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 weight discrepancies, attributing them to accessories and defending the company's approach to customer-specified bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\1\ Scan047 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1931 | |
| Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}6/C6/2/31. X9840 X) 840 X4538 To EA/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}....from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Nor. Gr{George Ratcliffe} ->Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} --------------------- Re CAR WEIGHTS. EA/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2.2.31. ----- It seems to me we are making a lot of unnecessary fuss over the small difference of 28 lbs. in respect of Kruse and 56 lbs. in the case of Harris, over and above the weight of 26-EX. This is so easily accounted for by accessories, which do not appear to have been taken into consideration. As a matter of interest, in the case of Kruse, the luggage box that he fitted alone weighs 3/4 cwt.; and the difference in the Harris weight can easily be accounted for by extra accessories which were not on 26-EX. There is no doubt that the bodies of these two cars were not heavier and, when full allowance is made for accessories, were probably lighter. We certainly do not agree that any Inspector whom we could appoint would be able to insist on bodies for customers being constructed on the lines and principles employed in any experiment unless these happened to be in accordance with the customers requirements. It must be very carefully borne in mind that a very large number of our customers, more particularly of the type who purchase fast cars (i.e. the owner-driver) have the greatest possible interest in getting a body to suit themselves, and although we naturally give all the advice we can, the customer pleases himself whether he accepts it. If this were not the case we might as well go out of the specially-built car class. As mentioned above, as it happens in these two cases the bodies are not heavier than 26-EX (our own experimental car) when allowance is made for the extras fitted. Suggested With regard to the limit of 40 1/2 cwt. mentioned, it must be borne in mind that this is 1 1/2 cwt. lighter than 26-EX and will require a great deal of saving. It is quite incorrect to say that the C.S.C. protests concerning heavy bodies have had no effect. For instance, Hoopers used to build a 6-seater Pullman for the 20 h.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||