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).
Specifications for horns, grills, and headlamps on a Bentley car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61a\2\ scan0144 | |
| Date | 10th August 1933 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}.....from C. copy to Wcr., BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}, Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}, Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}, Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}, Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} C7/D10.8.33 Re: Lamps for Bentley Car Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.9.8.33. We agree that we do not require the wire grill over the lamps. Please arrange accordingly. Horns: The history of the horns on all our cars apparently is that we decided to adopt the cheap-looking Lucas horn with the 'pip-pip' note when it was mounted behind the numberplate. Later it was exposed to view on the 40/50 and it was then arranged that we should have the better-looking horn with some sort of a grid, as supplied by Lucas, purely for the sake of appearance. In the case of the 20/25 this is still behind the numberplate and therefore the appearance does not matter so much. We must remember we are using the horn that is fitted to the cheapest of motor-cars on the 20/25, but it is covered over. On the Bentley it is proposed that we should expose the horn, and therefore we ought to fit a good-looking horn with some sort of a polished grill, and it is suggested that since we must have a grill, for appearance sake it might just as well match, if possible, the grill on the radiator. Will you please, therefore, proceed on these lines, but if you cannot get a grill to match the radiator, we must have the best-looking grill that Lucas can supply. Headlamps: We accept your recommendation of this special type of light lamps and will communicate direct with Lucas in regard to prices and deliveries. Judging by our experience in the past, however, it does not seem likely that we shall be able to get these special lamps for the Show, but we will see if we can get two or three sets for exhibition on our own cars. I understand that the appearance, except to a keen eye, is not very different, and the only advantage is the saving in weight. We must, therefore, fit their present standard lamp until we get deliveries of the other, but we will do our best to get these delivered as soon as possible. In the meantime we have received Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.1/MJ.5.8.33 from which we note you will be sending us a car up with these lamps and horns fitted. Perhaps you would like to amend matters in accordance with the above memo. C. | ||