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).
Luggage/spare wheel carrier omissions and the standardization of chromium plating and lacquer finishes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan056 | |
| Date | 14th February 1929 guessed | |
| -2- (5) Luggage carrier and Spare Wheel Carrier Omission. We can supply these more satisfactorily here, and frequently people want some special adaptation or modification to suit their particular purpose. (6) Radiator, Bonnet and Radiator Shutter. Chromium plating has become standardized and is universally demanded, due to greater convenience and less work in polishing and keeping attractively clean. Chromium plating on the car complete must harmonize as to color and uniformity. Moreover, radiator cores are frequently damaged in accidents and damaged in use, due to corrosion or leakage, because of the great variety of water, some alkali and some acid, and the effect of the use of non-freezing solutions five to six months of the year. Rolls-Royce owners use their cars in many different sections of the Country, not only in and around New York, the large cities, but in northern New England, different parts of Canada, down to Florida in the winter season. There are great extremes in climate, altitude and in the water. Everything which has heretofore been nickel or nickel silver is now chromium plating, including the bonnet handles, locks, hinges, catches, rivets. etc.. Also, at different times customers specify coachwork which involves special size or dimension of the cowl which alters the bonnet dimensions. Rolls-Royce in America - through its control of Brewsters - the leading coachbuilders in America - caters to a clientele who will have specially built coachwork, wait for it and pay the price, provided it fulfills their special individual specifications. Just as chromium plating has become standardized and is universally desired, so have lacquer finishes also become universally demanded, and consequently the moulding's of the aluminium bonnet must be arranged precisely as our experience has proven needful in order to provide the high polish which is demanded and has become the vogue, as well as the suitable preparation and finish of the aluminium to take the application of lacquer so that it will adhere over a reasonable period of life and not flake off under extreme changes of temperature, such as a car from a heated garage brought suddenly into sub-zero temperature. Springfield Works are in every way qualified to furnish whatever is required for radiator, radiator end shutter and bonnet. contd: | ||