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).
Conversation with customer Sir Herbert Smith Bt. regarding steering issues with his car, chassis number 3.BT-81.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0385 | |
| Date | 19th April 1939 | |
| W/S - c. from BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Ld. c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}3/MG.19.4.39 CHASSIS NO. 3.BT{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}-81. Sir Herbert Smith Bt.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} ------------------------- As arranged, I saw Sir Herbert yesterday afternoon, and had a long conversation with him both before, and after trying the car. Although he was perfectly friendly, and appreciated the trouble we had gone to, it was quite obvious from the start that he had little or no intention of keeping the car, and that he had other arrangements at the back of his mind. However, I explained the technical reasons for everything which had happened, and took him for a run, he driving on the outward journey. He admitted that the car was very much better; to use his own words - "it's a king to what it was." He was, however, determined to criticize something and he chose to take exception to a very small amount of steering wheel oscillation which could be seen when driving "hands off" at 50 m.p.h. This, of course, is peculiar to the Ph.III, but as a matter of fact this car is now better than most as regards steering wheel oscillation. He also pointed to slight scuttle movement, but he agreed that this was only 25% of the magnitude which it was formerly. The discussion afterwards boiled itself down to - 1. Assuming he would not agree to take the car as it is, would we advise changing this body to a later chassis? I told him definitely not, as actually he would be worse off since he would not have the advantages of all the work we had done on this chassis. 2. Could anything be done to the body to make it better? I told him I thought not, as what he was criticizing was fundamental in the construction of the body. (Continued) | ||