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).
Letter requesting detailed testing of Avon tyres, repair of a steering lever, and investigation of an oil leak.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\5\ scan0015 | |
| Date | 20th January 1939 | |
| Hoob. P.H.Rose, Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, FRANCE. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}4/JH.20.1.39. We have received your reports dated 17th. and 18th. inst. which are satisfactory. We are very interested in the Avon tyres which you have at Chateauroux and want all possible information including - (1) Non skid properties on very slippery surfaces. (2) Non skid properties when nearly smooth. (3) General handling and cornering characteristics. (4) Comfort. (5) Durability and mileage. We would also like you to subject one of them to deliberate misuse by running over kerb, brick, rock or similar to find the susceptibility to wall fracture. This test will have to be conducted in a way that will not incur risk of accident. We enclose print of cross steering lever FB.4135 which may have been bent in Std's. accident. Please check this up and if necessary have it reset at Lauvergne's if they think they can do it safely. The cross steering tube will then need resetting to obtain 1/8" toe in. This is best measured by strings the full length of the car, set parallel. Will you please collect the oil escaping from the clutch housing drain and see if it exceeds the amount lost from the gearbox over a given period. The difference will give the amount if any which is leaking from the rear main bearing which we want to know. We are hoping to send some wheels to you shortly on which you can test standard Michilin Pilote tyres, and compare them with the Avons. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} | ||