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).
Effectiveness and features of a Bentley & Draper shock absorber.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 152\1\ scan0006 | |
| Date | 4th April 1932 | |
| R. {Sir Henry Royce} From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Bn. {W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Mor. c. to E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RV. 6832 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Bn. {W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} 9/MA.3. 4. 4. 32. BENTLEY & DRAPER SHOCK ABSORBER. With reference to Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} 12/S.4.4.32. We attach print and description of the B. & D. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} shock absorber obtained from Bentleys. It is difficult to believe that this shock absorber really operates effectively and consistently. The only experience we had of it in service was when we were trying Jack Barclay's 3 litre car at Brooklands. After about two laps the dampers ceased to hold the car at all and it became quite dangerous to drive at full throttle. From the drawing it will be observed that the B. & D. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} people incorporate a number of features in their damper which we have tried out and discarded, in particular atmospheric filling of the working chamber, cushioned load reversal, valves with wide seats, flexible main shaft and no provision for taking up wear between the piston and inter lever. In spite of their wide valve seats they have no filter. We can understand that the B. & D. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} avoids the harsh riding of the Hartford when the latter seizes up solid, but we cannot believe that it would satisfy our requirements. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Bn. {W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} | ||