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 use of thermostats, radiator shutters, and anti-freeze in cars in the U.S.A. during winter conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan035 | |
| Date | 19th December 1921 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EWT. for R.R. Inc. X3499 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/191221 X.3563. X.3499. THERMOSTAT IN U.S.A. X.3456. With reference to the cable received from the U.S.A. Re Thermostats. The conditions as I saw them out there were as follows:- R.R. Cars whether fitted with a Thermostat or not, should have shutters in the front of the radiator in order to give satisfactory running. Shutters are used for maintaining the water temperature constant on cars without Thermostats and for keeping thewater warm when the engine is stopped and for warming the air on cars either with or without Thermostats! Practically all the cars which run in the Winter time in the U.S.A. have either muffs over the radiator or shutters in front. Shutters are preferable to muffs as regards appearance. Because of the great risk of cars freezing up when left standing, most cars in America have alcohol added to the water during the Winter months. Alcohol is the standard anti-freezing liquid used there. The fact of adding alcohol decreases the boiling temperature - this means that the range of water temperature from normal to boiling, is less. This is one of the reasons why it is necessary to Contd. | ||