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).
Customer complaint regarding a flat battery, identifying driver error and usage as the cause, and suggesting a garage charging board.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\3\ Scan133 | |
| Date | 3rd December 1920 | |
| H3/TB/3.12.20. Memorandum No. 2003. Copies to - C. Hr. (2) EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Br. {T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} Re:- Mrs. Sauber, 15, Knightsbridge, S.W. Chassis No. 5-FW. Regd. R.3725. I called on this lady yesterday as Bt. {Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} recently promised the driver that he would endeavour to persuade owner either to install a battery charging outfit in her garage, or procure a spare set of batteries. The owner recently complained of trouble with the self-starter, and investigation by Bt. {Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} showed that the car was exclusively used in London, and largely at night, so that with constant use of the lights and the self-starter, and no speed running to charge the batteries, these were constantly in an exhausted condition. I was able to see a young man, Mr. Ellis, nephew of Mrs. Sauber, and discussed the matter with him. He fully realizes the position and has discussed it with Mrs. Sauber. I supported his view that it was better to have a garage charging-board fitted in the garage, and he will urge this on his aunt. At the present time Mr. Ellis is driving the car because the driver has strained his wrist. For the purpose of economy of current they are starting the engine by hand, and it was while doing this that the driver inadvertently switched on to battery and magneto ignition, instead of the magneto ignition alone as he intended and when he advanced his ignition lever. Mr. Ellis admitted to me it was entirely his own fault, and that we and the car were in no way to blame. I promised Mr. Ellis any information which he might find he needed in connection with charging at the garage, especially if he wished to charge as suggested by Mr. Royce, through the inspection lamp plug holes on the switchboard. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} [STAMP TOP RIGHT] SO 6 DEC 1920 RECEIVED [STAMP BOTTOM LEFT] Pr DEC RECEIVED [HANDWRITTEN NOTE] We must bring it home to the RR designers that this is a weakness in our design. Please raise it at ah staff conference. J 3.12 | ||