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).
Tyre failures on the Nairobi Run and a disagreement with Dunlop over the cause being vehicle overloading.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\4\ scan0094 | |
Date | 16th April 1937 | |
1011. 68 S/W. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Nairobi Run- Tyre Failures. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}2/KW16.4.37. Dunlops in a letter to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} seem inclined to blame the overloading of the car for these failures, coupled with exceptional conditions of service and low pressures specially agreed to. They say that the car was overloaded on the back axle to the extent of 26½%, and that in their original discussions - presumably with yourself - they based their recommendations for equipment and contact pressures on an approximate loading of 4,150 lbs whereas they found that with full equipment the back axle loading was approximately 5,250 lbs. Would you please let me have any information, which Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} requires, which would help to clear up any difference of opinion between ourselves and Dunlops on this question. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} [handwritten signature] | ||