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).
Sales conference minute discussing the water overheating issue in the 20 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\5\ Scan111 | |
| Date | 18th November 1925 guessed | |
| MINUTE OF SALES CONFERENCE 20 HP Water Overheating. It was reported that 9.G.3. running a 10,000 miles test in France, boiled for five hours with the air (shade) temperature at 28 to 30° C. (viz: 83° F.{Mr Friese}) It was considered most important that these cars should not boil at this air temperature, as in a large number of countries, including the South of Europe, the Summer temperature very often exceeds 83°F.{Mr Friese} If the 20 HP car could not run on the level without continuous boiling, we should receive serious complaints and the car would soon have a very bad name which would stop its sale. It seems probable that if the car boils on the level with a shade temperature at 83°, it will boil on a hill climb at still lower (shade) air temperatures. One official mentioned an occasion when driving a 20 HP that was boiling, he noticed that motorists coming in the opposite direction held up their hands as an indication that he should stop, and pointed to the front of the car from which steam was issuing. Steam coming from the front of a car is very quickly noticed by all motorists, and the car is accordingly condemned. It would be impossible to educate customers to drive R.R. cars which were continually boiling, even if we explained that boiling did no harm. It is hoped that some means may be found to obviate this serious defect, more especially as very many English owners of R.R. cars use them for touring abroad. B.J. | ||