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).
Development, testing and issues with a new single-line petrol gauge for the Phantom II model.
| Identifier | Morton\M19\ img039 | |
| Date | 9th March 1931 | |
| To Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/MJ.9.3.31. X4038 X7460 V4531 REAR END OF PHANTOM 11. We agree that we have been at fault in not giving you the result of road tests on the single line petrol gauge at an earlier date. This fitting has now gone on test and we should have some results before long. It is on 27-EX car and will go to the South of France when the first trip is made to Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. This will enable a test to be carried out under higher temperature conditions, which are the ones that cause trouble in the ordinary way. We could not recommend standardising this gauge until such tests have been made. We cannot quite understand your reference to the existing petrol gauge preventing you making a rear apron. As far as we can see the single line tank unit you have given us sticks out about 3" more than the present standard gauge, and in all schemes that we have so far seen, protrudes about 2" through the apron whereas the existing gauge can be covered over without difficulty. Another point we should like to raise is that with the new tank unit you have given us all petrol that is spilt from the gauge head and any other fumes that may emanate therefrom, are discharged under the apron. We have recently had great trouble with a customer because the coachbuilders had shrouded the tank filler cap under the apron and in consequence there was a perpetual smell of petrol in the body. The only way we can overcome the trouble is by keeping the tank filler outside the apron. We think that the rear apron should certainly not wait for the single line petrol gauge in view of these factors, more especially as GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} reports that the latest improvements we have made on the K.S. petrol gauge and of which we now have six months experience, have affected an almost complete cure to our existing troubles. We shall push on with the tests of the existing single line installation, but feel that some means will have to be found for reducing the dimensions of the head of the gauge before it will be acceptable either to ourselves or to the Americans. Print of F.83334 Att. to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s.copy Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||