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).
The failure of P.100 headlamps on a customer's car, discussing issues with jamming dippers, burnt-out solenoids, and incorrect fuse sizes with the manufacturer, Lucas.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61a\3\ scan0030 | |
| Date | 8th April 1935 | |
| Y6116 W/K.{Mr Kilner} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.2/MA.8.4.35. FAILURE OF P.100 HEADLAMPS ON MR.NIGEL HOLDER'S CAR - B.32.AH. Regarding the failures, experienced by Mr.Holder, of two consecutive pairs of P.100 headlamps on the above car during the Eastbourne Rally, see your K/KC/DPB.4.4.35., we saw Messrs.Lucas personally and were able to open up the lamps in their presence for examination. We confirmed that one of these lamps had a jamming dipper and the other had a burnt out solenoid. Both of these lamps were fitted with 8 amp fuses and we accordingly raised the question of the fuse size with Messrs. Lucas. They stated that all dipper fuses on P.100 lamps should be 6 amps and 8 amps. If an 8 amp fuse is fitted and the dipper jams, a burnt out solenoid results as instanced in this particular case. We therefore reported the fact that their London Service Depots were recommending 8 amp fuses and they are immediately investigating this with a view to instructing their London Depots regarding the correct fuse. Wherever a case of a jamming dipper is experienced the lamp should be returned to Messrs.Lucas immediately and not fitted with a larger fuse. We raised with them the question of jamming dippers generally and they stated that they had made an alteration to their tools whereby on all existing lamps now going out from their factory a greater clearance was allowed between the dip portion of the reflector and the fixed portion secured to the front glass. This they stated will prevent any portion of the dipping reflector fouling the fixed portion. Reference was made to the connecting plunger on the tripod being rather a poor job and they agreed with our remarks after a demonstration of a particularly bad case. We suggested to them that a better fitting would be a screw, as the necessity for changing bulbs was so rare that it would not be a hardship to remove a screw when changing a bulb instead of just springing the tripod out as at present. They are looking into the question of entirely altering the design of this part in order to eliminate the trouble we have experienced with these plungers. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. | ||