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).
Issues with Lucas headlamps and a fractured exhaust system on various vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\4\ scan0102 | |
| Date | 8th March 1937 | |
| 1113 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Kingsbury, March 8th. With reference to your memo Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}4/R.6.3.37., our memo definitely stated that the Lucas Head Lamps had been taken off 35-EX and the lamps from 6.B.IV had been modified by Marchals and fitted to 35-EX. We requested at the same time for two Lucas Head Lamp shells to be sent out to Paris so that Marchals could fit their fittings. These two lamps were to be fitted to 6.B.IV. We have neither received a reply or the lamps. The fact that the Head Lamps were as dazzling when dipped as when full on was sufficient to condemn them, therefore, until Lucas' make the lamps satisfactory we shall not attempt to standardise them. The Head Lamps in question were taken to Marchals after the accident and tested. They were condemned for dazzle. The focus was not correct, but I was informed by R.{Sir Henry Royce} Waller that the Lucas expert had focussed them. They could be made right but that is entirely up to Lucas'. We are not carrying out experimental work for Lucas' and then be charged double the price for their stuff, which has a bad name all over the country. I gave Waller instructions in the event of no lamps arriving for 6.B.IV. to fit 35-EX lamps temporary but under no circumstances were they to be used for night driving, therefore, to use your own words the mechanical part of the lamp could be standardised. With regard to the exhaust system on 22.G.V. We take exception to your remarks re the system was changed at Chateauroux without the Experimental Dept. knowledge. Will you ask Whyman why a front expansion box and intermediate pipe aluminised was sent out on the 21.9.36., and will you turn up our report of the 13th October and read that the pipe leading into the main silencer had broken away at the weld, and again our report of the 22nd October 1936 Front expansion box. The fracture actually occurred on the outside of the welding at the point where the downpipe enters the first expansion chamber. We have examined the down pipe and primary expansion chamber which broke just prior to Waller's departure. | ||