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).
Ignition and Klaxon failure on chassis 1.EX, attributing the fault to unreliable Lucas fuses and switches.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61\2\ scan0335 | |
| Date | 1st June 1920 | |
| X 2515 To EFC. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. R13/CR.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester}6.20. X. 3743b. RE CHASSIS 1.EX. X.2515. X.1163. X.129. X. 1748. X. 3014b. The failure on 1.EX of the ignition and Klaxon was due to a blown fuse. My experience is that the fuses as made by Lucas are hardly reliable enough, that is to say, they do not pinch the wire and make a satisfactory contact. It has long been my impression that copper is the best material for fuse wire, that the lead, tin, and zinc wires are quite unreliable, and blow when they ought not to, owing to the difficulty of maintaining the contact. I am pleased to say that the battery ignition on 1.EX has been most satisfactory. It is the best battery ignition that I have ever had any experience of. I noticed the Lucas switch though used in the orthodox way was not making proper contact through the control circuit and the dynamo gave a very large current until the switch was wriggling about, and I succeeded in making a contact. This rather justifies our previous opinion that there is hardly flexibility enough in the contact of these switches. o Possibly was damaged during some tests this failure should be confirmed (struck through) R.{Sir Henry Royce} R.R. 199 (2501) (SD676 19-7-17) MP18085 | ||