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).
Failure of a 20HP spare wheel bracket due to faulty brazing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\5\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 29th March 1923 | |
| X4085 SRT C. W/Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}(sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}) C. (BJ) C. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 20HP SPARE WHEEL BRACKET FAILURE. We have received a complaint from Sales with reference to the brazing of the central fixture carrying the wheel hub on the rear spare wheel carrier. The brazing in question is that used for connecting the inclined tubes permanently to the centre piece. In the case of Mr Schmidts car, the central disc, or bracket, came adrift with the wheel and examination shewed that it had practically not been brazed at all, being merely a ring of brazing where the tube enters the boss. Some months ago I noticed this defect in a chassis in the Works and drew special attention to it, pointing out that it was easy to examine the question of whether the brazing had penetrated between the tube and the bracket, since the inner end was open. I believe that since then this issue has been thoroughly dealt with. The Works complain that the aluminium bronze from which the bracket was made did not braze well. In order to overcome even this objection I arranged to have forgings made, which I believe are now available. As soon as these forgings were available it was intended to scrap any of the aluminium bronze brackets which were in existence. The Works were to go slow and not get ahead beyond production on this particular item. Will you kindly look into this matter and make sure that the work we are turning out is beyond question. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||