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).
Criticisms and suggestions for improvement on a car's design and performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\2\ scan0292 | |
| Date | 19th December 1924 | |
| -2- (7) The exhaust is fairly good when standing still, and I thought quite good when travelling, though this was a closed car in which one would not expect to hear much. (8) I understand from the driver that the tires are inflated to 45 lbs. on the rear wheels and 40 on the front wheels. I did not check them. [Handwritten note in left margin: Important for future 'W' series] [Handwritten note in left margin: Important ditto] (9) (10) (11) The petrol tank is of course hopelessly wrong. The filler spout is at the absurd angle which renders a funnel useless and incredibly ugly. It appears also to have been specially designed to prevent luggage occupying the space close to the back panels of the car. It should be moved at the end of the tank and placed upright, and the petrol gauge should be brought close to the end of the tank. In the present position of the indicator it can be seen, that it merely because with the present position of the filler spout it would be impossible to cover the indicator with a Brooks' trunk, which would have to be carried on the luggage carrier at a considerable distance from the body of the car, giving a considerable overhang. This arrangement would be unsightly and weak. (12) I do not know. (13) If the controls on the wheel are meant, I have never thought these good enough since we took to blacking the quadrant. If it is desired not to have a bright finish, I think some other schemes should be experimented with. [Handwritten note in left margin: I noticed this more on the last day &] Over and above the 13 points, I would call attention to a pronounced engine rattle at 30 m.p.h. This seemed to get worse during the day and become even more noticeable. It will be immediately evident to anybody who gets on the car when it returns to Derby. I noticed that with the governor control lever fully advanced to the top of the quadrant, the corresponding speed at which one could change into third gear was 31 m.p.h. This struck me as low, and for future production it might be advisable to consider whether the range of the governor control lever could not be increased. It will be noticed that this memorandum is strictly confined to criticism, no word of the praise so well deserved in many directions is included. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||