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).
Clarifying the policy on fitting shock-absorbers to thick leaf springs following customer complaints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 51\4\ Scan089 | |
| Date | 26th September 1923 | |
| C O P Y. ------- To Hm. {Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} from BJ. BJ15/H26.9.23. Fitting Shock-absorbers to Thick Leaf Springs. ------------------------- I understand from you that some of the officials at Derby are not quite clear in regard to fitting shock-absorbers to thick leaf springs. On August 10th. 1922 (R3/M10.8.22), R. {Sir Henry Royce} wrote as follows concerning thick leaf springs :- "Never fit these to new cars. Always replace with thin leaf type springs on existing cars when changing. Always change to thin leaf if customer complains. Add Hartford shock dampers to thin leaf springs also." You will see this includes instructions that when a customer complains we should always fit thin leaf springs with Hartford shock-absorbers. Presumably the only reason for fitting Hartford shock-absorbers to any car is because the customer has complained that the springing is unsatisfactory. R. {Sir Henry Royce} does not give any option as to what should be done when a customer complains, and his instructions appear to be quite clear that shock-absorbers should not be fitted to thick leaf springs. Please inform anyone at W. who you consider has not quite clearly understood this. B.J. | ||