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).
Letter from a customer reporting metal in the crankcase of his Phantom and requesting a full overhaul.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\5\ Scan007 | |
| Date | 12th February 1934 | |
| - 2 - Telephone: 400 | Hayes Mid'x 405 | X7770 Offices of THE FAIREY AVIATION CO. LTD. HAYES, MIDDLESEX. 12th February 1934. Dear Mr. Hives, You will by now have received my Black Phantom and I should be glad if you would let me have a report. The following is briefly the series of events that led up to my discovery of the metal in the crank case. On Sunday the 4th February I did a run from London to Westgate-on-Sea in just over one and a half hours, in fact one hour 31 minutes, including getting out of London through the traffic and negotiating such cities as Rochester, Chatham and Canterbury. I was delighted with the car and remarked afterwards that she had never behaved better and from between Blackheath and Rochester on the new road I reached a very high speed indeed, well off the speedometer range, for several minutes. The oil pressure never fell below 18 lbs. but on the return journey I noticed it down to 15 which was lower than I had seen it and thinking some crank case dilution might have taken place I ordered the sump to be drained when this metal was discovered in the sump, so we took the engine down to investigate. Then we found this thin shim and other portions of metal and communicated with your firm. I am not complaining in the least as the engine must have been over-revved pretty considerably and it has done some 55,000 miles, but I would like a thorough overhaul now that the machine is in your charge, including if you think necessary the chassis, such items as shackle bolts and so forth. Possibly you can spare time to drop me a line giving me an estimate for the time and cost of this. I consider the car well worth it. She has done most excellent service and is still by actual test considerably faster than the new PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I I have just acquired. When is my Bentley chassis coming along? I shall be delighted to have it but very much regret you did not make your Sports size out of the Phantom engine rather than the smaller size, as I think the new Bentley will still be beaten by the larger Alfa Romeo, whereas the Phantom motor in the same way would be undisputed King of the Road. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, (Signature) W. Hives, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, DERBY. | ||