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 responding to customer questions about an oil drain, tubular stay, Bakelite cover, and controllable shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0079 | |
| Date | 2nd July 1934 | |
| W/S - Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} 4796/ Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}12/KW.2.7.34. B-46-AH. Geoffrey Summers, Esq. With reference to Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales}21/RW.29.6.34, in answer to your questions :- (1) The new type of oil drain which has been standardised entails a completely new sump. We got out a scheme to improve the drain plug on the old sump, however; this was to LeC.3727. This scheme has run 10,000 miles and therefore can be considered reliable. We will supply a set of experimental parts for fitting to this car. (2) With reference to (2), the tubular stay between the head lamp brackets does not do a great deal. In conjunction with a cross member between the points where the head lamp pillars are attached to the frame, however, it would probably do a great deal to overcome Mr. Summers' complaint. A cross member to go under the apron, similar to the dropped front cross member, is at present being designed, and it should be possible to fit it to an existing car. This will not be available for about two months, however. There would be no harm in Mr. Summers trying a tubular stay on his own. (3) We will arrange for the Bakelite cover and retaining screws to be sent direct. (4) There is no doubt that the scheme of controllable shock absorbers can be applied to an existing car. It is difficult to give a cost figure for the changeover, but this will presumably be got out in due course. Actually it means the steering box coming out of the car and the controls altered, a foot dimming switch being fitted, the hand brake lever moved, a complete governor unit being fitted to the gearbox and modifications to all the shock absorbers. The control pipes will also have to be run along the frame. We recommend that you write to the Repair Dept. and tell them you anticipate a considerable demand for this changeover, and ask them to give you an exact figure. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||