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).
Clarifying details about a fractured piston on a 4 1/4 Litre Bentley, chassis B-84-FB, and the introduction of a new taper skirt piston.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\3\ scan0187 | |
| Date | 29th November 1937 | |
| File To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}10/N.29.11.37. 4 1/4 Litre Bentley - Pistons. With regard to Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}'s memo Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}10/MW.24.11.37, the information is not correct. In the first place there has not been a 4 1/4 litre Bentley with piston seizure after fitting new pistons. The one case Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} is quoting is probably L.Appleton, chassis B-84-FB, mileage 26,587. The oversize pistons and block being fitted at the mileage of 20,507. Then there was a query about the failure of the piston and it was returned to the Repair Dept. under cover of Advice Note No.5074 for examination. We neither received any reply or explanation of their opinion why the piston was fractured. The first intimation Kingsbury had of the new type piston was on June 12th.1937, when they received a new cylinder block and pistons from the Works. The Inspector called my attention to the pistons as they were of a new type having a taper skirt. I wrote on the 12th. of June to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} stating this fact, and asking whether the taper skirt was a later modification, also I stopped the pistons from being fitted until a reply was received. A reply came from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Mths.{Reg Matthews}11/JH. 15.6.37, copy hereunder:- Bentley Pistons. " With reference to your letter of the 12th.inst. re Bentley pistons, you have been supplied with the latest type EB.3151 as now on production, these went on to production on 101st. chassis in 'K' series. The dimensions are quite O.K. the drawing calls for 3.500-+1/4 at the bottom of the skirt and 3.4955-1/4 at the top. " Continued..... | ||