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 from a US retailer to Derby regarding clutch and steering problems on P-III demonstrator and customer cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\2\ img172 | |
| Date | 28th May 1937 | |
| NEW YORK SALES SALON 10 EAST 57TH STREET 'CABLE ADDRESS "ROLLIC" NEW YORK ELDORADO 5-2808 NEW YORK SERVICE DEPOT BY AUTHORITY OF ROLLS-ROYCE, LTD., ENGLAND AND BENTLEY MOTORS, LTD. BREWSTER BUILDING, LONG ISLAND CITY STILLWELL 4-5240 J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} S. INSKIP, INC. AUTHORIZED RETAILERS FOR THE UNITED STATES ROLLS-ROYCE & BENTLEY MOTOR CARS Long Island City May 28, 1937 [Handwritten Note] His Progress with regard to deliveries seems to be slow Cm Mr. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham Rolls-Royce Ltd. Derby, England. Dear Mr. Robotham: This will acknowledge your letter of the 6th. We have not dismantled the clutch on the demonstrator as yet, but we are pleased to report that all indications prove it to be satisfactory up to the time of writing. The car now has 16,952 miles, which is approximately 7,000 miles since Lewis left it in New York. If within the next week or so we are able to spare it, we will dismantle the clutch for examination and report to you further. We are receiving a considerable number of complaints regarding the clutches on the new P-III's; we already had to install the one which you left here in the Bill chassis #3-AZ-190, and we have had complaints from Mrs. Thomas, chassis #3-AX-119, Gregory, chassis #3-AX-57 and Hall, chassis #3-AT-14?. We returned the one removed from the Bill chassis (3-AZ-190) to Detroit but we have not yet heard from them or received it back. We also telegraphed them in regards to your cable to Mr. Inskip as regards quotation for one hundred sets. Will advise you as soon as we hear from them. We are also having trouble with the steering on the demonstrator. As you know, the steering is very uneasy and works quite badly, and we do not seem to be able to remedy it. When Lewis was here it was found that the front wheels toe out 1/8" and I understand there is no adjustment for this, and Lewis was going to take it up with Derby and have a cross steering tube of proper length made up so we could install it. The steering is very hard on the front tires and uses them up quite rapidly. As you know, you replaced two tires and we have since had to replace two more. They wear out and scallop badly at about 5,000 miles on the front wheels. I do not know whether you can give any suggestion in regards to this matter, but we would like to be able to remedy it. Also, there is a pronounced knock in the steering box on rough roads which we are not able to cure. I believe Lewis is familiar with this. The Packard exhaust system and Lincoln brake drum have been shipped and you should have received them by now. (over) | ||