He then went on to demonstrate exactly how that works. Picking up a normal everyday dinner fork, (yes, I did say "dinner fork"), he made slight indentations in the leather, which would then be individually holed by hand. Apparently, the tines on a fork are perfectly spaced to ensure uniform stitching. That is the traditional way it has always been done, and as the machine could not match the level of human accuracy, it continues to be performed this way today.
He then added that he may well have built the seats in my car, and that if I looked on the underside, I might actually see a label bearing his initials. Apparently there are numerous such signatures throughout the hand-built vehicles, placed there by proud Bentley employees.
In an automotive world where machines commonly take the place of human beings, this demonstrates exactly what makes the Bentley brand so special. It also perfectly illustrates the thinking behind the company today, which is perhaps automobile manufacturing at its finest. The idea that "whatever works best" seems to prevail, and by that, I mean whatever produces the highest level of perfection.
To explain that further, let me tell you of a few other production techniques in place today.
The painting of a Bentley, which was once performed entirely by hand, is now handled by a robot. However, that particular robot has been specifically programmed to exactly duplicate a human sprayer... On his best day!
Then, if you've ever wondered why the woodwork in a Bentley appears so perfectly matched, it is because the wood veneers in each and every Bentley are both book and mirror matched to create perfect symmetry to either side of the vehicle's bodyline.
Then, of course, there is the glass. Each and every piece receives its final polish from finely powdered pumice, which is normally used to polish such things as optical lenses.
These are just some of the lengths to which Bentley goes in order to produce the perfect automobile, or as W.O. would put it "The best in class".
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He then added that he may well have built the seats in my car, and that if I looked on the underside, I might actually see a label bearing his initials. Apparently there are numerous such signatures throughout the hand-built vehicles, placed there by proud Bentley employees.
In an automotive world where machines commonly take the place of human beings, this demonstrates exactly what makes the Bentley brand so special. It also perfectly illustrates the thinking behind the company today, which is perhaps automobile manufacturing at its finest. The idea that "whatever works best" seems to prevail, and by that, I mean whatever produces the highest level of perfection.
To explain that further, let me tell you of a few other production techniques in place today.
The painting of a Bentley, which was once performed entirely by hand, is now handled by a robot. However, that particular robot has been specifically programmed to exactly duplicate a human sprayer... On his best day!
Then, if you've ever wondered why the woodwork in a Bentley appears so perfectly matched, it is because the wood veneers in each and every Bentley are both book and mirror matched to create perfect symmetry to either side of the vehicle's bodyline.
Then, of course, there is the glass. Each and every piece receives its final polish from finely powdered pumice, which is normally used to polish such things as optical lenses.
These are just some of the lengths to which Bentley goes in order to produce the perfect automobile, or as W.O. would put it "The best in class".
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