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 complaining about the removal of the petrol tank reserve supply in the Phantom II model, highlighting safety concerns for Australian conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\5\ Scan025 | |
| Date | 19th December 1929 | |
| Pt.S/HH/19-12-29. 87460 Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Derby. Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " Whr.{Mr Wheeler}London In the "Phantom II" model, the first one of which arrived here only a few days ago, I notice that you have abandoned the petrol tank reserve supply of several gallons which I think is a retrograde step. The small reserve in the vacuum tank intended to enable the engine to be started up when the vacuum tank has for some reason or another such as a leaking carburetter emptied itself, is a distinct step forward, but it is, as you will admit, totally inadequate to enable the car to be run any distance should the main tank have become exhausted. This contingency may not appear serious to you in England, but it is a very serious matter here in Australia, because although you are now fitting a petrol gauge on the instrument board, it is not of a constant registering type and has to be operated by a plunger, so that you are relying entirely upon its correct functioning. You may perhaps suggest that if a driver is such a fool as to neglect to operate the plunger, then he deserves to run out of petrol and suffer the inconvenience caused thereby, and so far as England is concerned, I entirely agree with you, because in any case he would probably be able to reach some further supply within the range of the capacity of the petrol remaining in the vacuum tank reserve which might run to as much as 7 or 8 miles. In Australia, however, 70 or 80 miles is much nearer the real margin of safety which should be allowed. I feel very strongly that this discontinuance of the extremely useful rear tank reserve is a very serious matter and one that merits re-consideration on your part, because I can assure you that a night in the Australian bush, with perhaps the added responsibility of ladies or children on board is no joking matter. Pt. | ||