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).
Change of horns on the Bentley 'M' Series to comply with Ministry regulations on noise levels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 166\9\ img177 | |
| Date | 3rd September 1938 | |
| Ha. c. W/S. (C). c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} BENTLEY 11. 'M' SERIES. HORNS. During my absence BY/RD. issued a memo on the above subject, ref. BY/RD.1/B.18.8.38. of which you had a copy. On my return I read my copy of the memo in question, and in pursuing the matter with 'C' find that the decision has been arrived at that the trade must accept the Ministry's suggestion of reduced warning noises, and further that agreement has been reached as pointed out in BY/RD's memo that from January 1st. 1939, no warning device having a greater phon value than 105 will be permitted. The figure the Ministry aimed at was 100, but in view of the fact that the Mellotone horn is not a displeasing sound they have agreed that if the horns are brought down from their present condition of 106 phons to 105 phons they will accept them without question. Further, we have been able to make arrangements with the Lucas Co. to take back our stock of H.F. horns as previously used on the Bentley if a decision is arrived at quickly, as they could dispose of them to customers, who will have the cars fitted with them on the market before the closure date. In the future, we are using Mellotones on all our products, and I therefore suggest that subject to your acceptance of the proposal we accept Lucas's offer and replace the H.F. horns on the last half of 'M' series by Mellotones. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||