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).
Requirements and improvements for the Phantom's springing and shock dampers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\April1926-June1926\ Scan33 | |
| Date | 18th April 1926 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}) TO BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}) (Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) C. to BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} OY. NA.{Mr Nadin} Mr. Fuller. ORIGINAL R2/M18.4.26. Rec'd at WW. evening of 21.4.26. X8410 X4429 X35 V3900 PHANTOM SPRINGING. One or two things seem necessary to make us happy on the above and then apparently all will be nearly in agreement for the moment, but we shall all be hoping for still better results later. (1) We must have well lubricated springs free from excessive internal friction, (nip etc.) This should be tested on every spring - (I am inclined to believe OY's improvements are partly due to fitting springs with less friction). (2) The springs must be correctly selected for the weight of the body and to our intended standards, 12½%. (3) We must at once fit shock dampers which will not cause harsh or excessive damping friction; immediately these can be RR. hydraulic at front, and Lovejoy at back, and as soon as convenient RR. all round. A car with a good body should be so fitted and submitted to Sales and Messrs Fuller and Nadin who will judge on behalf of the American Co. This is written with the feeling that HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}' convincing report of 16/4/26. is correct. It agrees with my views that it is not our standard spring rating which is wrong, but where it is not nerves it is something outside the intended rating of the springs - (unsuitable to the loads is so frequently a fault), internal friction or harsh shock dampers, or long chassis with light bodies. In nearly every case I have ever met it has been either (1) tyres too tightly pumped, (2) tight Hartford shock dampers, (3) unsuitable springs to the load. Any one of these can make all the difference, and altogether can be damnable. R.{Sir Henry Royce} all of them together | ||