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).
The status and use of cars in the Experimental Department.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\4\ scan0223 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1936 | |
| 81042 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/MJ.2.2.36. CARS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Replying to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}3/E31.1.36. Every three months we get a note from Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} to provide a list of the cars in the Experimental Dept. When that list is made out we carefully go over the list to see which cars can be disposed of. This is a regular procedure. 29-EX. (Vulture). It is essential for us to have certain chassis for destruction tests on the dynamometer or road. On the Vulture car we can try out on the dynamometer Phantom 111 rear axles, Phantom 111 gearboxes. It also is being used at the present time for testing to destruction different types of brake drums. This is an economical way of using this car. It saves a useful car and makes use of one which has only scrap value. As soon as we write off the Vulture there is nothing on it which is of any value. 31-EX. CAR. This car is being rebuilt and we shall retain the same number. All the parts out of the old car which were of any use have already been seized to try and bring up to date some of the existing cars, so that 31-EX. will be a new car. 20/25's. The 20/25 cars which we have for experimental purposes are hopelessly out of date and are not fit for the job they are supposed to be used for. We cannot however get rid of them until they are replaced. 19-G-1V we have handed over to Hucknall as a transport car. It is essential to have a transport car there as they now frequently have to meet Air Ministry Officials at Nottingham and as this is likely to increase rather than decrease 19-G-1V can no longer be considered an experimental car; it is the transport car for Hucknall. | ||