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).
Customer's car that burst into flames, detailing the incident and the suspected cause of flooding.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page158 | |
| Date | 30th April 1934 | |
| COPY. 1. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 2. C. Copies to:- EWT. N. MEMORANDUM NO. B18. Hbl/MC30.4.34. Evelyn Baring, Esq., 8, Bishopsgate, E.C.2. B-99-AE. Comp.del. 8.3.34. T. & M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Saloon Visited 28.4.34. Owner's no. London Wall 2830. Berkeley Mews, Portman Square. This owner rang up Bly{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} on Saturday, 28th inst., at 1.p.m. to say that his car had burst into flames. I arranged with Bly{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} that Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} and I should go and see the car immediately. The fire had been put out but a certain amount of damage had been done and the car was quite unusable. I arranged with owner that it should be collected on Monday, the 30th, and attended to. The fire only affected the carburetter side, and not much actual damage was done, except to the bonnet and the paintwork in general. The distributor, coil, etc. were charred, and the wiring to the plugs was burnt up leaving the bare wires exposed. Mr. Baring though a little upset was very reasonable about this trouble and blamed himself entirely. He told me that his driver has been in hospital for some time and he has been running the car, about which he knows nothing himself. He had switched on in the normal way, and waited a couple of minutes but the pump continued to click, which he had not experienced before. He smelt petrol and somebody told him that there was petrol on the floor. The engine started O.K. and a few seconds later the car burst into flames on the carburetter side and was only put out with considerable difficulty. Mr. Bering imagines that the trouble was caused by flooding, and mentioned that flooding was previously experienced, when the car went to our Service Station where it was attended to satisfactorily for the time being. Owner said he was fully insured and trusted that the necessary work on the coachwork and chassis could be got on with as quickly as possible. He said he thought it was his own fault, that he should have been more careful and not have attempted to start the car with the pump still clicking and a smell of petrol. Hb.{C. E. Harcombe} | ||