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).
Customer's feedback on vehicle performance, driving habits, and suggestions for experimental modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\4\ Scan078 | |
| Date | 11th September 1934 guessed | |
| -2- internal friction to the springs. In another case, he had altered the pivot lean with effective results. He mentions also that one firm are anxious to fit the 'Shimex' device which he believes is effective. It must be understood that Mr. Wyns is a heavy user of his cars. Frequently he will spend an hour or so in the early part of the morning at his Brussels works, then drive to Paris and spend an hour or so of the late afternoon at his Works there, going there possibly early next morning and back to his Brussels Works in the afternoon. The pave roads extend to the Frontier and then through part of northern France and such is the strain, that he often takes his driver as far as St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Quentin and sends him back to Brussels by train, to save himself, and he is a well-built youngish man. He frequently drives to Czecho-Slovakia and Poland to other Works there, and has covered 20,000 kms. in the last three months! He says the shimmy starts at a pot-hole or sunken pave stone and with an effort can be steadied down until restarted by the next one, and he is still inclined to think that the larger 7½" tires in common use on American cars in Belgium, and which do not suffer from the complaint, would be helpful. He remarks that the 7" tire he is using has a short life and is practically unknown amongst the stockists in France. Mr. Wyns is amiable, entirely practical and anxious to help in our interests as well as his own. He says that at the present time there are a number of wealthy Belgians, who do not know what big car to buy, but that it is becoming generally known that the steering on our 40/50 h.p. cannot compete with that on the big American cars especially; consequently, a few days ago a friend of his, after trying the P.11 (by which he was much attracted) bought two Pierce-Arrows. I told Mr. Wyns that the whole subject was receiving the consideration of our Experimental Department and that, on his report, would be given still further importance. He offered the facilities of his Works and his two chauffeurs, if it was proposed to try any experiments on his own car, such as stiffer front springs, or even the removal of the gaiters and cutting off the oil supply to them, and it occurs to me that the Experimental Department may like to avail themselves of this case for investigations, which appear to be necessary both on account of the 40/50 car and the Bentley on the Belgian roads. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||