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).
Letter discussing various vehicle development topics including suspension, frame stiffness, carburettors, and brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\1\ img115 | |
| Date | 26th January 1934 | |
| W.A.Robotham Esq., Athletic Club, Detroit, Mich. U.S.A. U.s.a. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}8/WJ.26.1.34. Dear Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, We have received your notes sent from Springfield. Your notes on the behaviour of the Bentley in U.S.A. are interesting becuase it explains to a certain extent our criticism of the springing on American cars when we try them over here. It is difficult to understand why you should be in trouble with valve springs, because we have had no reports of this. The job here is moving slowly. At the present time E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and myself are passing incriminating notes to each other. I am attaching one which will give you a sort of idea of the atmosphere. I am looking forward to you collecting all the possible data on independent wheel suspension so that you will be in a position when you return to set out a specification of what you consider the scheme we should work on. E is pressing forward with two independent springs sticking out at each side of the frame like we sent you a sketch of. The other point we are interested in is the question of frame stiffness and whether anyone yet has obtained sufficient data to be able to forecast the result which will be obtained by a stiffer frame. We have got the new 25 HP carburetter on the test bed. The first results are promising and it looks as though it will not take much to get it right. There is still a squeal about the non-effectiveness of Bentley brakes when wet. Any information you can gain on this point will be helpful. We are also interested in the various schemes for anti-rolling devices. We would expect those that are in use to cancel out any effect of independent wheel springing. Another point of interest is that Cadillac's are producing a Straight Eight engine. Grylls has carried out his proposed tests on the Essex and found the main crankshaft | ||