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).
Letter to Smith & Sons Ltd. discussing issues with impulse clocks and potential modifications to speedometer and tachometer drives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\1\ img219 | |
| Date | 10th February 1940 | |
| RC{R. Childs} 6026 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs}1/JH. 10th. February, 1940. Messrs.Smith & Sons Ltd., Cricklewood Works, LONDON.N.W.2. For the attention of Mr.Arrowsmith. Dear Sirs, During the recent visit paid us by your Mr.Arrowsmith, for the purpose of discussing clocks, we were assured that all the clocks of the impulse type that we have can be regulated, whether they have the indicating scale marked on the back or not. In view of this and on thinking the matter over, we have decided that the best course to take is to first keep the clocks that we have running on cars under close observation. We have eleven such clocks in service and we have commenced a periodical inspection of them, in which each instrument is checked at intervals regulated where necessary and its general behaviour and response to regulation noted. Until we have proved that a clock cannot be controlled by its regulator or is in some other respect definitely faulty, there seems to be little object in fitting the two specially adjusted instrument left with us. It is proposed, therefore to keep them in hand, pending the unsatisfactory performance of one in service. It will probably be a few weeks before we are able to determine the performance of our clocks, but we will write again when results are available. In the course of conversation, Mr.Arrowsmith suggested that certain modifications might be made to our speedometer and tachometer drives which would make them cheaper and lighter. This is interesting and we wonder whether you would be prepared given a free hand to make up a drive embodying all such modifications as you think fit. This drive would be criticised by us and if approved be accommodated on a car fortest. We could if you prefer | ||