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).
Dismantled Silver Phantom steering box with a broken lock stop, including measurements and a request for parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\4\ scan0137 | |
| Date | 13th July 1939 | |
| [Handwritten note at top] By el c/o to Bastow - R[crossed out] [Handwritten checkmark and note] ✓ veto [Handwritten number] 666 To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/PJH. CHATEAUROUX. 13.7.39. 30.G.7. Silver Phantom. STEERING. We dismantled the steering on arrival at Chateauroux and found that the left lock stop was broken off in the Ex. 30857 Bz/A steering box. No other serious damage could be found, so we built the box up again having first verified that the steering was central when the front wheels were pointing straight ahead. This was found to be correct. We have made the following measurements for your information. 1). Total linear movement from lock to lock of ball pins on outer steering arms. (those attached to pivots) 8.8". 2). Total steering wheel movement from lock to lock including back lash, but with no sponge (front wheels off ground) two and two thirds turns. 3). Further movement on right lock against sponge to stop in box- half a turn. 4). Further movement on left lock against sponge to where stop ought to be (end of cam)- half a turn. The sponge comes mostly from the ball pins lifting out of the ball pads until they are bearing on thier necks. We think that the next thing to do is to try the cast iron steering box and see if itsstops break off. Failing this it will be neccessary either to raise the steering ratio or reduce the lock. Please send usthe neccessary parts to change over to a cast iron box, if you agree to this. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} [Signature] Jmwaller. | ||