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).
Secret memorandum on production issues and complaints concerning the first 100 Wraith cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\2\ scan0071 | |
| Date | 25th April 1938 | |
| 600. SECRET. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R.25.4.38. WRAITH PRODUCTION. A number of points have arisen, as was inevitable, which affect the first 100 Wraith cars which have been instructed. The points considered concern the complaints since the material was first released for the first 100 Wraith cars, and also concern complaints which were known at the time the work was instructed but for which no solution had been found. The points in question are as follows:- (1) Propeller Shafts. The worst period on the car is between 40 and 50 m.p.h. We have recently tracked this down to the propeller shaft. If we fit an R.R. propeller shaft it disappears. We are now finding out what it is about the Hardy Spicer shaft which causes the trouble. Our recommendations are that only enough Hardy Spicer propeller shafts are ordered to make 25 cars, and that the remainder are held up until it is imperative to order more propeller shafts from H.Spicer in order to keep up the production programme. Being a Bought Out part of standard components they should be able to be produced at very short notice. In spite of the fact that neither Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} nor Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} are concerned with the period on their cars, we are positive that if customers receive chassis in this condition a considerable percentage will complain. (2) Carburetter. Investigations with the hot starting trouble have shown that this can be greatly improved by putting the insulation under the carburetter as on the 25/30. This will mean alterations to various details including the controls and probably the air silencer bend. We think that the necessary drawings should be made forthwith and production instructed. | ||