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).
Relative importance of front-wheel brakes, comparing the company's focus on simplicity and efficiency against the French motor industry's pursuit of novelties.
| Identifier | Morton\M1.A\ img008 | |
| Date | 9th November 1921 | |
| Handwritten notes: R sending how to flow cold over FWB quite wrongly attributing their arrival & French novelty originated. FWB by Argyll as a matter of fact in short in 1912 in this instance, R is kidding himself Stamped header: To: [Redacted] From: R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to: WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} " " HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " FN. Stamped Date: NOV 10 Typed Document: X 4428 RE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES. With reference to front wheel brakes, I think the relative importance of these compared with other things, has been considerably over-estimated, principally owing to the attitude taken by the French motor car industry seeking for novelties to force trade. You will realise that we have been hunting in quite another direction, namely, that of simplicity and lower cost of production, of producing an engine more suited to the lower grade of fuel, a car less costly to run, and increased efficiency of holding the road, and increased efficiency of the rear brakes, etc. In "Goshawk II" we believe we have achieved these very important and urgent features to quite a distinct advance on our 40/50 H.P. car, and on over 90% of the cars being produced here, in France, and in America. We must not forget what were our objects when we are looking at the results. It is difficult to realise all the moves and the results without being very closely in touch with the actual processes. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||