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).
Investigation into noisy speedometers, faulty clocks, and rev drives on Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\1\ img155 | |
| Date | 10th May 1937 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RmC. Br Dy{F R Danby} wsc{W. S. Cassel} 6026 Kingsbury 10.5.37. Bentley Rev: & Speedometers. Clocks. I have interviewed Mr. Arrow Smith of the A.T. Speedometer Co. with regard to noisy speedometer and rev. drives, faulty clocks. Together we examined all the cars in the Kingsbury Depot. On the old 3 1/2-litres there were many cases where the drive cables were too long and very nasty sharp bends had been made to absorb up the spare length. In going over the present 4 1/4 layout criticism was made re the fixing of the speedometer drive on the dash which makes the drive take a sharp turn under the pedal plate. This can be overcome by a bracket further up the dash and standing out approx. 2". The rev. drive was criticised in the manner of fixing on the dashboard. There are two curves which can be lessened by bringing the drive down at an angle from the dashboard fixing (where it comes through) to the corner by the cylinder head, then swung down to the dynamo drive a suitable clip to steady it. The heat from the dashboard being transmitted to the drive was a point Mr. Arrow Smith thought should be cut out as much as possible. The failure of instruments was discussed, their treatment at the Works and Coachbuilders. As arrangements had been made for By/Davies to visit A.T's I arranged for Mr. Smith and Mr. Davies to come to Kingsbury, then visit Park Wards and Hoopers. The layout of the present drives was discussed and it was agreed that the present height on the dashboard where the drives pass through would be beneficial if they were dropped, approx. 2 inches. This would prevent the tendency for the drive to sag under the scuttle which is one of the chief causes for knocking. Mr. Davies is going to look into this. To obtain knowledge how the instruments were treated at Coachbuilders we visited Park Wards and Hoopers. The patch is taken off the chassis. The speedometer, clock and rev. counter are left in the casing, which is placed in their Stores. The other instruments are wrapped in brown paper, tied up to the steering column during the erection of the body. At Park Wards the stores is an old place where dust and dirt cannot be kept out. All the kit of the car is placed in cubby holes, along with the instrument patch. | ||