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 from the American branch to the British branch regarding a hydraulic steering system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\1\ Scan153 | |
| Date | 11th November 1925 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X457 Oy14-E-111125 November 11, 1925. Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. Dear Mr. Hives: Re Steering I want to draw your attention to the hydraulic steering described in the November S. A.{Mr Adams} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Journal. I think probably what happens is that if a wobble starts, the damping effect of the oil leakage through the steering column pump is sufficient to damp out the oscillations. The hose used to the front axle is undoubtedly the same as used for Lockheed hydraulic brakes, and is made I believe by the same concern as the air-hose for railroads. It is steel and rubber, and with castor oil is said to stand up indefinitely. The system seems to offer possibilities and I thought you might consider it seriously as a royal road out of present steering difficulties. (Incidentally Lockheed hydraulic brakes have proved so satisfactory in the last two years that nearly half a million cars are on the road with them.) Yours very truly, Maurice Olley MO/E | ||