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).
Design proposals for Bentley and Rolls-Royce steering wheels and their controls.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\4\ scan0049 | |
| Date | 22th April 1940 | |
| To Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /FJH {Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} c.c. to Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /HH. Ev. {Ivan Evernden - coachwork} 1/JH.22.4.40. re Steering Wheels and Controls. We send herewith prints of PD.496 and 497 showing the designs for the Bentley and Rolls-Royce steering wheels and controls as produced by G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Paulin. We have been engaged on design investigation with a view to retaining the desirable features of the appearance of the design by G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Paulin, and at the same time incorporating the construction used by Messrs Wilmot-Breeden for the manufacture of cellulose-acetate steering wheels. On PL.193 herewith we show our proposal for the design of the Bentley wheel corresponding to the Paulin design PD.496. On PL.194 also herewith, we show our proposals for the Rolls-Royce wheel corresponding to the Paulin design PD.497. On all these designs 3 controls are catered for namely the throttle, the riding control and the direction indicators, the switch for the latter will be placed at the base of the column. On the Paulin designs the horn button switch is too deeply buried and we have not copied this feature having had trouble with the early designs in this connection. On all of these designs there is the danger of finger trapping due to the close proximity of the control knobs to the spokes. It is agreed that we should try the wheels as drawn before making any modifications. We also enclose herewith a print of PL.179 which is the first scheme we produced during the investigation. Whilst this design more successfully fulfills the requirements of Messrs. Wilmot-Breeden, it is desired to proceed with the designs of PL.193 and PL.194 because they are better looking. | ||