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).
Report from France detailing multiple vehicle failures, including brake shudder and broken components, during road testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0192 | |
| Date | 12th April 1935 | |
| 4200u (3) HOTEL DE FRANCE CHATEAUROUX, Indre. France. 12th April. 1935. To. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From. G.W.H. We confirm the following telegrams which we have sent you today :- " RADIATOR REPAIRED TEMPORARY RESUMED RUNNING " and " RESULT OF BRAKE JAGGER FRONT AXLE CONTROL EYE " " BOLTS BROKEN, ONE JACK BROKEN, CROSS STEERING " " TUBE BENT ENGINE OIL PIPE FLATTENED O.S. " " BRAKE SEIZED ". We managed to fill the damaged part of the radiator with lead, and started our mileage this morning. The drivers had a bad front brake shudder during the morning, applying the brakes normally for traffic. This broke the aluminum cap of the O.S. Jackall Jack, shook the horns and fog lamp loose. We took the other front Jack off at noon and proceeded to test result of steering. We had not proceeded far, when the brakes were applied in quite a normal manner at 70 MPH. to check the speed, when there was a violent shudder and the Car dived to the right. The Car however did not get out of control and upon examination the two front axle control brackets had been pulled off the axle. The eye of the bolts having broken also the shank of the bolts. The whipping round of the axle had allowed the cross steering tube to hit the front oil pipe, ( suction from bottom half to pump ) flattening it out, also hitting the two stays fitted for the radious rods which kinked the tube and bent it.( We can straighten this out ). The off front brake had seized on,which could not be released. This was caused by the Martindale water excluder flange, having whipped and locked in the flange of the brake drum which in turn, caused the brakes to rub. The Steering of the Car was in no way better with the two Jacks off, shocks, joggles and selectivity still poor. The Car as it is, when applying the brakes, which have become more effective, is dangerous. Enclosed are sketches of various failures. G.W.H. G.W.H. Hancock. | ||