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).
Reporting a serious steering failure on a 3 1/2-Litre Bentley due to a fractured offside swivel pin.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\1\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 13th December 1934 | |
| PRIVATE. x7961 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Cl/DPB/13.12.34. In accordance with your request on the occasion of your visit to K, that I should communicate with you in the event of anything happening which demanded immediate attention, I have a serious fault to report. Chassis No. B.11AE. Mrs.Smith-Bingham 3 1/2-Litre Bentley This owner experienced a serious steering failure yesterday the 12th inst. on the Caverfield-Bicester road, the steering locking on the straight after taking a bend at speed. As reported in my memo to Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}, Repair Department, the apparent cause of the trouble was the failure of the offside swivel pin, which had fractured in two places, jamming the steering on the offside. From the chauffeur's report, this luckily happened on a practically straight road, otherwise the results might have been disastrous. The purpose of this memo is to warn you to be on the look out for this pin, as I am endeavouring to let both Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} and yourself know the full details so that when the owner's complaint report No.66 is received by you, and possibly a letter of complaint from the owner asking for an explanation, you will both be in a position to deal with the matter promptly. K/Cl. Archer has been shewn the pin when here this morning and will be coming along to see you on his return to W tomorrow. Cl. | ||