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).
Design and production of radiator badges for Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\1\ scan0042 | |
| Date | 1st August 1933 | |
| X260. To W.O.H. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c.By. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} Radiator Badges for Bentley Car. Following on ROY.{Sir Henry Royce}16/WG.{Mr Gill - Financial Director}19.7.33, sample badges for an embossed finish were submitted by a firm specialising in this class of work but were agreed to be quite unsuitable, so we have to make a design ourselves, blueprint of which is attached - LeC.3592. A photograph of the original badge is also attached for comparison. The latter is produced by chemical engraving and the features of the wing are delineated by thin raised ribs of metal. It is complained that this gives the badge a cheap appearance and that the ribs disappear in the course of time with polishing. With the embossing process then is a much wider scope for expression, and it is proposed to mould the wings in low relief with a somewhat fewer number of feathers to reduce the excess of detail, as shewn on the print. The wings have also been made wider in span and narrower in width to increase the effect conveyed of speed and power. The oval mount behind the "B" has also been reduced in size, the tail feathers have been made to protrude over the edge of the mount and the bead mouldings have been washed out, all to shew up in clearer relief the bird like energy of the flying "B". The enamel is limited as before to the background of the "B" to avoid clashing too much with colour schemes of bonnet and body. A sample badge is being produced to LeC.3592. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||