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).
Translated report from a mechanic detailing a steering failure and subsequent investigation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0218 | |
| Date | 24th March 1939 | |
| Re: CHASSIS N° B.154.MR - Captain MOLYNEUX Translation of Mechanic Nanot's report dated 24.3.39. I arrived at Boulogne on the 21st instant, in order to change the steering column on the above car, owing to something having happened to the steering when the car was being shipped from Folkestone to Boulogne. I removed the steering column and fitted the one which I took with me from Paris. I experienced no trouble whatsoever in fitting the new steering. After having fitted it I left for Paris with the car, in company with the driver. Soon after leaving Boulogne, I ran the car up to a speed of 130 K.P.H. in order to satisfy myself that everything was all right with the steering. As all seemed quite in order, I then reduced the speed and proceeded to Paris at a normal pace. After having covered 65 Kms. during which time everything appeared to be quite in order and, while commencing to take an easy right hand bend at 60 k.p.h., and when in the middle of the bend, I heard a dry cracking noise, at the same time the front wheels straightened out (parallel to the chassis frame) and, in instinctively attempting to correct this by turning the steering to the right, I immediately discovered that I had no control over the steering. I managed to pull the car up near the left hand gutter, and only about 4 inches in front of a cement milestone. I think I ought to point out that, at the time when the above happened, the road was wet and greasy. If the road had been dry, I think the bend could be taken at 80 K.P.H. or even faster without any risk. It was therefore fortunate that I was not travelling at more than 60 K.P.H. and also that there was no car coming in the opposite direction, otherwise it would have been a "catastrophe". I had the car pushed into the nearest garage and, upon removing the end cover of the original steering box, broken bits of the roller dropped out. I then came to the conclusion that the roller in the steering on the car had failed in a similar manner to the previous one. Sgd. NANOT. | ||