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).
Controls on the steering column for the Bensport model, including carburetter controls and steering wheel options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img083 | |
| Date | 22th September 1932 | |
| FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} C. to SG{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}-ROW. ES. BENSPORT - CONTROLS ON STEERING COLUMN. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/M22.9.32. x4553. We send herewith N. sch. 3544 shewing the controls for Bensport steering column as settled at the WW. conference last July. The internal mechanism is identical with that of N. sch. 3542, with the exception that the mixture lever is fixed direct to the holder and has no spring or teeth. It has been arranged that to suit the S.U. carburetter there shall be a return spring in the controls so that the lever has to be held in the 'start' position while starting. This control on the S.U. carburetter is only suitable for use when starting, and is not a mixture control as on R.R. carburetters. Due to the loss of the spring on the lever we have been able to reduce the height of the whole tower by .200" over that of Peregrine, etc. The "ignition" and "throttle" levers have polished spherical knobs, and the dipping and starting control levers have also polished knobs which are portions of spheres. As on Peregrine etc the dipping lever moves through 25° only, and has no teeth or spring, there being a toggle at the base of the column. The Bluemel spring wheel we shew is exactly like the Bentley 4.5 litre in rigidity, and is the one you have already detailed, unaltered. The rim may be either 'reeded' as drawn, or the latest fluted type as fitted by Bluemel's to the Alvis Speed 20. The Dover spring wheel we have ascertained the makers can make, but we do not believe that Dover spring wheels are so good as the Bluemel, which is more widely used. The degree of flexibility we understand from Bluemel's should be no greater than that of the 4.5 litre Bentley wheel, or the floppiness of the wheel when using it to steady the body, and when steering with one hand, is objectionable. We think this wheel should be used as a guide. At R's request we also shew you a rigid 18" dia. wheel like that for Peregrine; so that we can offer as alternatives a rigid Dover wheel or a flexible wheel by Bluemel's, we have kept the dishing the same on both. On this car we want a polished horn button. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||