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).
Operational difficulties and user dissatisfaction with the D.W.S. jack.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 139\2\ scan0050 | |
| Date | 9th March 1934 | |
| V3117 BWG{J. C. Bowring} see me S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c.c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c.c. " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Re- D.W.S.Jacks. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}6/KW9.3.34. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} With reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}13/KT1.12.33 and Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid{A. J. Lidsey}5/KT28.11.33 the reports on these jacks are not as encouraging as one would have hoped, the chief criticism being that they are extremely tiring to operate. In a series of tests carried out at Lillie Hall the time taken to raise the car after the jack has touched the ground was longer than the time taken to raise it with the old type of jack and handle,although the low gear ratio was being used. Probably fatigue accounts for it. Bch{F. H. Birchmore - Chassis Delivery Manager} at Lillie Hall reports that the D.W.S. jacks are very unpopular with most members of the staff, who much prefer the Dunlop jack and handle. Fleck reports that in his opinion they are impossible where a lady owner-driver is concerned. On one occasion a lady owner asked him to demonstrate the jacks and she then tried herself. She found it quite impossible to raise the car. Of course one does not know that it might have been equally impossible for her to do so with the old jack. Fleck also reports that where front bumpers are fitted they become decidedly awkward, especially when closing the jack up, the handle becoming chock-a-block with the bumper bar before the jack is closed into its case. What these reports do not mention, and it is a very important point, is that with the old jack one had the disadvantage in unfavourable circumstances of groping about in the dark and possibly in the wet to try and locate the jack under the back axle, a very difficult, unpleasant and sometimes almost impossible task. One at least has the knowledge that with the D.W.S. jack one merely has to wind it down, so that the advantages are not all in favour of the old one. Summarising it seems to me that if some reduction in the friction could be introduced, so that the effort required to raise the car would be minimised, it would be all to the good. I have personally tried the two-geared D.W.S.Jack and I agree with the fatigue that is experienced in operating. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Lwb | ||