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).
Comparison between a post-war Bosch Magneto and a Watford Magneto, with a list of complaints about the latter.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\5\ Scan139 | |
| Date | 1st August 1920 | |
| X.4279 To BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} From Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to Hd. {Mr Hayward / Mr Huddy} hsl/LCS1.8.20. X 2375 RE WATFORD MAGNETOS. Y1020 X.4279 We should like you to write to the Watford people making known to them the following facts. We have tested a post-war Bosch Magneto and find that as regards workmanship, finish, silence and electrical efficiency, it is better than what we are receiving from the Watford people. We have no desire to use the Bosch Magneto but we shall never be content with anything less than the best magneto which can be obtained because we think that the best, as regards electrical equipment, is nothing too good. The chief complaints we have against the Watford Magneto are:- 1. The safety spark gap is set too close. On the Bosch Magneto the safety spark gap is set at 10 m {Mr Moon / Mr Moore} /m. We can, with this magneto, run with wider gaps at the plug points and thereby obtain better running on the magneto ignition. 2. The silence of the Bosch machine is very much better than any Watford machine. We think that the Bosch has a definite advantage in-as-much as they have an adjustment for meshing the gears. 3. The workmanship and all screw threads are much better than the average Watford. In conclusion we should inform Messrs. Watford that if they expect to retain our orders for Magnetos, they must produce a machine which is as good as the Bosch. We should expect to pay the same price as the Bosch for it but at the same time we shall insist on getting value for our money. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||