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).
Conference report regarding the decision of whether to fit an old-type spring drive coupling to car model 68-AU.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan107 | |
| Date | 2nd March 1925 | |
| 44117 BY12/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 2. 3. 25. REPORT OF CONFERENCE AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD FIT OLD TYPE SPRING DRIVE COUPLING TO 68-AU. --------------------------------------------- Present:- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}, MX{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}, Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}, & By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} After discussing the issue generally, the following decisions were made:- The damping spring coupling had not proved reliable in service and had been condemned and in many cases replaced. The weak point was the driving springs which could not be relied upon for any specified length of time. The new Fabric Coupling would be available this week, arranged suitably for 40/50, and it was remarked the Fabric Coupling itself was identical in both the scheme for 68-AU and for MAC.{Mr Macintosh}Series "V". The new Fabric coupling would, it was believed, behave precisely the same to the particular fault 68-AU had as the old type coupling. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} could fit and thoroughly test the coupling in fourteen days, and in any case he is waiting for a "U" Series car to test out the 40/50 Fabric Coupling scheme. It was considered 68-AU was a good car to try it on. We had at present run 5000 miles on Fabric Coupling, and by the time 68-AU was fitted and tested out, we should have practically finished 10,000 miles on first MAC.{Mr Macintosh} car in France. It was considered that an importunate customer should not force us to act against our past experience and present judgement in an effort to gain time. The conclusion was that Conference recommend that 68-AU should be sent to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to be fitted with new Fabric Coupling without delay, as it was considered this was applying a final remedy rapidly, and all had | ||