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 from the American branch to the UK headquarters discussing the suitability and longevity of English versus American batteries for the PII chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\4\ img024 | |
| Date | 26th March 1931 | |
| x6021 ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Btn-6 March 26, 1931. Rolls Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. Attention of Mr. Hives. Dear Mr. Hives: Re: Batteries. We thank you for your report Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 9/MJ.26.2.31. on the question of the 3-XCR-13-1RA battery which we propose to use on PII chassis. We have referred this matter to the Exide Company and we enclose herewith a copy of their reply. We have also referred it to our New York Service Station and enclose a copy of Mr. Soutter's reply. The net results of these comments seem to be that although the English battery is designed to give a longer life under favorable conditions, yet we believe that under the conditions which we will be working, we shall get just as satisfactory results or even more so from the American made batteries. Soutter mentions that a life of two years seems to be about the average for imported batteries. We have known American batteries to last four or even five years. We do not doubt that to you this will seem an excessively short life, but in this country where the batteries are subjected to freezing in winter and rapid evaporation in summer, we think it must be admitted that the American manufacturers are better fitted to take care of our requirements than English manufacturers. This entirely ignores the question relative to replacement costs which in this case is an paramount issue. Yours very truly, Robert B. Burton Chief Engineer - Chassis Div. RBB/VB | ||