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).
Letter from a customer reporting a catastrophic engine failure, suspected to be a seized piston.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 17th August 1934 | |
| TELEGRAMS: SUMMERS,CHESTER. TELEPHONE 200 CONNAH'S QUAY (10 LINES) JOHN SUMMERS & SONS, LIMITED. MANUFACTURERS OF GALVANIZED, CORRUGATED AND PLAIN STEEL SHEETS, &c. LONDON OFFICE: 34, LIME STREET, E.C. GLOBE IRON WORKS, STALYBRIDGE. LIVERPOOL OFFICE: 14, CHAPEL STREET. MANCHESTER OFFICE: 33, BRAZENNOSE STREET. ALL QUOTATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ARE SUBJECT TO REPLY BY RETURN OF POST. REFERENCE RFS.P.1. Handwritten notes: 15,300 Miles (crossed out) Seized Piston Hawarden Bridge Steel Works, Shotton, Chester. 17th. August, 1934. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby. Dear Bill, The worst has happened! The indestructable has been destroyed! In other words, something fundamental has broken in my engine. There is no compression in my back cylinder, there is a distinct blowing noise in the crank case, and the valves appear to be functioning correctly. One can only assume that the piston has broken. I have had some talk with somebody in the Repair Department to-day, and I gather that you - and everybody else - are on holiday. I suggest the best procedure is for some highly responsible person to be sent to make an examination first thing on Monday. The car is here, and I don't like the idea of taking it any further, in case I do some more damage. I don't wish to prejudge the situation, but both Geoffrey and I are a little disappointed. Yours sincerely, P/p. Richard F.{Mr Friese} Summers RFS/HC. | ||