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).
Disappointing demonstration of new headlamp and fog lamp schemes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61a\2\ scan0446 | |
| Date | 29th December 1929 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to C. C. " Wst. 86116. re- Headlamps and Fog Lamps. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}10/KW29.12.. Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} and I went to W. yesterday to see demonstrations of lamps but I am afraid we came back rather disappointed in not having achieved any substantial benefit. Only one car was available equipped with a modified scheme which we could test on the road. On this were fitted a lightened type of Lucas P.100 lamps with double filament bulbs. Incidentally the lamps are not as light as we expected they would be. Nevertheless there is a small saving in weight. Whilst the system demonstrated had possibly more light from the main lamp filaments, which was not really necessary, the effect when the anti-dazzle scheme is in operation is little or no better than our present double dipper scheme. As regards the main driving light, this was simply colossal, and one was blinded when the car was half a mile away unless the driver is thoughtful enough to dip when that distance away. One felt rather conscious of being rather selfish driving with such unnecessarily powerful lights. When the anti-dazzle scheme was switched on the contrast was so immense that I immediately felt rather unsafe in not having enough driving light. Wst admitted that the effect with our standard double dipping reflectors when dipped was better in that respect. When passing the car with the new scheme on with the lamps in the anti-dazzle position there was a fair amount of glare at the moment of passing in spite of the fact that the driving light was, in my opinion and in that of Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}, rather inadequate. The result of this particular demonstration was that I would personally prefer to retain what we have rather than adopt this other scheme, as I don't think it gives enough benefit to warrant a change yet. As regards the other headlamps demonstrated, this was only carried out in the yard at the back of the Experimental Shop with the lamps held in position and directed on to a white wall. The lamps thus demonstrated were all of foreign manufacture, and therefore would hardly help us very much except to (contd) | ||