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).
Notes of a meeting at Derby discussing proposed chassis and engine modifications for a Bentley 10,000-mile test car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\1\ Scan017 | |
| Date | 24th July 1934 | |
| [handwritten] S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 129me [end handwritten] Eg14/D.5.7.34. - 1 - Notes of Meeting at Derby - 24th July, 1934. Present: Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Eg. CHASSIS. BENTLEY. 10,000 Miles Test Car. 4-B-IV. With reference to this car, now running in France, Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} pointed out that there were four or five memos. dating back to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}18/KW.16.5.34, dealing with points on this car, some of which he felt sure were out of date. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} was asked to prepare a memorandum setting out exactly what was on this car, and further what it was proposed to put on the next 10,000 mile chassis. In regard to the latter, reference was made to E2/HP.21.7.34. [handwritten] Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.26.7.34 [end handwritten] The view is that the proposition put forward should be dealt with in two stages, i.e. on the next 10,000 mile test car the engine should be moved forward in the frame, and this would help to reduce the amount of movement in the front of the chassis and at the same time give ability to fit a 3" longer body. The chassis also to be fitted with modified crankshaft and possibly lead bronze bearings, which has the effect of putting the crankshaft critical period more out of reach of the ordinary user. Then the next step would be to fit an independently mounted gearbox with a cross in the frame and box the side channels up to the front dumb irons, and bring in a scaled down SpectreCodename for Phantom III gearbox with synchromesh second speed and silent first. Regarding the additional dropped crossmember, the object of which is to reduce the lamp and wing movement, this is being tested on 4-B-IV. If O.K. it is an additional fitting which could be brought in on production quickly, if we have the material. It was decided to take the risk and order the material. [handwritten] Now fitted to 1B.IV Sch.4124, [end handwritten] | ||