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).
Secret memo proposing steering improvements for the New Phantom and Goshawk models to address high and low speed wobbles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\3\ scan0237 | |
| Date | 28th August 1925 | |
| +8430 To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} CWB. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} S E C R E T. R1/M28.8.25. TELEPHONED TO CJ. FRIDAY MORNING 28TH.INST. RE. STEERING - NEW PHANTOMCodename for PHANTOM I (AND ALSO GOSHAWK IN A LESSDEGREE). X.8430 X.5430 X.8520 To do the best we know at the moment for the reputation of our steering, is to :- (1) Fit ordinary hydraulic shock dampers between front axle and frame - (for high speed steering wobbles.) (2) Fit friction damped spring driven pendulum lever to steering box - (for low speed wobbles. (3) Fit larger dia. of worm, and slightly slower steering, to give easy steering, free from road shocks. No.(2) makes No.(3) possible, otherwise low speed wobbles. There is very little risk in any of these items, and I strongly advise putting them into production at once, and obtain further road experience in parallel with production. They seem good, safe, and simple improvements, but not drastic or risky alterations. We should also arrange for the rear shock dampers to be hydraulic. Later we may find other things, but at the moment this is all we know that can be applied to ordinary designs. Will you kindly give your authority to proceed. We should purchase the hydraulic dampers, although this was the type I originally made for the rear of the car. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||