still rather harsher than the Riviera car. As R.{Sir Henry Royce} had mentioned that harshness might probably be due to new back springs, it was considered that a final test should be made by fitting front wheel brakes, heavy axle and strong springs to the usual London demonstration car/ | ||