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).
Accident report detailing damage to a vehicle following the failure of a front spring centre bolt.
| Identifier | Morton\M10\ img105 | |
| Date | 31th August 1924 guessed | |
| - 2 - of the breaking of the N.S. front spring centre bolt. This had apparently gone a few days previously, as the driver complained of the steering pulling slightly to the right when the brakes were applied. The enclosed sketch shews the position of the spring as we found it. The spring clips must have been loose to have allowed the centre bolt to break and shear as it did. The top half of the centre bolt was missing. The third spring leaf from the top had moved about two inchs from its correct position, having moved towards the rear. I have asked the driver to give you the piece of the centre bolt, which was left in the spring, and also the portion of the dowel cap that fits over the head of the centre bolt. The other part of this dowel cap was missing. The damage to the car was very slight. The two N.S. wings were bent, and the running board slightly damaged. The front brake actuating shaft on the front axle was slightly bent through coming into contact with the tree trunk. We straightened this out to enable the car to be driven home. The rear N.S. brake drum was full of oil, owing to the axle oil having run down the axle tube when the car was on its side. We could not find any other damage done to the car, but it would be advisable to examine it thoroughly when it gets to Derby. We fitted a new spring centre bolt, which we obtained from a local garage. We tried the car afterwards, and everything seemed to be in very good order. There is no steering taking charge taking place. The car should arrive in Derby on Saturday morning. It is unfortunate that the prospective clients were in the car at the time of the accident. However, I think they are quite satisfied that the accident was not caused through any defect in design, or as a result of four wheel brakes being fitted. The driver told them a very feasible tale of a front wheel skid, owing to the very loose sandy nature of the road. He appears to have done everything possible to conceal the real cause of the accident, and the people who were in the car appear to be perfectly satisfied with his explanation of the accident. I told the driver to take the car back to Derby personally, and instructed him to arrive there before midday on Saturday, in order that you might hear his account of the accident. A.J.LIDSEY. | ||