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).
Bentley road springs, vehicle weights, and test results for stronger springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\4\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 15th November 1933 | |
| x2v?e To By: from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/KT.15.11.33. BENTLEY ROAD SPRINGS. I do not know whether you have seen the weights of the Bentley bodies, but in case you have not, attached is a list of them. From this list you will see that the heaviest car appears to weigh about 32 cwt. In view of the question of stronger springs, we took the opportunity of making some tests on B.15.AE. Park Ward Saloon car, while it was at the works recently for change of pistons. This car weighs just over 31 cwt. and the springs fitted on the rear are 810/815 lbs. With four passengers and a full tank of petrol, Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} is of the opinion that this car has far less tendency to hit the buffers when utilised in the manner in which it would be normally driven, than the standard 20/25 HP. This being so, we think that the decision to order similar springs for the next fifty Bentleys, as set down in BY.1/G.13.11.33, is correct. We note that the springs obtained for the last batch of cars vary from 810 to 850 lbs. on the rear, and from 650 to 675 lbs. on the front, and we think that this range should cover the majority of the cars. We are particularly anxious to keep the buffer clearance down to the minimum, as otherwise the car becomes perched up, and we lose the advantage of the low centre of gravity. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||