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 on vehicle tests concerning bonnet knocks, radiator control, and petrol brand performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\3\ 03-page401 | |
| Date | 6th July 1931 | |
| 87941 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Hotel de France, Chateauroux, France. 6.7.31. 25-MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} We have sent the following telegram to you today :- SEND FRONT SILENCER. HANCOCK. We have received your letter of the 3.7.31. Re. Bonnet Knocks. Leslie and myself did not agree upon the results obtained re. the above. My contention was that the radiator should control the bonnet and not the bonnet control the radiator. We therefore sent you the two different methods and their results. We have continued running the car with the bonnet controlling the radiator with the result that the front ends of the bonnet have become swaged over as a result of the radiator movement sideways. The radiator has also begun to suffer, recesses being formed by the action of the bonnet. Personally I am of the opinion that the bonnet will not stand up to the stresses it will receive. We did not observe any marked difference in the steering throughout the series of tests of radiator mountings. We did not report upon wing movement as we did not observe any appreciable difference whilst carrying out the tests. We are enclosing sketches of the different mountings of the radiator. We have carried out tests with various petrols for detonations. The different brands are as follows (corrected) - Black & White Star ( Auto Mobiline ) Results Nil. ( Essence Tourisme ) 5 White Stars, blue background - standard Eco essence - results Nil. Same sign, Esso, pink essence - Engine free from detonations other than extreme cases. B.P. & Energic are one - Results Nil. We have a further essence to try called Surcarburant. The car was held up yesterday owing to the failure of the exhaust system and the increased traffic on the road. G.W.H. G.W.Hancock. | ||