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).
Letter to Mr. Hives regarding a persistent smell and fuel consumption in a 3.5 Litre Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0039 | |
| Date | 28th February 1934 | |
| TELEGRAMS: SUMMERS, CHESTER TELEPHONE 200 CONNAH'S QUAY. (10 LINES) x7961 JOHN SUMMERS & SONS, LIMITED. MANUFACTURERS OF GALVANIZED, CORRUGATED AND PLAIN STEEL SHEETS, &C. LONDON OFFICE: 34 LIME STREET E.C. GLOBE IRON WORKS, STALYBRIDGE. LIVERPOOL OFFICE: 14 CHAPEL STREET. MANCHESTER OFFICE: 33, BRAZENNOSE STREET. ALL QUOTATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ARE SUBJECT TO REPLY BY RETURN OF POST REFERENCE RFS.P.1/1. SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS LTD. Hawarden Bridge Steel Works, Shotton, Chester. 28/2/34. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., (Expl.Dept.) Derby. Dear Mr. Hives, 3½ LITRE BENTLEY. Your experts arrived yesterday, but I am afraid they were not very successful in producing a strong smell. They were also rather of the opinion that it was the paint on the brake drums. I do not share this view, as one gets the smell even if the brakes are not used. The electrician suggested it might be possible to make up a resistance without any varnish; I think this would be a very good idea, as until that resistance is definitely eliminated I shall always suspect it as being the cause of the trouble. My theory is that the smell comes up into the car by way of the large armoured cable which carries the wires up to the switchboard. During the last two days, I have covered 300 miles without putting any petrol in the tank, and without having to use the reserve two gallons. This works out at a shade under 19 m.p.g., which I think is highly commendable for a motor car of this description. Yours sincerely, Richard F.{Mr Friese} Summers RFS/HC. | ||