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).
The performance of a newly fitted Wilmot-Breeden Harmonic Stabiliser on a test vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 101\2\ scan0185 | |
| Date | 19th November 1936 | |
| 500a HOTEL DE FRANCE. CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/HFH{Hoppy F. Hamilton}/3/JAB. 19th November 1936 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} E By, Ba, Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Attached is a copy of a note we have received from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Sks. We have fitted a Wilmot-Breeden Harmonic Stabiliser, which came off B.56.BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}, to 22.G.V. Although the actual bar suspension is missing, we have rigged it up on strong brackets, using washers top and bottom of the leaves to give the bar a chance to bend as it should. We fitted this up in the hopes of eliminating a lot of the frame vibrations and consequent steering column whip that is still taking place. The results we have obtained by using the Stabiliser are surprisingly good, the greatest effect being noticed over speeds of 60 MPH. With the dampers full hard and the Stabiliser in action, we find that the steering column is almost without movement and is a considerable improvement than with the frame merely strengthened with tie-bars. Due to the fitting of the Stabiliser, the front of the car, radiator, lamps and wings etc., are much steadier, also the general effect produced on the body itself is good, and has eliminated to a considerable degree the window and door noises which were brought about by the frequent frame shudders that were taking place. We find however, that the effect is not so noticeable over really bad pot-holed surfaces, as the car movements as a whole are so great, that the Stabiliser seems to have a little effect. As our Stabiliser is not correctly suspended, we should like to try it fitted with standard bearing pivots, and see whether we can further improve on the effect we have already obtained. ---------- GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/HFH.{Hoppy F. Hamilton} H Hamilton [Vertically stamped text in left margin] E F K RIVES | ||