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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).
Modifications and testing for Phantom steering springs.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 68\1\  scan0140
Date  1st July 1926
  
To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from BJ.
Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
Copy to DF.

X8450

Phantom Steering. BJ9/E6/7/26

With reference to PN{Mr Northey}5/GM2/7/26, copy of which you have received, I have spoken to PN{Mr Northey} this morning and should be glad of your opinion on the following points.

1. It is of course difficult for Works officials to form opinions concerning the results of certain chassis adjustments, so far as complete cars are concerned, whereas Sales officials have ample opportunity of trying numerous cars with varying types of bodies, of different weights, dimensions and balance.

For this reason it is quite possible that Works and Sales officials may try one particular car in France or elsewhere and come to the conclusion that a modification is quite satisfactory, whereas, when that modification is later tried by Sales officials on a number of different complete cars, it may be found desirable to vary somewhat the modification to suit each particular type of car.

In the case of steering springs, for instance, although on the car which was tried in France it was generally agreed that 1500 lbs. was satisfactory, it has now been found in trying a number of complete cars that the strength of the spring can be advantageously varied in some circumstances and it would appear that we are not justified in using springs as weak as was proposed.

It is, of course, very necessary that Works and Sales officials should co-ordinate on such points and agree to any modifications.

For this reason, it is suggested that Works may wish to send a representative to London to make tests with Sales officials on a number of cars with in order to arrive at a conclusion as soon as possible. [The word 'with' is struck through in the original document.]

This matter is obviously urgent as we are despatching a number of cars abroad with springs of 1500 lbs., which Sales officials consider should have springs of 2500 lbs., and we should like to send springs of 2500 lbs. abroad to be fitted to these cars as soon as the Works agree that this is desirable.

2. With regard to overcoming the complaints from owners of early Phantoms, here again it seems probable that the strength of the spring will have to be considered on its merits.

Also if an official considers that <altering the> a certain spring will not
[Handwritten text 'altering the' inserted above the line.]
  
  


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