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).
Problems and risks associated with fitting Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels to the Goshawk model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0066 | |
| Date | 9th June 1922 | |
| H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} BJ. Bt{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}2/EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}/9.6.22. Re RUDGE-WHITWORTH WIRE WHEELS. At a recent Sales Conference it was proposed that the Goshawk should be fitted with Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels. I raised objections to this because the Company's experience before the War was that Rudge-Whitworth wheels, even of the latest type, were liable to come off. In reply to this it was pointed out that there was a letter from Mr. Rowledge saying that Rudge-Whitworth wheels had proved quite satisfactory on Wolseley cars. I challenged this, as I had in mind many cases where wheels had come off on Wolseley cars, and a fair number of cases where they had come off on Vauxhall cars. We have to-day received a telephone message from Mr. Hammersley of Bromley to say that his Rolls-Royce has turned over in consequence of failure of the locking ring of the Rudge-Whitworth wheel. We are, of course, dealing with this matter, and we are certainly in no way responsible, as our policy before the War, as you doubtless remember, was to obtain an indemnity from the owner whenever he insisted on having Rudge-Whitworth wheels fitted. The point, however, is that I feel very strongly that I ought to bring this case to your notice and urge once again that we are simply asking for trouble by fitting this type of wheel on the Goshawk. If we must fit this wheel owing to price, can we not insist on re-designing locking device? I don't know if any trouble with loose wheels developed on the 10,000 mile trial cars, but even if it did not, this is I think in no way conclusive, because my experience is that it is after the car has run many thousands of miles, and the threads are somewhat worn, that this trouble occurs. This perhaps would account for the trouble being unknown to Ag. Bt.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} | ||