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).
Unsatisfactory performance of Bentley headlamps supplied by Lucas Ltd.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61a\2\ scan0178 | |
| Date | 18th December 1933 | |
| S/W. (Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst). WST 86116 Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}1/BE.18.12.33. BENTLEY HEADLAMPS. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst4/MA.7.12.33. We tried to telephone you during the afternoon call on the question of Bentley headlamps. Mr. Neill of Lucas Ltd. in a letter dated the 15th inst. states:- 1. They are not prepared to admit that the special headlamps already supplied to us for Bentley chassis are unsatisfactory. 2. They did not discuss with you the question of bringing up-to-date the lamps already supplied and on cars in use. 3. They cannot give us any indication when the new pattern lamps will be available. All this is very unsatisfactory. When you spoke to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} over the telephone, he understood from you that Lucas, realising the lamps already supplied are not so efficient as they should be, were prepared to exchange the lenses and reflectors, and he gathered moreover that future deliveries of headlamps would have the improved lenses and reflectors. But from what Mr. Neill tells us it looks as if we are expected to carry on with the existing inefficient headlamps, so far as the cars already on the road are concerned, and that we may be expected to accept similar headlamps for some time to come. We are certain that if we deliver cars to the public with headlamps of the existing type we are going to have a lot of trouble. There is no doubt that the lamps are unable to provide the illumination that the customer can reasonably expect with so fast a car, and we shall be continually faced with a demand for more powerful lamps. We think you should at once get into touch with Lucas and explain the position to them, emphasising that regardless of what they say the existing headlights are actually incapable of providing adequate illumination, pointing out that the chassis are now being delivered to Coachbuilders and the complete cars will be ready for delivery in three or four weeks time, and that these cars will naturally have to be equipped with headlights when they are delivered. We think you should ask Lucas what alternative lamp they can suggest until such time as the improved lamp is available. We ourselves are inclined to think that we may have to use the RB.{R. Bowen}170.SED. with 48 watt bulb for the time being. We shall be glad to hear from you quickly what you can arrange with Lucas. Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} | ||