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).
Inspection report on an All-Steel Bentley Body, detailing issues and proposed modernisations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\3\ scan0010 | |
| Date | 9th June 1936 | |
| S/W. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to C. c. to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} X-204 F.{Mr Friese} DODD. Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}1/WL.9.6.36. All-Steel Bentley Body. With further reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KW4.6.36, JLE{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} and I inspected the Experimental Car No. B.56.BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} at Park Ward & Company's Works yesterday. We arranged as follows:- 1. Front Wings. It is a fact that wood screws were used to secure the wings and running boards to the step stays. We have already reported this is no longer Park Ward's practice, and they will modernise in this respect the wings and steps of B.56.BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} 2. Luggage Boot. Apart from the dust question, we found the experimental stiffeners to the lid{A. J. Lidsey} of the luggage boot which carry the spare wheel, to be cracked. We are arranging for Park Ward to supply and fit an entirely new modern door which will have their latest dust excluders and improved construction to support the spare wheel. In addition, the new door will incorporate locks on the silent travel principle, which have been found superior to the old pattern. 3. Heat from Silencer. It was found that the Coachbuilders' sheet metal cross member which supports the metal floor of the back compartment had started to come adrift, allowing the metal floor to drop and possibly the cushion to come in contact with the silencer. Park Ward now use stouter gauge material for this cross member, and an improved method of fixing which should effectually prevent similar trouble on production bodies. Your body will be modernised. 4. Upholstery. Park Will will introduce their current method of securing the headlining into your body. 5. Seats. Park Ward will reconstruct the front cushions and back squabs to bring them into line with their present practice. 6. Windscreen. We found the trouble to be due to the bolt locking the blade arm on to the wiper spindle being upside down, that is to say, with the nut at the top instead of the bottom, so it fouled the screen/frame. Reversing the bolt cured the trouble. | ||