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).
Quarterly report on complaints regarding the Phantom II exhaust system, specifically the cut-out mechanism.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan352 | |
| Date | 1st February 1932 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 84117 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/WJ.1.2.32. X7230 PHANTOM 11 EXHAUST - QUARTERLY COMPLAINTS. On the Phantom 11 exhaust system the most serious complaint we have is the noise caused by the exhaust cut-out either blowing or rattling. Out of 120 complaints we think that 80 of them can be put down to this cause. We wish to bring forward again the question of only fitting exhaust cut-out on Continental cars or at customers request. We know from the condition of the cut-outs on a number of cars which come in that they have never been used. The tests on Brooklands show that the increase in performance on our present standard car is two to three m.p.h. at the maximum speed. We know that there must be a large percentage of owners of cars with covered bodies who are not interested in this increase at the top speed. The left hand cars, of course are all supplied with cut outs. We should save on the cost of the cut out, also it would make the front floorboards an easier job and it would reduce our service complaints. We are still endeavouring to overcome the faults on the cut out mechanism but we do not believe we shall ever be able to make this so that it is 100% reliable. There is a growing dislike to cars running with open exhausts even on the Continent. In Paris and Lyons it is an offence to have an exhaust cut out in use. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||