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).
Copy of a letter from the U.S.A. detailing driving issues in ice and snow, including broken valve springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\2\ img199 | |
| Date | 9th March 1934 | |
| COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM MR. IN U.S.A. DATED FEB.26th.1934. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} For. La.{L. A. Archer} K.{Mr Kilner} Hdy.{William Hardy} Rs.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary}11/MJ.9.3.34. Many thanks for your letter re. progress. After trying the Terraplane six I feel sure that the main secret of the car is in its engine mounting. Your remark about all twelve valve springs being broken was not so facetious as you might think. Today, on my way to Langley, after covering 350 miles on ice and snow in acute discomfort owing to - (a) The temperature. (b) Ice collecting under the front wings so that after 5 miles straight running it prevented one turning the wheels on a lock. (c) Insufficient ground clearance causing the car to drag its tummy along the snow very frequently. - I heard a sound that by now has become very familiar and which indicated that the sixth valve spring of the second set, or twelth in all had failed. Since I have changed one every 200 miles since leaving Buffalo, I was considering that I had about had enough when the car simultaneously decided it too would like to go by train and dropped the valve in the cylinder. It being 8 p.m. by the time I got to this small town I found no rooms left in the only decent hotel; this place closely resembles the Dog & Duck only the beer is not so good. I think M.H. must have the gift of clairvoyance as he only travelled by road from New York to Springfield. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||