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).
Ordering, testing, and issues with steel skirted pistons for the Phantom 111.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\3\ scan0115 | |
| Date | 4th December 1935 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X1256 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.4.12.35. PHANTOM 111 PISTONS. I have looked into the question of the steel skirted pistons on the Phantom 111 and this matter was discussed at our conference in March, and it was agreed that a set of these pistons should be ordered. In the Minutes of Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}1/E.18.4.35 it starts by saying memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}17.4.35 was gone through in detail. In Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}17/KW. 11.4.35, under "Piston Knocks and Overoiling" it says, "We shall not get delivery of the steel skirted pistons mentioned at the last conference for about 3 weeks. We are making some connecting rods so that we can run SpectreCodename for Phantom III pistons in Bentley and so get a value for SpectreCodename for Phantom III pistons in an engine, the other characteristics of which are known". Since that date obviously further information has been gained on SpectreCodename for Phantom III pistons but the fact that these were ordered and delivered they have been tested. The piston problem on Phantom 111 is by no means clear. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} has now got an engine in order to help on this problem. So far all the tests on this piston have been confined to a Bentley unit and the tests have been worked in with other jobs. We have discussed the failures we have had with the inventor and he is sending us some modified pistons for test. At present I have held up any further tests on these pistons. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||