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).
Internal report investigating a customer's complaint (Dr. Fison) about unsatisfactory steering on a GOS-4 model car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan291 | |
| Date | 19th November 1931 | |
| Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} X4117 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}6/H19.11.31. re. GOS-4. Dr. Fison. With reference to this customer's complaint of unsatisfactory steering on the above car, referred to in your Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/WT14/KW.30.6.31. we have today received a report from JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} dated 18th. inst. as follows:- "I went out with Dr. Fison on his car this morning to investigate his complaint re steering. I found that he has been in the habit of running with his rear tyre pressures between 25 and 27 lbs. I took the car out on some macadam roads with a normal camber and could quite appreciate that at high speeds the car had a definite tendency to wander. I increased the tyre pressures to 34 lbs. and tried the car over the same roads and the improvement was very marked. Dr. Fison agreed that the car appeared very much more stable, but he is anxious to try the car on the roads round Salisbury which he knows well. I have left it that he tries the car for a few days with the higher tyre pressures and lets us know what he thinks. If he is still dissatisfied he is going to let us have the car in London for a day, first of all to try more poundage on the shock absorbers, and then if this does not effect what he desires, I suggest we try fitting stronger springs to the front. The steering on this car is absolutely standard in every way. I gathered that Dr. Fison has been in the habit of driving a Vauxhall car with very stiff steering. I pointed out to him that we did not wish to spoil the characteristics of our steering to give him one that is very heavy at moderate and low speeds. This he fully appreciated and I got the impression that his complaint today was not nearly so serious as the complaints he has made in his letters." (Sgd) JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} In discussing the matter with JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} today, he is not definitely saying that the customer is satisfied, as it is likely he will still complain when further trying CONTINUED:- | ||