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).
Modifications to the Phantom III steering column, wheel, and controls.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\1\ scan0229 | |
| Date | 16th October 1935 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Copy to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Ds. RMC. x 350 E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/MN.16.10.35. F.J. Hardy PHANTOM III. Steering Column, Wheel and Controls. We send herewith LeC 4728 showing a series of modifications which we have made to the Phantom III steering wheel, controls and horn switch. Some of the features are actual modifications to our original design LeC 4601, and others merely call attention to divergences between the original design and the actual pieces seen on the car. Wheel. The rim of the wheel is unchanged, but the shape of the boss has been modified to give it a lightened and more graceful appearance. On LeC 4601 the spokes were shown as flutes on the boss. On the actual cars we notice that the boss had been increased in size to swallow up these flutes, and a heavy shape resulted. The top face of the wheel boss has been raised slightly and a sharp edge to the aluminium has been provided on the outer rim of the boss between the spokes. We understand that the Xylonite covering can be taken round a sharp corner as we have seen it done on the existing steering wheels. Controls. We show the lettering which we think will give the best appearance. With the exception of the words 'soft' and 'loud' which are in letters .150" high, the remainder of the wording has letters .125" and .020" wide in the stroke. These we understand are cut on the engraving machine with setting No.8, and .875 circular copy. The words 'soft' and 'loud' and the stroke in the centre should be cut with the same engraving tool. With respect to the letters of the Rolls-Royce monogram, these are shown with our official shape of letters. On the present cars these letters are not of the official shape. Here again the engraving tool should give a cut .020" wide. All of the levers ( 3) have been strengthened by widening the plate round the whle at the spring centre. At the same time we would like the lever material changed to Nickel-steel and heat treated. This is to overcome a complaint that the | ||