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).
Car test run, evaluating performance including engine, brakes, and cooling systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\3\ 03-page121 | |
| Date | 26th May 1930 | |
| COPY. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from PN.{Mr Northey} PN{Mr Northey}2/WT26.5.30. 23-EX. I gave this car a run yesterday, but at no time attempted to do any speed. We have full information on this point from Hancock's report, and I also had a long interview with Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} on his return on Saturday, and it is evident that he and EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} could not obtain any higher speed than 75 m.p.h. under variable conditions. ENGINE. I found the engine very nice, probably pleasanter and more amiable than the best of our present standard 40/50 H.P. production. ACCELERATION. My impression of the acceleration was excellent, but apparently in spite of this there is some limiting cause which prevents a better performance being put up at high speed. CLUTCH The clutch was good, the brakes were super-excellent, and included a remarkable feature that under no circumstances do they tend to squeak, resulting from Hancock's "wonderful secret" device which is fitted to these brake-parts, and I hope may prove a valuable method of preventing squeaks, but of course the device is in its early stages of test at present. STAYBRITE surface does not, I think, justify Hancock's pessimistic attitude in his recent report. At any rate it certainly is good enough for us to carry on with. LOSS OF WATER Whatever the cause of the loss of water during the recent Hancock tests from Chateauroux, it appears that during the 800 miles odd which the car ran with Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} and EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} there was no water-loss at all. Also the temperature of the water never rose above 75 degrees. We are of course aware that the loss of water has been attributed to mechanical reasons rather than rise of temperature. THERMOSTATIC CONTROL OF RADIATOR COOLING DEVICE. I look upon this device, i.e. Shutters, as being of immense value, and the relief one feels when driving, knowing that one need not be on the qui-vive to keep the water temperature within reasonable limits, is worth, in my opinion, untold gold. It is of course very important that the extremes of temperature shall be very carefully arranged for, in this car for instance, it is not possible to get to a higher temperature than 75 degrees under the hottest conditions. This means the whole grade of temperature is too low. It should not be a very difficult matter to achieve. (Sgd.) PN.{Mr Northey} | ||