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).
The performance of AC.2 bearings in Bentley cars and a proposal for further examination.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\3\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 17th November 1938 | |
| A C 2 BY.14/C.17.11.38. gWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}(K) BENTLEY. RE: CARS WITH AC.2. BEARINGS. The result disclosed by B.32.LS. is precisely what we found in the case of the two trials cars, both of which were examined round about 12,000 mileage, i.e. they both showed little wear as in this case, but yet although, in the hands of our own trials drivers the demonstration cars both failed, one wrecking its engine, the other only just missed a similar fate. There is one alternative method of dealing with these cars now we have got the oil test working so successfully, the idea is from GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} and is that we look over the owners of cars with AC.2 bearings, and if we could pick out six of the owners who are known hard drivers we could ask them to send their cars in for examination, possibly loaning them a car over the period required. From the oil tests and the condition of the bearings I could then decide whether we could safely leave average owners with AC.2 bearings alone. [STAMP: NOV 18 1938] BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||