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 detailing a broken windscreen pillar and a subsequent failure of a rear axle pinion shaft.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\2\ scan0146 | |
Date | 3rd August 1934 | |
Handwritten: R.H.C. X45T3a Please note. Can we complete the pinion mentioned To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. Run now in sand Jack Typed: Hotel de France, Chateauroux. Indre. FRANCE. 3rd August 1934. We sent you yesterday the following telegram:- "WINDSCREEN PILLAR BROKEN OFFSIDE. REQUIRE NEW ONE." Re your telegram, we always refer to English Customs without stating otherwise. The pillar broke close to the scuttle while the car was being driven at 70 M.P.H. and the windscreen was flung on to the steering wheel. The pillars are in cast bronze. They should be made in a good class steel. After temporarily repairing the pillar, the car went out again this morning for radiator tests, but returned shortly afterwards, Pattinson having heard and felt a period develop at approximately 12 M.P.H.. We dismantled the axle from the car, then took out the pinion and found that the pinion shaft at the roller bearing end had snapped off close to the bearing. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Grylls wishes to send word that he pointed out the weakness of the shaft at this point and designed a shaft incorporating the inner race on the shaft which strengthened it considerably. He says EHC said it could be carried out, you would then only have the rollers and outer race to fit. We sent you the following telegram as soon as we had discovered the trouble:- "REAR AXLE INNER PINION SHAFT BROKEN CLOSE TO ROLLER BEARING. NO OTHER DAMAGE. REQUIRE NEW COMPLETE PINION." G.W.H. [Signature] | ||