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).
Customer complaints about high oil consumption in new 25/30 models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\3\ scan0071 | |
| Date | 8th July 1936 | |
| COPY. To Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} copy to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}2/E8.7.36. re Oil Consumption on 25/30's. Would you please see LA{L. A. Archer}2/T6.6.36 written to Lillie Hall and I attach copy of C5/C3.7.36 to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} to which no reply has been received. 25/30's are now getting out into the hands of the public and I am sorry to say that this high oil consumption, when the chassis are new, is getting us into considerable trouble and bringing us complaints daily. I saw one yesterday where the customer said he used a gallon in under 200 miles! To have to tell people that it will improve with use is rather terrible and something which I think the Company have never done previously in their history, i.e. admitted that, when their chassis are delivered, they are not in perfect order ready for use. I can hardly imagine that either Austin's or Morris's would like to turn out cars and tell people this sort of thing. I am writing to you because, so far as I can see, it appears to be a question of manufacture but I cannot understand why we have suddenly gone backwards in this direction. I regard the matter very seriously and should be glad if you would go into it with whoever deals with matters of this description and see what can be done to prevent our continuing to turn out cars like this. (Sgd.) Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Enc. Copy of C5/C3.7.36. | ||