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).
Performance and merits of Bentley brakes in response to a prior communication about complaints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\2\ scan0136 | |
| Date | 12th April 1934 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}7/MJ.12.4.34. BENTLEY BRAKES. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}5/E.11.4.34. Although this memo was not addressed to the Expl. Dept., as we have much more experience than anyone else as regards the merits and difficulties with the Bentley brakes we should like to give our views. When Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} was in Derby on Tuesday he mentioned some of these points but I am afraid his description of the complaints were so difficult to follow that we gave it up. We offered to go out on the car and allow him to demonstrate the faults but this he could not do. We do expect a technical official of the Company who is making use of one of the Company's cars that he should be able to give a reasonable explanation which can be understood. To make a general statement that the Bentley brakes are most deceitful is pure nonsense. We have recently completed 20,000 miles on the Bentley car in England. The car has covered as much as 750 miles in one day. We know from the indication of wear on the brakes that they were used far more severely than anything else which we have done under all conditions of road by intelligent drivers and there was no trouble. We do not claim that the Bentley car or any braking system we know of is perfect but we are certain that it is a very easy matter to spoil the Bentley brakes but a very, very difficult job to improve them. I propose to fight any suggestion of making any alterations until it has been confirmed that we are going to get some definite improvement. The customers praise of the Bentley brakes have been unanimous. I have not circulated this note but you will understand that we have quite enough to do in investigating known and logical complaints and cannot afford the time to answer frivolous ones, because although E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} has answered your memo. at some length the information has had to be obtained from the Expl. Department. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||