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).
Standardization of steering pivots despite reports of weakness.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 2\B002_X168\ 00000001-page195 | |
| Date | 9th December 1913 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/B/4/L91213. Na.{Mr Nadin} Re Steering Pivots. X.168. In Mr Haldenby's report Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}8/L51213, copies of which have been forwarded to J.{Mr Johnson W.M.}, R.{Sir Henry Royce}, De. and Na{Mr Nadin}, he makes the statement that Pivots F.3697/8 are exactly the same as F.3372/3 as regards the section of the U and the root of the stub and that F.3697/8 are now being used on 2700 and 2800 series, and that these have been standardised in face of two adverse reports of his in which he pointed out that F.3372/3 were weak. We anticipate that Messrs Johnson and Royce may require a report from us, but in any case we ourselves would like to know why the reports from the Exp. Dept. are ignored and why these parts were standardised without going through the usual procedure of obtaining standardisation signatures and a satisfactory road test that Mr Johnson has so constantly insisted on. The following is a brief history of the position :- 16/6/13. F.3372. tested and report forwarded to you, ref. Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}12/L18613, stating that the stub broke off at the root where it joins the pivot, showing that this was the weakest part. 8/7/13. Mr Royce through Mr Elliott asked for re-test to see if brake was due to a flaw in the metal. 14/8/13. F.3372. again tested and report (Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}4/L14813) forwarded to you, stating that pivot broke again in an exactly similar manner, Mr Haldenby adding:- | ||