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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).
Critiquing the proposed speed of Lucas windscreen wipers and advocating for a faster, more robust design.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 167\5\  img032
Date  26th January 1932
  
X6115

PN.{Mr Northey}6/WT26.1.32.

S/W.
Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst
Copy to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}

Lucas Windscreen Wiper.

I am obliged for your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst3/AD25.1.32 and have also noted what Lucas have replied on the question of speed. The experience of Lucas when running fast in a heavy downpour of rain must be extremely limited if they consider that 28 cycles during the minute is sufficient. I consider that a wipe every half-second is probably the best and most useful speed under such conditions. Obviously, if the makers could get away with a very slow speed wiper, all their conditions to be fulfilled are much easier, especially in the case of a single small electric motor driving two wipers. It is time that people got down to brass tacks and tried to design a machine on engineering lines capable of rubbing the glass thoroughly well without overheating the motor and at the same time avoid the single arm being blown all over the place in a high wind when the car is running fast.

PN.{Mr Northey}
  
  


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