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).
10,000-mile standard test, chassis shortages for testing, and proposing flexibility in mileage for Mr. Royce and his staff.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\2\ scan 077 | |
| Date | 31th May 1919 | |
| -2- Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}2/P31.5.19. to be passed on the general running of the engine, and you will agree that for this purpose 20 hours was sufficient. I also must draw your attention that if the 10,000 miles were insisted upon as standard test before new parts were incorporated, we should not to-day be producing the 40/50 HP. chassis which is in the shops. We have of course been very handicapped as regards the amount of running on experimental parts obtainable owing to the shortage of chassis, and I am not at all satisfied with the number of hours and mileage that we have been able to obtain, for example on 49-G.B. This difficulty can only be corrected when we have more chassis at our disposal. It is quite a problem to arrange for sufficient running to be carried out on experimental cars by qualified members of the staff, as I do not think it is very useful for the car to be run on the road for hour after hour by an average tester. I think therefore that you should leave it in the hands of Mr. Royce and his staff to interpret this 10,000 mile rule in a reasonable manner, and to agree in cases where he thinks a less mileage is sufficient and not to be disappointed when he is dissatisfied even with this long mileage. We certainly require latitude in both directions. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} | ||