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).
Customer's complaint about bad steering on a 3 1/2 Litre Bentley when driving on pavé roads.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\5\ scan0145 | |
| Date | 13th July 1934 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E C. BY Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} (BY is struck through) Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} (struck through) x250 re 3 1/2 Litre Bentley - Bad Steering on Pavé -------------------- With reference to a customer's complaint of a new Bentley chassis now being used in Brussels, as referred to in our EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}18/MH.{M. Huckerby}6.7.34 (B-88-AH), we have on further enquiries from our tester Jackson received the following .- "I have noted the remarks in your EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}17/MH.{M. Huckerby}6.7.34 and, as you know, I have driven many various makes of cars on Belgian roads. The complaint referred to in my No.2 of the 28th ult. is certainly something which I can honestly say I have never experienced before, and I emphatically say did not exist at all on Mons.Pisarts' Phantom II. The American products are absolutely free from these troubles, and it can be said, and is said, that English cars in general are bad on the pavé roads; this is rather a broad statement, but it is, as I have said, a general statement here. Daily I use some of the worst roads in Belgium, and during the past few years whilst I have had chassis torn to pieces I must say that my steerings have been good and my present Ford 14 is absolutely free from any steering joggle. The coachbuilders' Manager told me that Lancias struck the same trouble with several of their models, but he never knew what they did to overcome it. You mention about tyre pressures. This was the first thing I tackled, and I made tests exactly as you suggest. I think it would be simple to suggest to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}that when they have a Bentley in France on their return to just cross the Belgian frontier at Lille and test a car on normal pavé between Tournai and Courtrai, or cross at Maubeuge and proceed to Mons; there is plenty of bad pave round that part. Otherwise round Brussels provides all types of roads." (sgd) D.Jackson. Handwritten note: Re K P.S, Have already told Jackson you agree this trouble. [Signature] E P | ||