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).
Secret internal memorandum discussing a solution to a serious braking problem, 'brake jaggers', on the Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 85\1\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 21th August 1936 | |
| x206 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to C. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} SECRET. Brake Jaggers on the Bentley. We have now completed our tests on parts to prevent brake jaggers on the Bentley. As far as we are concerned we say that there need never be another front brake jagger on the Bentley or 20/25. At the same time we eliminate brake "thumps". Our concern is now how soon this improvement can be got to the customer and on production. The only satisfactory explanation for the alarming accident to Jack Barclay's car was brake jaggers. Cars at present being turned out are made with the same parts as those which frightened Mr. Pierson and Mr. Ballantine. If the ordinary procedure is followed it will be some time before the endurance running can be completed in France and a Standardisation Sheet issued. When these formalities have been complied with, it will be a further period of time before the parts reach the customer. We recommend that we should at once go into production with the simple bob weight scheme fitted to Mr. Pierson's car. A forging should of course be substituted for the aluminium bronze casting at present being used. The scheme has the merit that it is easy to fit retrospectively. If for any reason trouble occurs on the test in France, it can very easily be removed: actually we anticipate no trouble. As you point out in Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}10/D.30.7.36, we are up against a most serious problem, where life is in danger, and this being so it is worth taking the risk of making scrap. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||