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).
Manufacturing finish of bonnets and issues with the curve on Bentley bonnets raised by coachbuilders.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 119\4\ scan0066 | |
| Date | 30th October 1937 | |
| STEADMAN 1036 hwuic Am/SD S/W. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to ES c. " HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. " Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}7/KW30.10.37. Bonnets- All Chassis. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Cy.3/LSl.9.37. We fear this matter has been left rather in abeyance due to various causes, but I was able yesterday to have a look at the inside of the bonnet of GMP-64 at Hoopers. There was nothing about it of which one could justifiably complain. I then had a look at a bonnet of another chassis which I presume was not specially finished, the number of the chassis being GLP-39, and it was difficult to see any difference between this and the specially finished one. It does seem, therefore, that there is not much justification for going to any special trouble to specially finish the inside of bonnets provided you can exercise reasonable care in their manufacture to see that the resultant finish is such as could not reasonably be criticised. The point is we do not think the result obtained is worthy of any special expenditure. As we have not had any criticisms from customers, we think the matter can be dropped except for the reasonable care that you can, we believe, exercise in the process of manufacture. There is a point, however, that Hoopers specially raised with me when I was at their Works, namely, the irregular curve of the shoulder of the Bentley bonnets just above where the side hinge is attached to the top panel. They frequently have to reshape these curves to get them true again otherwise when rubbed down and painted they look very irregular. They would appreciate it - and probably other Coachbuilder would too - if you could avoid the necessity of these bonnets having to be trued up again when received by the Coachbuilders. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} | ||