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 Cadillac discussing test results for propeller shafts, road springs, and shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img112 | |
| Date | 2nd November 1931 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/AD. November 2nd, 1931. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley Esq. Cadillac Motor Car Co. Detroit, Michigan. Dear Cy, Many thanks for your information on propeller shafts. It is very good of you to answer our queries so thoroughly. With regard to the damping rig, we think that you are perhaps expecting more devastating results than we have ever attained. We have always regarded the bump as being mainly for testing road springs, shock absorbers and newly designed parts such as pivot pins where failure might be dangerous to life and limb on the road. Actually, once we have got these parts right we do not expect any pieces except possibly shock absorbers and road springs to break in less than 100 hours. We used to be able to break road springs without any difficulty in less than 20 hours before the advent of the hydraulic shock absorber. Since the advent of the hydraulic shock absorber and the improved methods of spring manufacture which you yourself initiated in Springfield, the average spring life is between 40 and 60 hours. The bumper tells us very nicely what loads our shock absorbers will stand without breaking, and of course, is a great help when investigating the working conditions of the centre point lubrication system, strength of the radiator, etc. etc. | ||