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).
Benefits and sales strategy for the Bentley Overdrive Box.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\3\ scan0152 | |
| Date | 15th December 1937 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} BENTLEY OVERDRIVE BOX. With reference to Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}8/KW13.12.37., the main object of this box from our point of view is to improve the bearing situation on Bentleys without delay. Although on P.III the big-end life was only raised approximately 30% by the overdrive, we say that the 25/30 which runs on white-metal and will do 30,000 miles in France to-day, shews that keeping the max. engine revs. down to 4,000 will almost double the main bearing life of the Bentley. We, therefore, think that subject to the tests now in progress being completed before cars get to customers an effort should be made to sell this gearbox to all future Continental owners and English hard drivers forthwith with the minimum delay. We believe that if a decision is reached soon, everyone could have overdrives if they wanted them for a scrap of about £50. The remarks re the difficulty of changing into second are misleading. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} will agree that skill is only needed where a perfectly silent change is required, other-wise it is almost impossible to miss the gear. The change is certainly easier than many alleged synchro seconds. This seems to be a case where the customer should be allowed to say whether he likes the box or not. So far in Derby we have not met anyone who prefers a car with standard ratios to one with the overdrive box. We have repeatedly told Sales that they cannot have a synchromesh second until they come to B.III. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||