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).
The status of experimental 'SS' chassis, including modifications, testing, and issues with frame oscillations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\2\ scan0209 | |
| Date | 24th January 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X7770 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG24.1.29. 'SS{S. Smith}' CHASSIS. X.7941 X.7770 X.7830 We have now 6 of these completed. 18-EX and 19-EX are in France. 20-EX is being used for tests at Derby. This car is fitted with a Hooper limousine body. 21-EX, 22-EX and 23-EX are still chassis. They have been held up for Hypoid bevels for the rear axle. We have now received 6 more sets of Hypoid gears so that these chassis will all be available for road tests at the end of this week. The bodies for these cars are practically ready. We are endeavouring to complete 21-EX with all the modifications which have been instructed which we hope will make this car a model of the first cars the Works will produce. As soon as the car is ready it will be tried by the various Officials in England and then sent to Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence, afterwards going to Chateauroux for road test. We expect to have this car in France about the second week in February. The position as regards the features on the SS.{S. Smith} which we hope to improve are briefly as follows :- (1) Improvement in the oscillations on the front of the frame. We have confirmed again by tests, that the SS.{S. Smith} when run as a chassis is entirely free from any trace of this fault. It only becomes manifest when the body is fitted. We have made tests by loading up a chassis with the weight fixed contd :- | ||