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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).
Experiments and implications related to fitting four-wheel brakes, focusing on spring specifications and production.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 73\3\  scan0170
Date  7th July 1924
  
SECRET.

X9940

To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from CJ.
Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}
Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}

CJ4/E17/7/24

BJ and I met Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} and Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} yesterday, principally to discuss the four wheel brake position.

As a result, on Monday, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} will submit in London:

(a) 98.NK - open touring car - fitted with springs to meet a specification for 5 passengers and light luggage occasionally as a maximum but an average of 4 passengers without luggage, plus four wheel brakes and heavier springs consequent thereon.
This is the same weight specification as our open demonstration car without four wheel brakes, 107.MG.

(b) A chassis fitted with four wheel brakes with torque rod control.

(c) Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} proposes to fit to 107-MG, which is our demonstration car without four wheel brakes, with which we are quite satisfied, the strong front springs which would be necessary were four wheel brakes fitted to it.

This will demonstrate whether it is simply the stronger front springs which destroy the springing generally.

If the result of this experiment is to show that it is something more than the strong springs which destroy the springing generally, then he will fit to the car an axle bearing all the extra weight which is necessitated in connection with front wheel brakes.

As regards (a) Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is going to being a second set of springs as he thinks that the springs themselves, although suppose to be of the same weight, may vary in their action.

The question then arose what would be the effect on the Works and on the business generally both in time and money if the Sales decide that they cannot ~~accept~~ offer to the public chassis fitted with four wheel brakes with spring control of the front axle because of the destruction to the springing generally.

Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} pointed out that it would entail scrapping of much work done on material, scrapping of a considerable amount of raw material and a delay perhaps of three months before they could produce cars fitted with four wheel brakes in which the front axle was controlled by torque rods.
  
  


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