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).
Providing suggestions on vehicle temperature control, luggage boot, and gearbox, with personal driving opinions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\4\ scan0377 | |
| Date | 5th December 1938 | |
| Messrs. [s]Bentley Motors[/s], Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd., 1. 5/12/38. Suggest temperature control should be by two thermostats (1) to control circulation round engine only until warm: (2) to open real shutters: these to close instantly when water or oil pressure stops. Luggage boot flap should fall to horizontal and be strong enough to carry weight when in that position: alternative position (as now when open) might be useful sometimes. If present gearbox, or the old one, is a sine qua non - then please offer the alternative. The above comments are from my own point of view - that of a fairly fast driver: they are in no way applicable to a man who wants a Rolls Royce pure and simple, that is a car in which acceleration and ultimate speed figures are not interesting. A "Wraith" for him every time, but I stillprefer a Rolls-Bentley (pardon - Bentley!) for "my own smoking" - even a 3½ litre with the old gearbox: I may be converted by using a "Wraith", but I'm not so yet. I have two very definite objections to sham shutters and one thermostat temperature control:- (1) In very cold weather, assuming no a.f. mixture, the radiator will freeze solid before the thermostat operates. (2) As all cylinder wear, practically, takes place at under 50° cent. the less warming up necessary below that temperature the better: ergo it is obviously unsound practise to allow the cooling of the water to close the shutters; it would be better to have them hand operated. Am I taking my own opinion too seriously? Quite possibly: most of us do; and it is only fair to add that I am a shareholder in British Thermostats Ltd.! But, believe it or not, that fact has no bearing whatsoever on what I have said: I am but trying, with the greatest possible sincerity, to help the great Firm which has | ||