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 from F.H. Royce discussing balloon tyres, shackles, and collaboration with the American Co.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\2\ Scan102 | |
| Date | 11th March 1924 | |
| Y4565 COPY. As from CJ La{L. A. Archer} Villa Mimosa, Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence, Par Le Lavandou, Var. France. 11/3/24 Re American Co. My dear CJ., + Re balloon tyres, you will remember I recommended that we should go on testing these in more moderate dimensions than those originally supplied by the Dunlop Co. The advantages of these are enormous. I chiefly feared that they would skid on greasy road by floating on the film of mud (more or less liquid), they also reduce the lock and are heavy to steer while shunting. They ought to be well tested by the proper Experimental Department and by their reports judged. To adopt such things as standard or even recommend them, simply because others do, and against or without our tests, would naturally be courting trouble, but this seems to be the desire of Mr.Belnap. If there is any doubt they might at first be optional. Regarding shackles, so far we have not tested either adjustable shackles or the rubber ones, such ideas as we have collected seem to indicate that we should go slowly, but we have had matters in hand of more importance we think to the sale of the cars. Naturally we do not object to Springfield testing anything and if they find something good to send us a similar equipment to put on to a Derby chassis which we should and ought to do promptly and give them our opinion on the matter. In the meantime we have not been idle, have done much that they can use if they wish and we have had a large and an efficient staff on the work. Yours ever, (Sgd) F.H.Royce. + I see no reason for their being noisy except errors of design and possibly suction. They also may be very devil of dust raisers. | ||