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).
Inter-office correspondence discussing the adoption of a simpler, more effective front shock absorber.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 78\2\ scan0379 | |
| Date | 10th June 1922 | |
| Y3461 INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Oy2 - G 10622 June 10, 1922 CONFIDENTIAL Dear Hives: Re: Shock Absorbers (Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/G 11.5.22) I certainly think we should adopt a simpler and more effective type of front shock absorber. The present one is a very expensive item. We do not complain of wear however. The shock absorbers on 102-CE have behaved well in 16,000 miles and have required very little attention. The upper ball is fitted with a Rimtco lubricator, which makes it easy to keep the joint fairly well oiled, whereas with a grease cup it was impossible. The shock absorber which gives the best results by present accounts, is the Watson Stabilator, now standard on the Duesenberg, Franklin and others. It is of the Gabriel snubber type and has no parts to rattle. It is different from the Gabriel in making the amount of friction proportional to the deflection from normal position. It gives no opposition to upward movement but simply prevents accumulated bouncing and is therefore perhaps not suitable for the front of our cars, where the condition seems to be that, having an exceedingly long front spring as compared with most cars, with less clearance than desirable, we have to add to the natural friction of the spring in order to prevent the axle being thrown upwards against the frame by a single pot hole. oy M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley | ||