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 failure of a Rapson tyre fitted to chassis 71-CW during a test drive.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\1\ Scan011 | |
| Date | 26th March 1920 | |
| R.R. 109 (5M)T) (SD976 19-7-17) MP180805 COPY. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} LE1/W26.3.20. Re. Rapson Tyres fitted on Chassis 71-CW - Chance. I went out on the above car - which has got Rapson tyres fitted on Warland rims on the rear wheels - and had been driving perhaps 15 miles, and made various tests regarding swaying, but did not get any very high speeds - very similar to what we did when you were down in London on the Trials Car, but not by any means so strenuous a test. I was going quite slowly, about twenty miles an hour, and the outerbead of the off side tyre came off the rim. The inner tube of the Rapson tyre which is as you are aware only a very small one, had pulled the valve out; this all happened within about 30 yards; also the cover had creeped about eight inches. This matter is being inspected by the Rapson tyre people, and as it is a Barker order they will do the necessary with regard to getting Mr. Rapson to have a look at this. I will let you have a further report on this later. J.I.E. | ||