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).
Letter discussing the use and testing of Lovejoy shock absorbers to address high-speed wobble and shimmy issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan053 | |
| Date | 23th February 1926 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X832 Oy8-E-22326 February 23, 1926 Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Mickleover, near Derby, England. Dear Hives: Re Lovejoy Shock Absorbers In conversation with Mr. Lovejoy this morning I have been discussing your recent findings on the occurrence of high-speed wobble, and told him you had used Lovejoy shock absorbers in front with considerable success. He pointed out that you had "rear type" instruments with a gentle setting and long arms, and therefore the damping effect must be much less than is desirable even for riding qualities in the front of the car. He is shipping to your attention within the next four days two complete pairs of front shock absorbers made up in what he considers will be the best form for the front of the car. The complete directions for mounting will be in the case. There will be no charge. Furthermore, seeing that you speak so well of them as regards shimmy, I am having a set put on my own car to see, in consultation with Lovejoy, whether we cannot get them adjusted in such a way as to give us desirable riding qualities. (You will recall that on the earlier set we tried, we had trouble with pitching or "galloping" of the car.) We are also going to try a set in front on our Phantom to see the effect on riding and shimmy. Lovejoy's only suggestion so far is that it may be desirable to use softer front springs. This has been his experience with nearly | ||