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).
Proposal to modernize the 25/29 HP steering wheel and controls using the Phantom III design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\3\ scan0353 | |
| Date | 30th December 1935 | |
| To Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Copy to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} F.J.H. 25/29 H.P. Steering Wheel and Controls. We send herewith LeC 4896 which is a scheme showing the Phantom III steering wheel and controls on the top of the 25/29 H.P. steering column, Marles type. We appreciate that for this car steering columns of the Marles' type with the present 25 H.P. steering wheel and controls have been ordered up, and that these will have to be used. We feel, however, that at a subsequent date, perhaps not very far off, the 25/29 H.P. car will have to have a modernised steering wheel and controls in order to line up with the recognised Rolls-Royce appearance of the new type as exemplified by the Phantom III, and with this in view we have produced the scheme LeC 4896. It will be noticed that there is no modification required to any of the parts, the tubes of the 25/29 H.P. being identical in diameter with those of the Phantom III. The 25/29 H.P. car calls for an angular movement of the ignition and throttle lever of 83°11", whereas the Phantom has been designed for 81°. This can be overcome by lengthening one of the driver levers in the control linkage, but it is suggested that there may be sufficient spare movement on these controls to make this unnecessary. We have shown the latest Phantom III two-note horn switch in the top of the column as we presume by the time that this design is available the wind tone horns will be in use. Should, however, this not be the case the original single switch for Phantom III can be applied. It will be noticed that we are suggesting the use of the Phantom III 18.750" diameter steering wheel instead of the 17.750" diameter wheel as at present. We do this to reduce the number of new parts and so cheapen the job, whilst it does appear to us that there is not a very strong argument for the use of the smaller wheel. It is proposed to put this wheel on the steering columns in the present position, in which case the bottom of the wheel will be a little lower, approximately .375", and the top of the wheel will approach the screen by about .187". We suggest that one of these columns should be tried on an experimental 25/29 H.P. car as soon as convenient. Att: LeC.4896. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||