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).
Epidemic of clutch failures on Phantom III cars and the urgent need for new clutch plates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\1\ scan0191 | |
| Date | 17th June 1937 | |
| N/W Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Br copy to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} ---------- A10. Br1/LS.17.6.37. ------------- Technical Phantom III Clutches. ------------------- Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} has sent me a copy of your Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/R14.6.37 concerning the latest type clutch plates. I feel I ought to point out that we urgently require a batch of these plates at N/as we are changing clutch plates to the extent of five or six a week, and of course we know that the new ones we are fitting have no more chance of remaining satisfactory than the ones we have removed. The Derby traffic brought us an epidemic of clutches. Now the same thing is happening during the Ascot week, and we anticipate many more after the Wimbledon fortnight, as with all these functions terrible traffic conditions prevail. I would like to mention two cars in particular, for which we should receive the latest type plates at once. The first is 3-AX-87, the Maharajah of Bahawalpur. As possibly you are aware, this car is fitted with an armour-plated body, and we have already changed the clutch plate twice, and the car so far has only run about 2,000 miles in London traffic. We saw the car yesterday and the clutch was as bad as ever. We understand the car is being shipped to India in a fortnight's time, and we consider that it should not be allowed to go out of this country without the latest type clutch plate. Secondly, we are receiving chassis 3-BU-76, the Earl of Bradford, on Tuesday next, with a very strong complaint of clutch trouble. This owner is regarded as very important, and we should like, therefore, to receive a latest type plate not later than Tuesday the 22nd instant. Apart from these customers, there are many who complain bitterly of their clutches, although we have | ||