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).
10,000-mile endurance testing strategy for the Goshawk car model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan063 | |
| Date | 1st March 1922 | |
| COPY CJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Mar. 1922. RUNNING OF EXPL: BOGHAWK CARS. We think it is a mistake at this stage to have a Goshawk running simply to run off 10,000 miles. Our experience is that when the 10,000 mile test was originated it was intended that after the engineers had considered a part to be entirely satisfactory in every respect, it was then to run 10,000 miles in order to satisfy the commercial side it was safe. The Goshawk has not reached that 10,000 miles stage yet, it has, however, reached the stage when it requires intelligently running for long distances by experts. We know, for instance, certain parts on the car which is starting to run 10,000 miles, are certain to give trouble. It will not help the production of the Goshawk, but delay it if those parts are not replaced and improved ones fitted to the 10,000 miles car as soon as they are available. We also anticipate a number of faults will develop as the car runs - we consider it is of utmost importance that we receive complete information immediately as faults develop and the cause. To find the reason a particular fault has developed may mean holding up the car and dismantling the part, but we consider this will be the quickest way of obtaining the desired results. Suppose, for instance, the car runs 300 miles every day until it has completed 10,000 miles and is then returned to Derby. We should then have to start another series of tests in order to ascertain why certain things happened and how to prevent it occurring. If a rattle or noise develops, we want to know exactly which part it is making the noise and, if possible, should be cured so that any fresh noises can be heard. We do not consider it would serve any useful purpose for the car to keep running making such a noise that it was not possible to hear exactly what was happening. At this stage of the development of 6-Goshawk-ll it would not. The Goshawk Car I was brought to Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence is a replica of the car now running 10,000 miles, in fact, in some details the car I am running is more up-to-date. After running that car 1000 miles, the condition of some of the parts demands that we must make some modifications before we could send cars to customers. As soon as those modified parts are ready, they should be fitted to the 10,000 miles cars, otherwise we shall find, when the car has completed 10,000 miles, it has a number of out of date parts on. We are whole-heartedly in agreement that as much running as possible should be got out of the cars. We ask that the 10,000 miles cars ( except the Amateur Driver's car) shall be run efficiently - they shall, shall be run in order to bring out faults and to prove when those faults have been cured. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||