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).
Twisted rocker shaft on chassis 3-CP-88, its likely cause, and a design improvement.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0321 | |
| Date | 15th July 1938 | |
| 1245 Sr. c. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} c. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. Mr. C. P. Dept. BY.2/G.15.7.38. CHASSIS 3-CP-88. MR. HERMAN CRON. Sr/VA.1/AD.7.7.38. I have no doubt but that the position outlined in the above memo in connection with chassis 3-CP-88, when it was found that the rocker shaft in the steering column was twisted to 8 to 10°, that this is the result of a bump, which might not be considered by anybody as an accident, but which will be sufficiently serious as a shock to twist the shaft. This effect would be assisted on the Phantom lll by the fact that we have straight steering connections instead of a side steering tube which approximates to one of Harry Lauder's walking sticks. I do not think that we can justly charge for the work done in putting the steering column right, as it is very evident that a shock entailed to twist the shaft is such as could occur under shunt operations, when the car might run into a high kerb. The twisting however could not occur except under the conditions of some such minor accident. We are making the rocker shaft from 7l in 'D' onwards in a higher tensile material, which will double the force necessary to twist the shaft in question. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||