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).
Conversation about a Bentley car and aero engine development at the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\2\ scan0020 | |
| Date | 7th June 1934 | |
| S/W To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Ip. Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} x7961 Lp{Mr Lappin}6/JL.7.6.34. When I visited the Bristol Aeroplane Company I saw Fedden for a short time, and he is very pleased with his Bentley car. WE will let you have a report on it after he has had a little more experience. He mentioned a slight click in the transmission on taking up, which I suggested might be due to the back wheels not being tight enough. I think he is finding it difficult to appreciate the excellent performance of this car because it is so quiet. During our conversation he mentioned one interesting point in connection with an overload test they carried out on the "Mercury" engine at 2 1/4 lbs. boost, which was that before they were able to get through this test they found it necessary to delete the non-return valves. Fedden is now totally opposed to gas starting and is going all out for electric starting. I gather that they have had very little trouble on their sleeve valve development units, and the small version of the "Perseus" engine, viz., the "Aquila", is now coming forward. They will be sending the "Bulldog" to the R.A.F. and S.B.A.C. Displays fitted with a "Perseus" engine, which has been cleared by special category test at a rating of just over 600 H.P. The type test figure was 515 H.P. Ip. | ||