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).
Comparing the braking systems and performance of Sunbeam, Hispano, and Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\1\ Scan014 | |
| Date | 17th June 1924 | |
| W/S. PN.{Mr Northey} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 7446 X446 / X155 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG17.6.24. Referring to your PN{Mr Northey}8/IN13.6.24. We think it is quite possible for the Sunbeam Brakes to be adjusted so that they can lock all four wheels equally by foot pressure only. We do not think they would remain in that condition for very long. The Sunbeam car I tried is owned by a relation of one of my Assistants - he went to Sunbeams and took delivery of the car. He criticised the brakes as regards effectiveness. They considered the brakes were up to their standard and did not recommend that the brakes should be any more efficient. The Sunbeam people have, of course, made cars with the servos similar to the Hispano and we have tried one of their cars which had violently effective brakes. The Bentley car does not use self-wrapping brakes. It has four orthodox type of internal expanding with no servo. I tried Mr. Van Raalti's new Bently car sometime ago and the brakes on that car were very similar to the Sunbeam, i.e., not very effective - the big stroke on the pedal and the pedal going on to the floorboards when the brakes were applied hard. We know that the Bentley has put up some very good records for four-wheel braking. This could be done by special adjustment to the brakes. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||