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).
Bentley accident, attributing it to out-of-date and condemned parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\2\ scan0164 | |
| Date | 28th February 1936 | |
| x260 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wop. re Bentley Accident. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E28.2.36 I have received various memos, about this and in the one signed by E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}, yourself and BY, I see it is indicated there is little doubt that the bumper fell first. A later memo. tells me that the 'U' bolts for the bumpers were of an old type long since condemned, and another memo. said that the car in question had the stronger pivot pins but not the stronger pibots. I have always regarded this car of Lp{Mr Lappin}'s as being under the jurisdiction of the Experimental Dept. and one on which they were constantly doing odd jobs, and it seems very bad to me that this car was running about with out-of-date and condemned pieces. I understand that no satisfactory conclusion has been arrived at as to the actual cause of the axle breaking, and we shall probably be discussing the matter when I am at Derby next week, but I feel I should have an explanation from you as to who is responsible for the above. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||