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).
Issues with the locating mechanism for Smith instruments on 'U' series 25HP models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 105\2\ scan0047 | |
| Date | 2nd June 1932 | |
| E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} c. to EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} c. to Mor. LOCATIONS FOR SMITH INSTRUMENTS 'U' SERIES 25HP. We understand that production are temporarily dispensing with the location which governs whether the instrument is upright in the patch. The reason being that there have been 36 instruments in the stores the positions of location of which are faulty and cause the dials not to be up right in the patch. There has also been a shortage of satisfactory instruments in the works. When the instruments were in their experimental stage we noticed this location trouble. Smiths representative Mr. Manwaring took back a thermometer with this complaint on April 25th. Mr. Manwaring was very surprised at the fault and could see no reason why it should recur. We are therefore very surprised that the trouble has persisted, but we feel that, if all the faulty instruments had been returned to Smiths when the trouble first appeared, Smiths would be now supplying satisfactory instruments. Smiths themselves put these locations on the first sample patches. It would appear that these instruments without locations would be satisfactory, as no locations are used on P. 2. patches. The instruments of the P. 2. patch are not retained by screws directly onto the instrument flange, thus an instrument creeping round in an anti-clock wise direction does not tend to loosen the retaining screws as it does with the Smith instruments with no location. We have done no tests using Smith instruments without locations. We recently tried to change the position of the location from the bottom to the top of the instrument, as it is possible on some cars to see the locations from the front of the patch, when looking down on to the patch. This alteration was not done owing to the advanced state of the tools and jigs. No locations would prevent this complaint arising. There is also less chance of dust getting into the patch with no locations. | ||