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).
Secret memorandum discussing the aesthetic impact of vertical versus horizontal radiator shutters on the E.A.C. II model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66a\4\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 27th October 1924 | |
| C.J. S E C R E T. CWB2/LH{Mr Haworth}27.10.24. E.A.C. II RADIATOR. --------ooo-------- With reference to R2/M23.10.24. - it is presumed that the essential appearance of the Rolls-Royce car is to be maintained in the E.A.C. Model. I have seen several of the 40/50 h.p. cars fitted with vertical external radiator shutters. And, for some reason, the fitting of these shutters has completely altered the appearance of the radiator. The fitting of the horizontal shutters on the 20 h.p. car did not appear to have changed the general appearance of the radiator. I have examined these - side by side - to try and discover why the horizontal shutters do not apparently change the general appearance, whilst the vertical shutters do, and consider that this is due to the fact that with the vertical shutters fitted, the radiator from the front appears as if it had no sides. There is a top and a bottom and the broad vertical bands of the shutters connecting the top and bottom chambers are so much heavier than the very narrow sides that they do not appear to be connected. I think that in order to maintain the old appearance the side plates should be made broader, so that they show a flat of at least 1/2", in order that the general appearance of the radiator, so fitted with vertical shutters, should be unchanged. [Signature] CWB. [STAMP: RECEIVED 27.X.24 J.S. 1924] | ||