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).
Road tests investigating issues with fumes entering the car body on chassis number 2323.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\5\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 18th March 1924 | |
| COPY Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}24/H18.3.24. Re Chassis No. 2323 - Steavenson. As requested, I ran this car this week-end for about 110 miles, with Mrs. Platford on board, who at present positively refuses to go out in any Rolls-Royce car, as it makes her ill. I am able to say, however, that although she accompanied me on all these tests, I was able to get her to ride in the back seats and front seats, and took the car over some very bad roads causing it to bump and sway about badly, she had no complaint to make. I personally felt that there was a distinct advantage in this car as regards the absence of fumes. The only trace I had of this trouble was after some very hard running, and on pulling up and getting out of the car and walking round it, I found the fumes were very bad, and the presence of fumes in the body had evidently got through the door way. It certainly appears as regards this car, although one has not got rid of the fumes which emanate from the chassis the trouble caused by these fumes getting inside the body and upsetting the passengers has been overcome. I also took the opportunity of getting Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} to try this car with Mrs. Maddocks on board, who is also susceptible to sickness caused by fumes etc. He reports as follows :- "I drove Mr. Steavenson's car No. 2323 approximately 60 miles yesterday evening accompanied by my wife, and I am able to state very definitely that it is exceptionally good for absence of fumes or objectionable smell inside the body. The only time when fumes were noticeable in the interior of this car throughout the journey, was from the fumes of other cars when following, meeting or overtaking them." I think it is very important that you should make out a report as to what you have actually done to this car to obtain the present condition and to recommend that at least the same action should be taken with regard to similar complaints, and also with regard to body construction generally. I do not think the matter should rest at this, but think we should send a copy of the report to the Experimental Dept., impressing upon them the desirability of continuing investigations as to what can be done to avoid the fumes coming from the chassis, or to effect some improvement so that these fumes do not hang about the chassis as at present. EF. ENCLOSURE Nº 927 "JUSTSO" | ||