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).
Letter from English Racing Automobiles Ltd. regarding brake and engine performance issues with a 4 1/4 Litre Bentley, chassis no. B.24-GA.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\4\ scan0088 | |
| Date | 14th May 1937 | |
| COPY. 261 Telephone: 121-Bourne. [Handwritten: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/foo Ghylls] ENGLISH RACING AUTOMOBILES LTD., [Handwritten: File] BOURNE, LINCOLNSHIRE. RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JB. 14th May 1937. Mr. Haywood, Service Department, Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby. Dear Mr. Haywood, CHASSIS NO.B.24-GA. The modified brakes which you fitted to my 4 1/4 Litre Bentley have during the last few days ceased to be anything like as efficient as originally. From tests I have carried out the fronts appear to be working very little. The extraordinary part is that the brakes vary so enormously - sometimes they are really good and other times they are weak. In addition to this, with a slight application of the pedal they appear to be very good, but after that I find that if I want to stop really quickly the brakes are no more effective however hard I press on the pedal. As the car is shortly going abroad, I should be very much obliged if you would kindly have this matter attended to for me, and perhaps you would be good enough to tell Ghrylls what has happened as I know he is interested. Another point I should like you to look into is engine performance. The car is running very beautifully and is extremely smooth, but quite frankly I do not think she has quite so much power throughout the range as previously. Amongst other things would you kindly check the ignition advance. I know you will think I am very particular about this, but I still think the performance of the car is improved if the ignition is advanced a fraction more than standard. I will leave this entirely to you, but please check over the engine performance very carefully. I expect your Works will be open on Wednesday next the 19th inst. and in this case I propose sending one of the E.R.A. mechanics with the car to Derby, arriving 10.30 a.m. Wednesday. Kindly confirm if this will be convenient P.T.O.... | ||