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).
Squeaking springs on Chassis GVO-20 due to improper assembly and lubrication discovered during a customer trial run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 107\1\ scan0001 | |
| Date | 3rd December 1929 | |
| Sèvres P/W "EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}" Ps2/RJ.3/12/29. Re: Chassis GVO-20 I gave a trial run on this car on Saturday, and the potential customers were very pleased with the performance of the engine, the steering and the springing in a general way, but the springs were squeaking so badly that it was impossible for me to hide this fact from the customers. I therefore this morning dismantled the front springs and found that the paper from the springs had not been removed, and consequently the felt wick which is designed to provide a film of oil for the spring leaves was of no avail. Furthermore, the springs were built up with a thick greasy substance which is absolutely useless as a lubricant. I have been compelled to dismantle the springs and ease off the hard spots, thoroughly clean away the grease and refit to the chassis. This work I am doing against Works Policy, as undoubtedly it is your own responsibility, and I think it would be wise if you took this matter up with Production, with a view to their remedying this oversight on their part. I think that grease of any sort should be avoided in the building up of the springs, either by the Makers or ourselves at Derby, and that they should be saturated with engine oil through the lubricators before being dispatched, as you will readily agree this is not the first complaint that you have received from customers of springs leaving the Works absolutely dry. Will you please reply to this memo giving me authority to debit the cost of this job to Works' R.D.W. Ps. | ||