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).
Letter from Rudge-Whitworth Ltd. detailing an inspection of an experimental car's wheels and nuts, and suggesting improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\4\ scan0033 | |
| Date | 8th June 1922 | |
| COPY. RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD., Rudge Works, COVENTRY. Ref: JAD/B. 38199. Thursday, 8th. June, 1922. For the attention of Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Royce. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, The experimental car arrived in Paris on Wednesday night and I saw it on Thursday morning. Before removing the wheels I tightened them as follows, i.e. they were slack by the amounts named:- Left front ¾", right front ½". These 2 wheels were hammered up with a wooden mallet only. Right rear 1¼", left rear 2". Both these were hammered with 3 lbs. steel hammer. The general condition of the wheels and nuts is as follows:- The three plates in the lock nuts show grease at the joints and one which had been damaged was able to move round. There were no signs of oil on the cones and no oil can was on the car. We removed all the wheels and refitted them using oil on the locking nut cone. During the time I was there no creak or movement was observed on the nuts and marks are on the car so that this can be observed. A small amount of wet gets in from the inner cone causing rusty matter to accumulate. The inner cones fit fairly well but the odd places where contact does not occur is the cause of the rusting. To meet the above criticisms we could grind the inner cone of the wheel shell and also if necessary supply lock nut with a solid end instead of a loose plate. Further to this we hope to be in a position to supply a better type of spanner with suitably designed lock nut. This has been mentioned to you and will probably take the form of serrations hobbed on the outside circumference of the lock nut. Yours faithfully, FOR RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD. (Sgd) J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} A.{Mr Adams} Daniell. | ||