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).
List of reported vehicle issues and suggestions for improvement regarding the oil drain, wings, ignition coil, springing, speedometer, and bodywork.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0071 | |
| Date | 27th June 1934 guessed | |
| 1. North, where roads are very primitive and very rough: I once knocked the oil drain off the bottom of the Alfa base chamber, lost all the oil, and was unable to proceed. I don't want to have a similar experience with the Bentley, travelling over a road which has, for instance, bad cart ruts and a raised centre; a large stone could easily knock off the oil drain plug, whereas if it were flush with the base chamber, the same stone could slide along the bottom of the base chamber, without doing any serious damage. (2). The front wings are inclined to flap about; this is not due to inadequate support of the wings themselves, but would appear to be due to the flexing of the main chassis member. The headlamp brackets and wings seem to move together: I have tightened up every possible nut which might have any bearing on this trouble, but without producing any improvement. I believe a tubular stay joining the two lamp brackets might be a cure, but I understand that Derby is working on the problem, and when they have found the best remedy, I should like to have it embodied on my car. (3). I have lost the bakelite cover for the top of my ignition coil: I had, I think, omitted to notice that the retaining screw which holds this cover on had come loose, and had evidently come right off, the cover with it, and dropped on to the road. The fault was mine in not seeing that it was properly secure, and I would be glad if you would post me a new one, complete with retaining screw. (4). With regard to the springing of the car, it is undoubtedly a very good compromise, giving reasonable comfort at low speed, and great security at high speed. The car would be better, however, with some form of tele-control shock absorber, and I cannot be completely satisfied with the springing until some such device has been fitted. I should be glad to know if there is any possibility of your developing some device of this kind in the near future, which could conveniently fitted to my car. (5). The speedometer is not quite accurate, and the error throughout is not mathematically progressive; it is correct, say, at 30 miles an hour, but is fast at 40: it is not far out at 70, but is very much fast at 80. I am preparing a scale showing the error at various speeds as calculated from the revolution counter: I am assuming, of course, that the revolution counter is correct. (6). With regard to the bodywork, while the body is comfortable and free from rattle, the workmanship is not really up to the standard of the chassis. Just as was the case with my brothers car, mine is developing cracks at the top of the | ||