Letter from Paul H. Taylor (Tayco) to Citroën proposing Liquid Spring comparative tests, 12 December 1960

In this document

This letter dated 12 December 1960 is signed by Paul H. TAYLOR, president of TAYCO DEVELOPMENTS INC. p. 23, in response to a previous exchange (a letter dated 3 October 1960 regarding lubrication is mentioned, p. 22).

Various technical questions

Taylor begins with practical questions about his own Citroën car: the operation of the petrol heater and the thermostat control of the "valves at the front of the radiator" p. 22, as well as the possible existence of a "power reserve device" for acceleration p. 22.

Presentation of the Tayco suspension

Taylor explains that his company manufactures "LIQUID SPRINGS" systems — a hydraulic suspension exploiting "the compressibility qualities of liquids" p. 22. He specifies that Tayco holds its own patents and considers its suspension unsuitable for passenger cars, but ideal for "heavy-duty trucks" and "railway wagons" p. 22.

Request for collaboration and comparative tests

A project currently underway applies the Tayco suspension to a CHEVROLET "station wagon", a photograph of which is attached p. 23. Taylor wishes to conduct comparative tests with "a single suspension arm, a central accumulator and the pump" from Citroën, against Tayco's own "LIQUID SPRINGS" arm p. 23.

To obtain the Citroën parts, he mentions an order placed with "Georges LENZE", which remained unfulfilled due to "his financial difficulties" p. 23, and asks Citroën directly for prices and delivery times for the parts.

Praise for the Citroën suspension

Taylor offers numerous compliments: "the CITROEN suspension is unique" p. 22, confirmed by accelerometer tests. He relates a personal anecdote comparing his Citroën to his Chevrolet on snow and ice, where the latter "drove half as fast" p. 23. He concludes by offering to make "all data concerning [his] suspension available to CITROEN free of charge", excluding his own patents p. 23.

Context

At the turn of the 1960s, the hydropneumatic suspension of the Citroën DS, developed in particular by Paul Magès, enjoyed a considerable technical reputation across the Atlantic. American companies specialising in hydraulic shock absorbers and springs, such as Tayco or Wales-Strippit (manufacturer of "Hydra-Springs"), followed these innovations closely, seeking industrial applications (heavy goods vehicles, rail) distinct from the mass-market automobile sector targeted by Citroën.

Archivist's perspective

This letter bears witness, with an admiring tone and great commercial frankness, to the attention paid by American competitors to the innovations of Paul Magès. It seems that Taylor is seeking less to compete head-on with Citroën than to obtain a technical collaboration, while promoting his own invention for heavy-duty uses.

The document is likely part of a larger file on exchanges between Citroën and Tayco: it can be compared to the Note "Vehicle suspension" comparing Tayco, Rabinow and Citroën, as well as subsequent internal reflections by Magès on the comparison of gas spring / liquid spring, which seem to echo, a few months later, these exchanges with Tayco.