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).
Dissatisfaction and required modifications for the Goshawk II steering system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\4\ Scan295 | |
| Date | 25th July 1922 | |
| To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R. {Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. BJ. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} d. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} to Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} e. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to Hy. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} FN. X4264 R1/M25.7.22. GOSHAWK II. STEERING X.4264. I am definitely dissatisfied with this on No.4 Goshawk. You have several experimental modifications, some of which we know must reduce the road shocks to the mechanism and the driver. Two of these will have to be applied to all the Goshawk cars in existence, and those to be made. (1) The first and most important is the spring buffers with ample range, and set-up springs at the bottom of the pendulum lever. How much these springs should be set up is a matter of experiment. My own impression is that they should run from 100 to 200 lbs. and a range of ¼". This scheme must be carried out definitely and completely so that there is no fear of these spring-buffers becoming choc-a-bloc, and exerting an unknown pressure on the steering mechanism. (2) The second point is the plain thrust bearing so that the shocks from the road are not communicated to the driver and so that a lady can safely control the car on a rough road. In conclusion there is nothing on Goshawk-II of importance compared with these points, and I am instructing that Mr. Hives and Mr. Day do not let the matter rest for a moment until I am satisfied nothing more can be done. R. {Sir Henry Royce} | ||