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).
Performance and testing of road springs on cars fitted with four-wheel brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0070 | |
| Date | 12th August 1924 | |
| X9410 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. Copies to R.{Sir Henry Royce} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} OJ. ROAD SPRINGS ON CARS FITTED WITH FOUR WHEEL BRAKES. With reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG11.8.24, I telegraphed you to-day as follows:- "I find open car now as previously not as good as 107-MG but passable most desirable to do everything possible to discover actual cause of extra discomfort and harshness therefore we should follow your recommendation and try 107 MG with front brakes springs axle. C J making final test of landaulet Kingsdown stop Car returns London tomorrow." The position is that the Works open car, 98-NK, now fitted with front springs 12% stronger than standard, as will be delivered to customers, is practically the same as when the car was fitted with springs 12% stronger than standard, but not of the design which would be delivered to customers. In BJ5/H22.7.24, after testing this car fitted with the latter springs, we stated that the springing was not quite as good as 107-MG, but so far as users of open touring cars are concerned (who are not so particular as users of closed cars) they were not likely to object to the springing, more especially as the springing can be considerably altered to accommodate each customer, by adjusting the back shock-absorbers. The main discomfort experienced was an increased feeling of solidity in the bumping over pot-holes or unevennesses, which was possibly caused by the extra unsprung weight on the front axle, more than by the increased strength of the spring. We also stated that 98-NK rolled and pitched more than 107-MG, but this was corrected by tightening the back shock-absorbers considerably. Unfortunately, however, this increased the road vibrations and therefore it will be necessary to have the shock-absorbers on all these cars very carefully adjusted. From the above, it will be seen that we did not actually consider the springs were 'satisfactory', but under the circumstances they were passable. In view of Mr. Royce considering that probably we had not made a fair comparison, as the back springs might be the cause of the extra discomfort, we considered it desirable to test the car on which we knew the back springs were as | ||