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).
Setup of 20/25 HP hydraulic dampers and low rating springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\1\ scan0331 | |
| Date | 5th October 1932 | |
| X5410 PH. from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C. SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Nor. C. CX.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} C. RK. BP. C. SR. HA. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/RT.5.10.32. 20/25 HP. HYDRAULIC DAMPERS. X5520. With reference to PH.7/ST.4.10.32. The reply to your query - "what is the standard car absorber rating for 20/25 HP. for low rating springs" - is contained in Memo RC{R. Childs}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/LS.15.12.31. copy of which is attached herewith together with our original memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/AJ.12.11.31. These settings were arrived at by careful co-operation between the Expl. and the Repair Dept. The Repair Dept are emphatic that to fit low rating springs without drilling the shock damper valves would spoil their effect and we should agree with them. More recently the shock absorbers of Lady Caine's car JU.9 had the leaks eliminated at Cricklewood and a complaint of hard riding had to be tackled by the Repair Dept. at Derby almost immediately. One point we should like to emphasise is that a new car will always appear to be undamped until the springs have settled down. This is particularly noticeable with low rating springs. We suggest that Park Ward's trials car JU.43 may for this reason give the impression of excessive freedom. alternatively the springs may be too weak. We should if possible like you to arrange to try Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}'s car next time you are at Derby. This is fitted with the largest shock absorber leaks recommended, and the softest springs, and we consider the ride is one that would be most likely to satisfy the average chauffeur driven R.R. owner. In the case of 30.G.IV. this is really a small reproduction of the "Continental Phantom" and should logically be fitted with standard springs if it is to impress potential customers with its road holding capacity. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||