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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).
Criticizing the excessive lubrication instructions provided to car owners.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 26\2\  Scan232
Date  1st April 1921
  
To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
c. to CJ.
c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}
c. to L.
c. to EY.
c. to EF.
c. to Mr. Walker.

x995

INSTRUCTION BOOKS FOR R.R. Cars.

With referenve to the above books which we send out to the Owners of R.R. Cars. We are sure that the instructions for lubrication and attention which we stipulate should be given to the R.{Sir Henry Royce} R.{Sir Henry Royce} cars, is excessive. It is enough to frighten any Owner who takes these instructions seriously.

We have made a test and find that it takes four hours for a man to carry out the instructions which we stipulate should be done after every 500 miles. This means that if the car averages 25 M.P.H. (20 hours running) that 20% of the cars running time must be given to lubrication and attention. We think this is excessive. For instance, in the Marmon Car Instruction Book, the lubrication they stipulate after 500 miles takes approximately 5 minutes.

The arrangement of our Book we also consider is open to criticism. For instance, the order in which the operatbns for lubrication is given, is bad:-

Operation1 Fill reserve oil tank.
Operation 2 Syringe oil in gear box (this means removing all the floor boards.
Operation 3 Add oil to the rear axle (this means crawling underneath the car).
Operation 4 Go back again to the gear box and oil the engine coupling.

Contd.
  
  


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