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).
Monthly report detailing customer complaints about vehicle faults and the status of fixes.
| Identifier | Morton\M19\ img053 | |
| Date | 8th April 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GMH. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Ds. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} ORIGINAL CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINTS MONTHLY REPORT. We are not at all happy in reviewing the complaints that are still being dealt with by depots. The time taken before an improvement is available, both for the chassis on production and for depots is too long. We do not think that the policy of letting chassis go out with known faults at the present time is going to be beneficial to the Firm. We are aware that the sales of Phantom II have been very poor and costs have to be closely watched, but the position of the 38 Phantom chassis now in the Test Dept will most probably have the following troubles in service. Piston knocks, (extra oil should be adopted in some form), Brake squeaks, Clutch trouble, Shock absorbers, Steering troubles until dampers are altered, L.T. wire burning, no guard or improved wiring tube fitted. The L.H. cars are being produced with anti-squeak front brake shoes. It is hopeless to expect to reduce the amount of free of charge work if we send out cars with known faults. & extra oiling Item (1a). Booming and Vibrations 25 HP. and Phantom. Extensive research work is still being carried out with the above and although satisfactory results have been obtained, the situation at the present moment is that each car having its own peculiarities has to be dealt with accordingly. Item (1). Brake Squeaks and In-efficiency. The position of brake squeaks remains the same, no progress has been made for existing cars. There has been no work carried out with the brake liners obtained for dealing with cars in service. This is serious considering the number of complaints. The steel ribbed brake drums makes the brakes efficient, but does not cure squeaks. The C.I. ribbed brake drums gave promising results, but the metal has cracked and failed. We therefore have not at the moment any cures. Item (2). Shock Dampers. In view of the extensive work carried out by Rn.{Mr Robinson} in conjunction with W.M. no further dampers of the present design are to be made after the present stock of castings is used. The new dampers will delete a number of well known complaints. Item (3). Springing. The complaints of the springing on Phantom II. cars | ||