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).
Testing and implementation of lead bronze Kelmit bearings for Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\2\ scan0099 | |
| Date | 4th January 1935 | |
| 74633 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/KW.4.1.35. Lead Bronze Bearings for Bentley Cars. Replying to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}9/E.2.1.35. On 21-G-IV Kelmit bearings have just completed 13,000 miles out of the 15,000 miles test. These are identical in design to those we are proposing to fit to the Bentley and to those which ran in the T.T. etc. You will recollect that the white metal big end bearings have previously failed with regularity in France on both the 20/25 and the Bentley at about the same mileage. The bearing design of the two cars is identical. We can fit the Kelmit bearings on Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}'s and Lp{Mr Lappin}'s cars; the larger oil pump test on 21-G-IV has shewn that higher pressures can be used without trouble. The narrow pin crank and drilled up strip lead bronze bearing connecting rods on 5-B-IV are an entirely separate issue. Their main object as far as we are concerned is to enable us to fit lower axle ratios to deal with the heavier Bentley bodies without being likely to run into the critical crankshaft speed on top gear. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||