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).
The failure of American-supplied bumpers during stress testing.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\U\August1930-November1930\ Scan064 | |
| Date | 15th September 1930 | |
| ORIGINAL. To SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/An. c.c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} c.c. to WOT. c.c. to Ds. c.c. to K.{Mr Kilner} c.c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/An.2/AJ.15.9.30. X4522 TESTS ON BUMPERS FOR AMERICA. We have carried out the American underwriters' tests to the American bumpers as fitted to 25-EX. These tests consist of running a 2,000 lb. weight into the centre of the bumpers at various speeds up to five to seven miles per hour on the rear bumpers, and six miles per hour on the front bumpers. Actually, the bumpers passed the standard tests but we followed this up with rather more severe treatment, testing them to destruction. The results shewed that the bumpers collapsed too easily. There was no sign of any damage to the chassis as long as the bumpers took the blow, but on the rear they soon became so bent that the impact fell on the cross member. As soon as the cross member took the blow the dumb iron started to come in. Our conclusions are that the bumpers as supplied by America are not of sufficiently good material. The chassis will stand bumpers less highly stressed and made of better material without any likelihood of being damaged. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/An. | ||