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).
Windscreen failures experienced during a 10,000-mile test in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M3\M3.4\ img040 | |
| Date | 23th September 1924 | |
| R.R. 403A (40 H) (SL 62 12-7-23). J.H., D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG23.9.24. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} c. to DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} WIND-SCREEN FAILURES X1087 X9840 X9941 When we were running the 10,000 miles test in France, two of the cars were fitted with the standard Barker open touring body, and one car was fitted with the Hooper Limousine. The cars were continually in trouble with wind-screen failures. Below is a report on the troubles :- With regard to windscreen failures, we have had cases of top panels falling out, owing to their not being sufficiently fixed into the frame, i.e., the shoulder on the glass, which is supposed to prevent it falling out, was not pronounced enough to hold it in position. This occurred on 35-PK. Bottom panels have broken owing to the fact that :- (1) The whole windscreen frame is not fixed sufficiently to the scuttle, allowing it to rattle about. On 35-PK and 98-NK, we were always fixing new bolts and tightening up bolts, to fix the windscreen frame to the scuttle. (2) The brass channels that hold the glass are not fixed sufficiently rigidly to the frame-work. Small countersunk 3/16" screws are usually fitted. These invariably strip their threads and come out, or work themselves loose. This is really a result of the main frame being insufficiently rigid. (3) On 9-PK, the upright members of the windscreen frame being fixed to the roof of the body, and also to the scuttle, can move independently of one another when the roof of the body moves relative to the scuttle. This movement occurs on bumpy roads, owing to the shaky condition of the body, and the insufficient rigidity of the parts of the windscreen frame in question. The bottom panel of the windscreen is fixed into these uprights, and glass breakage occurs owing to their movement relative to each other. contd :- | ||