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).
Letter to Ferranti Ltd. detailing multiple failures of an experimental radio set and returning it.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 168b\1\ img231 | |
| Date | 23th October 1939 | |
| 6153 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs}3/JH. 23rd. October, 1939. Messrs. Ferranti Ltd., Moston, MANCHESTER.10. For the attention of Mr.G.A.Hall. Dear Sirs, We are returning under separate cover one of your radio sets which has been used on one of our experimental cars. This set was first fitted 20.9.38. and gave good service until 8.6.39. when the switch contact failed. The switch was returned for your attention and we were supplied with a new switch which we fitted 8.6.39. A second failure occurred 24.8.39. due to the vibrator points sticking and causing it to take a current of 18 amperes. It was also found that the rectifying valve was in a poor condition and arcing between the plates occurred intermittently. A new vibrator and valve was fitted. A third failure occurred 10.10.39. when we were once again informed that the set was taking a current of approx: 20 amperes. We sent the set to your Derby Agent Mr. Willday, who drew our attention to the fact that there were two keyways in the multi-cored cable socket, and that the placing of the socket in the wrong position was probably the cause of the trouble. On further investigation we found that when the socket occupied the position as we found it, the current was 18 amps., whereas placed in the alternate position, the vibrator does not function and no current is supplied to the heating filament of the rectifying valve. As the Derby Agent does not seem to be able to help us, we are returning the set for your attention. Although, up-to-date, we consider your set to be the most reliable on the market, we don't consider the standard of reliability set up to be good enough for the Rolls-Royce car. | ||