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 from Rolls-Royce of America to Rolls-Royce Ltd. in Derby discussing issues, costs, and improvements for shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\4\ Scan187 | |
| Date | 26th September 1930 | |
| X7520. ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Oy-2 September 26, 1930. Rolls Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. Attention: Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Dear Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Shock Absorbers Am assuming that Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is already on his way over. We shall talk to him about shock absorbers when he arrives, but in the meanwhile I want to supplement my notes of Sept. 10 and 15 with a more vigorous one. We freely admit that if everything is perfect in machining and assembly, the R.R. shock absorbers work well and give a good ride. We have cases which have run for years without complaint and have seen no evidence yet of any measurable wear. We also admit that we have suffered in our own instruments from some pretty poor workmanship. Yours have been, we know, quite a good deal better, though we know you have had trouble with rocking shaft fits, tight and slack links, etc. We also believe that the larger replenishing valves have helped us a lot in overcoming the hydraulic hammer due to cavitation. Still, when we have done all we know how, we have the following facts:- (1) Actual cost (L.O.H. and Matl.) is $155 (£32) per car. We can buy a set of Houdaille etc. which satisfy owners for $30 - 35 (£6 to 7). (2) The above figure is only a fraction of what they really cost us, because of the replacement work on complaints of rattle. We have been hammering at this for years, believing all the time that now at last we had found the real cause of the complaints, and so gradually improving the workmanship till we have something which we all feel is as near right as we know how to make it. (Continued) | ||