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).
Company policy and issues surrounding clutch changeovers for various car models, including the Phantom III and 25/30.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\4\ scan0131 | |
| Date | 19th January 1938 | |
| 361. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rml/R.19.1.38. CLUTCH CHANGEOVERS. We note from a report, No. N.419 Mr. C.F. Bernhard Chassis No. 3-BT{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}-17, that the clutch plate was changed though the owner was unaware of the trouble. We presume that this car had a bad clutch about which the owner was not sufficiently knowledgeable to complain. It occurs to us that the clutch might have been quite good, and only been changed as a matter of policy. We say this, because on a number of cases we have attempted to change the clutch plates for a Long type and have been told that they were giving complete satisfaction. Briefly, we want to ask you whether all P.III clutches are being changed as a matter of policy; if so, we suggest that if the old type clutch plate is giving satisfaction, it should not be removed. With regard to the 25/30 clutch, we are relying on you seeing that an epidemic does not break out due to the fact that we are now supplying Thermoid Clutch facings for these cars. We have issued a Depot Sheet saying that whenever a clutch is taken down a Thermoid faced plate should be fitted, but are beginning to wonder whether this will lead to an epidemic. You will remember that you convinced us a number of 25/30 clutches were bad which caused us to issue the Depot Sheet, but we have never considered the 25/30 to be a fundamentally bad clutch. It would cost the Company thousands of pounds to have every car within the guarantee produced before 1938 brought up to Thermoid standard. Doubtless you are watching this point. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||