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).
Progress and issues with various automotive components and models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\2\ img041 | |
| Date | 22th March 1937 | |
| -2- Our Pirate overdrive box is now being made, and we hope it will be complete by the end of April. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is not in the least keen on standardising P.III Wraith Wheel Movement. He says that no customer has complained of the present steering, and the jig cost is going to be very high considering the small output in the near future. 35-EX will be back from France in about a month when we can issue a sheet and see the consequences. The oil consumption question on P.III has again become acute, and we are going bald headed for external drains both on complaints and new cars. Clutches are still bad. Even with the large half shaft and the twice-sized propeller shaft damper we cannot guarantee a good clutch, particularly after a few starts on Green Bank. Perhaps you will be able to bring us the answer to this problem. While you were at Packards did you ask them why they never answered our letters, and why they have given up their scheme of balance weights which we find very good on 37-EX. I have come to the conclusion that it is a great pity 56.BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} did not hit that telegraph pole much harder. It really is an awful motor-car, and has now run a big-end, while the Electrical Experts were trying to make the voltage control work. This has not done any good to our only Bentley sized Packard crank. I think this is about all the news, except that the Wraith bump chassis has mostly completed 50 hours on each end without any major failure. | ||