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).
Trip report and fault analysis for a 40/50 R.R. car named Minchin after a journey in the south of France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan115 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1925 | |
| C O P Y. To Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} C. to CJ. BJ. " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} R12/M3.3.25. 40/50 R.R. - MINCHIN. This car called at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence on a journey to the south of France and back. I rode in it for 20 miles and thought if this is a RR. we shall soon be out of favour: these old cars will kill us. It is a post-war car of the oldest type - say 1920. The engine and transmission were running faultlessly - silent and smooth, though not very powerful or speedy. The simple fault was that all four wheels were more or less at 70lbs. per sq. in. pressure, instead of 45 lbs., put in by Dunlops before leaving London, but the car was turned out by Cricklewood, and had been examined and oiled at Nice. The owner blamed the cantilever springs because it was harsh and noisy, vibrating and jumping about the road, which it held very badly. The other faults were more excusable. They were :- (1). Dynamo belt required a link out, and a spring to keep belt tension steady: this we easily put right. (2). A broken wheel carrier repaired by our driver Dodd and some blacksmith work. (3). Front wheel balance, but this was only needed because of the 70 lbs. pressure in tyres making the steering too free. A point I noticed very markedly was the need of a convenient side filler on the tank, and a petrol gauge, suitable for avoiding the removal of the luggage. Can we have these as a standard repair fitting at a standard price? The body looked bad: it had a feature I had before seen- i.e. it was packed up so that the scuttle would match a higher bonnet. This looks much worse than a lower bonnet. Body errors and road vibrations are much more | ||