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).
Use of sheet metal floorboards in Bentley bodies to prevent 'booming' and contact with the gearbox.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\5\ scan0098 | |
Date | 12th November 1934 | |
To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 4819 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}S/KW.12.11.34. Sheet Metal Floorboards for the Bentley. Referring to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}6/E.8.11.34. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} questions whether there is any booming in the Bentley bodies. Our experience is that in any standard Bentley Saloon if the floorboard touches the gearbox the car will be turned from a nice automobile into a very unpleasant vehicle. The clearance with wood floorboards is so small that we have considerable difficulty in preventing contact taking place. The sheet metal floorboards give a much greater clearance. Apart from actual contact there is a tendency for the standard Saloon body to boom slightly. Customers do not usually connect this with the chassis, they have complained to us of the coachwork by saying that the body drums. We admit that it is not a serious complaint, but it will be more noticeable by comparison when the fully flexible engine mounting is fitted to the 20/25. In our experience sheet metal floorboards reduce the complaint. We have recently found it necessary to add to the stiffness of the sheet metal floorboards. This will have to be taken into consideration when finally estimating for tool costs. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||