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).
Letter to a customer about brake inefficiency after the car is washed, suggesting a drying method and discussing potential design improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\4\ scan0006 | |
| Date | 26th March 1934 | |
| V7961 Expl. Dept. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/MJ. 26th. March, 1934. Messrs. Lodge Plugs Ltd., Rugby. For the attention of Bernard Hopps Esq. Dear Mr. Hopps, Replying to your letter of the 19th. March. I have arranged with Mr. Heywood that I will reply to your queries as regards the brakes. We admit the inefficiency of the brakes after the car has been washed. It is a point which we have, and still are, giving a lot of consideration to. We can make a slight improvement by changing the brake lining material, but then we suffer from increased wear. We have considered larger drums but this means additional weight, which we want to avoid. I think you will agree that once the brake surfaces are normal the brakes are very good indeed and they can be used excessively without the efficiency fading away and also there is very little wear. We always make it a practice after the car is washed to run for the first few hundred yards with the brake pedal pressed down hard driving against the accelerator. If this method is adopted it takes very little distance to dry the brakes off and is much more satisfactory to applying the brakes in the normal way. As I pointed out this is a matter which is receiving our urgent attention and when we have arrived at an improvement I will certainly notify you. I have asked the Repair Department to attend to the other points in your letter. | ||