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).
Failure of rotors on 25/30 & Bentley models, attributing it to the bakelite moulding procedure.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 130\2\ scan0343 | |
| Date | 9th December 1936 | |
| 1113 H.S. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} L. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}3/R.9.12.36. Re: Failure of Rotors on 25/30 & Bentley. It would appear that the result of my conversation with Mr. Brock re the failure of rotors and his arrangement to talk the matter over with the suppliers of the bakelite material, the failure of our rotors has more or less proved to be due to our methods of procedure of moulding. I understand that the dampness of the powder before being placed in the mould could produce faulty sections in the finished article, and it is this that has been the prime cause of our failures. This explains why we have run into trouble more latterly on the new cars. With this knowledge it is a pity that considerable time has been spent by the D.O. in producing a new design which will be more costly to produce. In view of this, would those in authority review the case and come to a decision whether the new rotor is necessary. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/G.W. Hancock. | ||