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).
Letter from a supplier detailing a severe braking failure on a Bentley after driving through floodwater.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\4\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 6th February 1937 | |
| SERVICE DEPOTS LONDON 89 BLACKFRIARS RD S.E.1 TELEPHONE: WATERLOO 5762-3 BIRMINGHAM 143 SUFFOLK STREET TELEPHONE: MIDLAND 0638 MANCHESTER 232 DEANSGATE TELEPHONE: BLACKFRIARS 5914 NEWCASTLE MILLICANS BUILDINGS, MARKET ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} TELEPHONE 23874 ON ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE, AIR MINISTRY, INDIA OFFICE LISTS WELLWORTHY PISTON RINGS LIMITED PISTON & PISTON RING SPECIALISTS LYMINGTON HANTS WORKS & HEAD OFFICE: STANFORD RD DIRECTORS: G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} ALEXANDER J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. HOWLETT C. B. KAY P. WALDEN OUR REF JH/CJR. SERVICE DEPOTS LEEDS 82 WOODHOUSE LANE TELEPHONE: 25774 CROYDON 246 HIGH STREET TELEPHONE: 0234 SOUTHAMPTON 17 PORTSWOOD ROAD TELEPHONE: 74778 HULL 285 ANLABY ROAD TELEPHONE: 15312 TELEPHONE: LYMINGTON 520 (4 LINES) TELEGRAMS: WELLWORTHY CODE: MARCONI YOUR REF 6th February, 1937. Dictated 5.2.37. For the attention of Mr. Rowbotham. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. Dear Mr. Rowbotham, You will probably remember me when I met you and Mr. Hives and we talked of the possibility of my buying a Bentley. I called about a fortnight ago but unfortunately you were away, and I then told Mr. Hives that I was very pleased indeed with my Bentley, but I now think I have struck something about it that you should know, and it very nearly finished me up today! I went to Southampton today, and there was a bit of a flood in Totton - probably 6" or 8" of water on the road. After I got clear of it I tried my brakes and they were just useless. I drove very steadily on to Southampton and then garaged the car for a short time before returning. On the open road on the way back I was doing about 45-50. Two cyclists were on the near side, and a car approaching from the other direction. The road was wide enough for approximately three cars, and no restrictions, but I decided to just steady my car a little because I was not too sure whether one of the cyclists was not coming out away from his side, and to my horror the car took full charge and turned towards the right-hand side of the road. Luckily the other driver was a pretty good driver and pulled his car hard up to his own side and I just managed to scrape through. There seemed to be no braking effect at all - just a pull of the front wheels over hard to the right-hand side. I tried the car on the open road afterwards four or five times, and every time it pulled out in the same direction, so about 35 m.p.h. was my speed for the rest of the journey. [Handwritten Note] MARTINDALE See me. He has probably had a jagger & twisted his front axle. R.M | ||