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 to Adamant Engineering regarding the failure of Ph.III follower rollers and requesting samples for examination.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 20th November 1937 | |
| 1300 Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /FJH. {Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} 1/AP. November 20th 1937. The Adamant Engineering Co.Ltd., Dallow Road, LUTON For the attention of Commdr. F.G. Matravers. Dear Sirs, During the early part of September we sent to you for examination the remains of a Ph.III. follower which had failed due to crushing of the 0.187 dia. rollers. We have since had three further cases of failure due to this cause, one of which occurred on a new car afterabout 600 miles running. We still suspect that the failures are due to either grinding or hardening cracks in the rollers as delivered to you by the manufacturers, and we would very much like an opportunity of examining some of these rollers as delivered to you. The writer was wondering whether you may have some of these 0.187 rollers in stock which you could loan to us for a few days so that we could look at them. In order that the examination should be of any value it would be necessary for us to have as many rollers as possible. Would you please let us know whether you could loan us about 500 rollers. During one of the writer's visits to Luton you demonstrated to him your method of putting splines into the end of pendulum levers, for which you use a special lubricant. We are at present experimenting with some gear box parts hydraulically pressed together, but have had trouble due to picking up. We should be very grateful if you could send us a sample of your lubricant and the recipe for producing it. The writer assumes that you have now returned from the U.S.A and hope that you had an enjoyable trip. Yours faithfully, for ROLLS-ROYCE LTD | ||