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).
Standard finish for instrument dials, comparing cream, silvered, and black options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\7\ Scan028 | |
| Date | 9th August 1927 | |
| (85309) BYG/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 9.8.27. FINISH OF DIALS FOR INSTRUMENTS. ------------------------------- Referring to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s correspondence with the Works on the above subject, in which it appears as if R.{Sir Henry Royce} was now asking for silvered dial as standard, - in order to put the matter quite straight and prevent further confusion of thought on the matter, I wrote to R.{Sir Henry Royce} direct, putting the facts as I saw them. R.{Sir Henry Royce} spoke to me yesterday on the telephone. His attitude is as follows:- 1. He prefers the cream finished enamelled type of dial, watch type finish, but he was under the impression that it was necessary to paint the divisions and the numbers by hand. I pointed out that this was entirely wrong, and have since discussed the matter with Mr.North, of Watfords, who confirms that when produced in bulk the whole of the lettering etc. will be by transfer, and that the proposal is commercially quite sound. 2. In regard to the silvered dial, Mr.Royce was only falling back upon this because he was labouring under the misapprehension in regard to the finish of the enamelled type dial being more expensive. The question therefore of the silvered dial as our original standard proposal does not come into the matter any longer, but the silvered dial is a necessity to cover customers fads. 3. The present standard of black enamelled finished dial, produced by the Cambridge Instrument Company for all instruments, stands until such time as the grouped instruments become available. When the grouped instrument scheme becomes standard, the cream coloured baked enamelled watch type dial will be standard. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||