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).
Expressing disappointment that proposed improvements for the Bentley car have been deprioritized beyond the 'C' Series.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\2\ scan0029 | |
| Date | 1st March 1934 | |
| X4553a HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To E/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}BY. Sft.{Mr Swift}RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}HDY.{William Hardy} L/JMR. Bentley Car - 10,000 Miles Test and "C" Series. Eg10/H1.3.34 Referring to D/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}7/HP.24234 I should like to discuss this when next with you, particularly because I am rather disappointed about one or two items which I see are relegated to beyond "C" Series. The items I refer to in particular are as follows: 14" diameter brake drums. If these are generally better than the present brake drums, I should not like to contemplate putting in hand a further batch of chassis without them. Easy Adjustment for clutch. I am not quite sure what this means but, if it means, as I believe, that on the present cars the adjustment of the clutch pedal for play is such that it cannot be carried out easily by an owner driver or chauffeur, then the same remarks apply. Rear axle pinion thrust bearing modification. Apart from any more serious modification that may be in contemplation, the results to-day of the different type thrust race look as if we ought to put in hand another batch of cars with the present bearing. Re cylinder head and rubber rear engine mounting. As long ago as the middle of December, see Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KT.11.12.33 and Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KT.13.12.33, it seemed to be clear from experiments conducted that improvement in smoothness could be effected by rubber mounting, and increased power by the use of higher compression larger inlet valve cylinder head to LeC. design, and I gathered it had done considerable running, but I am not in a position to say how much running it has done since then. I am very much disappointed to see that both these items are relegated to the list beyond "C" Series. I feel very strongly that we must push on quickly with this question of rubber mounting. I have a very definite feeling that the American results of smooth engines are largely attributable to the methods of mounting which they have adopted for their engines, and I should very much like to see an experiment conducted with all possible speed of mounting a 20/25 or a Bentley engine in one of our experimental cars in a similar way. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||