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).
Failure scenarios and associated costs for the New Phantom steering system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\3\ scan0249 | |
| Date | 1st September 1925 | |
| X8430 c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY3/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 1.9.25. NEW PHANTOMCodename for PHANTOM I STEERING. -------------------- Referring to the attached record of a telephone message from R.{Sir Henry Royce} to CJ, and dealing with CJ's pencil note, the replies to the questions are as follows:- 1. If the item under heading 1. failed, it would mean that wobbles would again be existent. It would also mean that wobbles would come up if the hydraulic system leaked, or air crept in. 2. If either 2. or 3. failed, then a car would be out of commission. It would of course mean an accident if either one of these items actually broke. It is not likely to, but they represent new pieces which have not been tested out. The danger would be more in connection with Item 2. rather than 3. 3. The increased cost of the parts involved, over and above the necessary similar parts which would have to be used, would be:- a/- Shock absorbers, approximately £4. to £5. b/- Damped Pendulum Lever, approximately £5.10.0. per chassis. The quantities affected would be for "W" and "X" Series, 350 chassis. The foregoing costs do not cover the new steering column parts as these would have to be made for "W" and "X" Series in any case, and the difference between the new proposals and the old would make very little difference in cost. It is only the extra parts which would increase the cost. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||