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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).
Letter reporting on a broken shock-damper and clutch issues during a 10,000-mile test.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 11\2\  02-page034
Date  24th December 1928
  
To: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby

36
Hôtel de France,
Châteauroux.
Indre.

December 24th. 1928

We wired you this morning : Front shock-damper broken through case. The break is identical to those broken on the bumped chassis at Derby. This is entirely a fatigue fracture and has not been caused by severe bumping. We hope, as was understood before leaving Derby, that shock-dampers will be sent out with a case made in our aluminium bronze. This being understood, I did not wire for them as spares.

We have received your letters of the 21st. and 22nd. We will endeavour to run the end of the 10,000 miles tests in conjunction with the Sales' Representatives. We are working through Christmas day and hope to be above the assumed mileage by the end of the week. It is just as well to have a bit in hand to allow for unforeseen stops.

The car is still running very well but for the bad exhaust blow. The clutch during one run was vile for jaggers. This would, we think, point out that the splines were not free, causing the clutch plate to bed unevenly. We agree with you that the clutch was before being dismantled quite O.K. and hope that when we do dismantle it, we shall be able to find the cause and cure it.

Up to the moment of writing neither Lytton nor Allen has arrived, and we have had no message explaining the non arrival.

We thank you for your Christmas wishes, and hope that you will all at Derby have a Merry Christmas.

G.W.H.

GWHancock
  
  


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