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).
Trial run of a 45/50 HP Siddeley vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 23\4\ Scan065 | |
| Date | 16th December 1911 | |
| 100th meeting X445 REPORT ON TRIAL RUN 45 /50 H.P. SIDDELEY DECEMBER 16th 1911. Bore 4½" Stroke 5½" I was not able to drive this car but only to ride in same as a passenger. The manager of the Siddeley Co. who undertook this trial seemed to regard the chief points to be Power, Quietness and Slow running of engine whilst car standing, and Acceleration also with the car standing. The dead slow running of the engine was certainly V.Good and the engine was quite free from vibrations, the only apparent noise being the clicking noise of the make and brake of the magneto. Under any other condition except dead slow running the engine was not quiet, and it would appear that this condition of slow running is not lasting, or very reliable in customer's hands since after running a short time on the road and pulling up to allow engine to run slow, it did not run nearly as nice as it did at the start, and required quite a lot of attention from the driver before running nicely. The carburation I should say was very poor, black smoke was intermittently ejected from the exhaust. The carburettor was not automatic and extra air lever was fixed to the steering column. The engine on the road was poor, it had noticeable crankshaft periods and was generally hard running at all ranges of speeds. The driver informed me that they had cured this trouble on their latest model by fixing stronger crankshaft. R.R. RS{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} (100) (H) 309 10(4)01 'G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 354 | ||