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).
Examination of a demonstration car, with instructions to repair steering components and a bent frame.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0275 | |
| Date | 20th April 1939 | |
| 1300 To: Levallois c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Mr. c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. to D/BP. BT{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}10/MG.20.4.39 CHASSIS NO. 3.DL-58. DEMONSTRATION CAR -------------------------------------------- Sr/VA.1/ET.17.4.39 The Steering parts returned have been examined, and although there is undoubtedly some distortion it is only slight and can be corrected quite satisfactorily by re-bedding. The pendulum lever should be scrapped, but the two halves of the steering box and the supporting sleeve we are handing to Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} for re-bedding. Will D/BP please issue despatch instructions for these parts to be returned to Paris by Air Mail after repair. With regard to the frame, it is clear from the alignment charts you give that the frame has been bent towards the offside at the rear end behind the cruciform. We do not think that the frame is distorted throughout its whole length as might appear from Chart No.2; this appearance is only due to the fact that the datum line used for the location of the strings at the rear end is offset by the amount of frame distortion, so the strings do not represent true datum lines at all and give misleading measurements even where the frame is not bent. We think, therefore, that the distortion is local, and it should be possible to make a satisfactory repair in Paris without going to the expense of sending the frame to Derby. In any case, we could do very little more with this type of frame than you can do, since the side members cannot be re-pressed like open members can be, and it is only possible to apply local heat where the frame is buckled, and straighten it out by means of bending bars. You need not be afraid of applying heat with an oxy-acetylene flame, since it will do no harm as the material is only a .15 to .25% Carbon Steel which will stand any amount of heating to a cherry red for the purpose of straightening. BT{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}/SBS | ||