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 premature burning of platinum points in Watford E.W.6 magnetos on Phantom I & II cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65\3\ scan0405 | |
| Date | 1st November 1929 | |
| X7791. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from EFC. c. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} EFC2/ADL1.11.29. X.7791. WATFORD E.W.6. MAGNETOS ON PHANTOM I & II CARS. Burning of platinum points. It is quite true that we have experienced a number of cases of premature burning of platinum points on standard Watford E.W.6. magnetos on experimental cars. At the same time, curious though it may seem, it should be stated that the number of complaints received from production chassis in any circumstances has been so small as to be considered of almost negligible consequence. The impression however, should not be given that no steps have been taken towards rectifying this trouble. A great deal has been done in this connection between ourselves and Messrs.North. The difficulty in making any apparent progress has been due to the fact of Messrs. North having consistently maintained until now that the trouble has been due to the presence of hydro carbon vapours, they considered that they had proved this quite certainly in other cases. They have provided us with ventilated cam cage covers which have been run on experimental cars. These were not found to cure this trouble on those cars. They were confident that the trouble would be cured, and of course it has taken time to prove otherwise. We have also run magnetos on the bench with and without ventilated contact breaker covers, and thereby proved the result that the contact breakers do burn away rather prematurely even though there can be no question of hydro carbon vapours. It has also been proved by analysis that the observed black deposit in the contact breaker lever etc. contains platinum and very little carbon. Recently, on account of results of the further tests on experimental cars above described, we sent out a note (copy attached) to Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Er. Ps. Pt. & H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} We have now received three written answers, copies of which we also attach, we have also received one verbal answer from a representative of Cricklewood during a visit to these Works to the effect that he knows of no suggestion of this trouble. | ||