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).
Repeated and serious steering failure on chassis B-154-MR for Capt. Molyneux.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0210 | |
| Date | 23th March 1939 | |
| To Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd., LONDON..................to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} P A R I S Sr/Dm{D. Munro}3/Vf.23.3.39 Re: Chassis B-154-MR - Capt.Molyneux ---------------------------------- I feel it my duty to report to you the recent trouble which we have encountered with the above car. This customer's driver had gone over to London to collect it. He reported over the telephone that the steering had been quite satisfactory down to Folkestone but failed completely during transit on the boat. We immediately took the necessary steps to set things right, and sent a mechanic to Boulogne s/Mer with a complete new steering which we removed from B-132-MR, at present at the coachbuilders waiting for completion of the body. To our utter amazement, we received a telephone call from our mechanic, who informed us that after fitting the steering, and travelling only some 67 kilometres, exactly the same trouble had occurred, i.e., the steering had collapsed, and it was only thanks to the fact that the road was clear, and also that he was travelling slowly at the time, that he avoided what might have been a very serious accident. As the matter appeared to me to be of the utmost importance, I immediately despatched "VA" with yet another steering removed from another new car B-160-MR, also at the coachbuilders awaiting its body. "VA" reported to me on the telephone this morning that the trouble is due to the cracking up of the follower roller in the steering boxes in both cases. The pieces naturally jammed the steering which one is able to turn three quarters of a circle, with no effect on the wheels before it jams hard. I have communicated with Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} and explained the situation to him, at the same time asking him for a complete new steering to be sent from Derby, as I do not feel happy to leave the steering originally sent for B-160-MR on the car belonging to Captain Molyneux, even if it brings it safely back to Paris. For your information, I confirm that both chassis B-132-MR and B-160-MR are brand new, and as mentioned above are having bodies fitted to them. I am... | ||