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).
Response to a letter from Mr. Kleinwort concerning vibration and brake performance on a Continental Phantom II.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\1\ Scan138 | |
| Date | 12th November 1931 | |
| W/S. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} V/7120. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/WJ.12.11.31. re.- Letter from Mr. Kleinwort. It will be interesting for us to know what particular vibration on the Continental Phantom ll Mr. Kleinwort complained of. One assumes it was a vibration at high speed because he mentions that his Alfa Romeo is smooth from 1,000 to 5,000 revs. We cannot argue about that statement because from our own experience we know the Alfa Romeo is very smooth at high speeds. The only reply we can give is that we think when he tries the N.2 type of car with the Diamond engine mounting he should find the engine considerable smoother. With regard to his criticisms of the brakes, we think for expert drivers a greater percentage of front braking could be used with advantage. We, however, have to provide the car which will be driven by all types of drivers under various conditions, and we think that our proportion of braking is the best compromise. Although there is less tendency for the car to skid sideways with more front braking, if you do get on to a road surface on which tyres cannot grip and the front wheels are locked when the brakes are applied, you then lose your steering. With our scheme we arrange that the rear wheels will lock before the front. When this happens, no further braking can be got on to the front wheels. We have had cars with more front braking and there is no difficulty in supplying such a car. The fact that we have axle control means that we are better able to stand the higher percentage of front braking than the usual car which relies on the front springs only to take the braking torque. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||