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).
Vehicle faults including a damaged wheel after skidding, loose front shock dampers, and a vulcanised clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\4\ B001_X 100a-page047 | |
| Date | 20th November 1932 | |
| Handwritten notes: By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X405 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. Will you compare the rim section with what we use on the 20/25.H.P. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} We have taken this matter up with Dunlops - E.PER.II. Will you please arrange for the wheel to be returned MB KB Typed content: Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. [STAMP] RECEIVED 20.11.32 We have today sent you the following telegram :- SEND SPARE ROAD WHEEL URGENT. HANCOCK During yesterday's mileage the car skidded whilst cornering in a village with the result that the O.S.R. wheel bumped into the kerb. The car at the time was not travelling at more than 30 m.p.h. and the skid was not excessively great, but the result of the bump showed up the weakness of the rims of these road wheels. Three of the spokes pulled right out of the rim. The half moon pressings in the rim are apparently not strong enough to stand any strain laterally, and the fracture shows them to be very thin. This of course made the wheel useless, as we cannot repair it. This should be taken up with the makers as the force of the contact, as stated, should not have caused this amount of damage. FRONT SHOCK DAMPERS. The front shock dampers with the washers fitted under the head of the bolts, do still not remain firm on the chassis frame. It is not possible to tighten the bolts up any more but we can still rock the dampers. It is as you say, the mounting of the damper is too near the top of the frame, which deletes a firm contact. CLUTCH. We have today dismantled the clutch, and we found that the rubbers had vulcanised themselves to the bottom and top plate. We had great difficulty in removing the top plate. We have fitted the rubbers with the slots in the top and bottom as you suggested, also the rear crossmember with rubber in between. The results of this we will give you as soon as the car is finished. G.W.H. GWHancock | ||