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).
Bentley 50 brake project, comparing the B.III brake system to American car brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\3\ scan0176 | |
| Date | 28th October 1937 | |
| By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} SECRET 936 1044 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/AP.28.10.37. BENTLEY 50 BRAKE PROJECT There is no doubt that our B.III. brake system is still fundamentally the most extravagant section on the chassis; on the other hand, the system will stand up to more abuse than that on any other production car with which we are familiar. When we come to Bentley 50, it is essential that if we are to sell the car for a reasonable figure, we must make it suitable for the average owner, and not for 5% abnormal drivers. As a basis for the Bentley 50 brakes we are assuming that the public consider the brakes on the 1937 American car satisfactory for ordinary driving. The reason we say this is because we met an Oldsmobile owner in the Alps who was quite satisfied with his brakes, and various people who have owned our cars have commented similarly on the Packard brakes. The Bentley 50 project is, therefore, put forward on the basis of satisfying the average customer. The scheme suggested will give us enough experience with hydraulic brakes to enable us to decide whether the all-hydraulic system with the double master cylinder is preferable to the scheme we are recommending. The advantage of the present recommendation is that we make full use of the experience which we are going to gain on the rear brakes for B.III. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||