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).
'Stroborama' stroboscopic device for experimental work on engine components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\1\ Scan066 | |
| Date | 6th February 1928 | |
| X. 4541 c - Mr. Beaver OY2.R.1.6.28 February 6th, 1928 Mr. Thomas Nadin, Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby, England. (Copy for attention Mr. E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives) Dear Nadin RE EXPERIMENTAL WORK "STROBORAMA" At the Detroit S.A.E. meeting they gave a demonstration of the "Stroborama" introduced into the U.S. by Muss Hartzell-Ducasse. This outfit is too expensive in the U.S., about $6000, but in England should cost considerably less. It is the only outfit I have seen which is big enough and "adequate" enough to really survey a complete mechanism in daylight under instantaneous vision conditions. The light obtained is several thousand candlepower, and work can be undertaken simply such as crankshaft-vibration and its relation to valve-spring surge, action of the slipper, etc., which would be impossible with the wretched little "neon-candles" supplied by other makers. There are two "tricks" in the device. The first is the control of a large high tension current in the enormous neon-tube. This is done by an ordinary low voltage contact breaker operating on about two amps. This is stepped up to a H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} T. current of exceedingly small amperage which merely produces a "brush" discharge in the neon-tube. This brush discharge serves to make the neon gas a conductor and allows the main discharge of high voltage and amperage to jump a spark gap of about 1 inch and rush through the tube, giving an exceedingly brilliant glare of red light of such short duration that newspaper print can be read on a propeller blade running at 2000 R.P.M. (Continued) | ||