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).
Practicalities and aesthetics of supplying a luggage grid versus a complete rear wheel carrier for the Phantom model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\July1927-September1927\ Scan058 | |
| Date | 17th August 1927 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} FROM DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} C. to - HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ORIGINAL DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/M17.8.27. PHANTOM REAR WHEEL AND LUGGAGE CARRIER. We thank you for BY8/H15827., from which we understand that Sales have agreed to the extension pressings and rear cross tubes being fitted to all cars as standard, free of charge, and that the customer is at liberty to buy a rear wheel carrier or a luggage grid, or both. Since the sheet metal extensions and the two cross tubes are supplied with the chassis only, two shoes and a plate are needed and the wheel carrier is complete. It would therefore seem almost a pity that the original suggestion (we believe from R.{Sir Henry Royce}) of giving the complete wheel carrier is not possible. With respect to supplying the luggage grid alone without the carrier on the frame extension, we had not considered this desirable or altogether logical. Without the wheel at the back the best luggage grid is that protecting the petrol tank. To use the luggage grid of the combined scheme without the wheel would mean that when the luggage grid was folded up and not in use there would be two horns projecting backwards with the cross tube, which even the man in the street would realise as very redundant. If however we were to give away the complete rear wheel carrier, everybody would have the wheel at the rear, and there would be a justification for the extension pieces. We do not wish it to be thought that we are interfering with matters of policy, over which we have no jurisdiction, but we wonder whether Sales have appreciated what will be the appearance of a car having no rear wheel carrier, but a luggage grid, and this in the folded up position. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||