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).
Departmental memo detailing issues with the dynamo drive, lamp failures, and frame strut performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\4\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 18th March 1912 | |
| R 425 (50 H) (X 737. 18.3.12) E.P 1493. ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED, NIGHTINGALE ROAD, DERBY. TELEGRAMS: "ROYCAR," DERBY. TELEPHONES: 813 (Two Lines). DEPARTMENTAL MEMO. [Handwritten note in margin: Lighting Dynamo] DYNAMO DRIVE:- When first trying this car I found dynamo was not giving full amperage, after running a short time, which I have already complained of. This I proved was due to belt slipping and after tightening up and giving the belt a good stretching this worked quite satisfactorily and the amperage only dropped one or two after running hundreds of miles. A point about this job is that this belt is not overoiled which appears to be the salvation of the job, evidently due to the gear box not leaking oil. A feature on this dynamo set, and which I consider rather important is that on one occasion whilst charging the batteries with the lamps on the connection between two of the accumulators broke, the voltage suddenly increased and the lamps were burnt out. This appears rather a serious matter as in the first place it makes the lighting set rather unreliable and is very expensive as regards replacing the lamps. It also seems that the filaments are very much inclined to break during ordinary road running. [Handwritten note in margin: Frame] FRAME STRUTS:- By dismantling one of the bolts at the end of the tie rods one can distinctly feel that there is considerable movement taking place, especially noticeable over rough roads. I noticed this action when I was experimenting to see whether the 25 miles per hour vibration was accentuated by the fact of the frame being trussed which however was not the case. Comparing the movement which takes place between the dashboard and body on a covered body we are now testing on 12" frame such did not seem to be any improvement on trussed frame. I have an impression that the springing of our cars are improved by the fixing of these trusses. 1731 which was at the South of France was I think a very nicely sprung car also Mr Barrington who recently tried the 12" frame after we had fixed a 12" frame expressed the This sheet must be filed with the correspondence to which it refers. Contd. | ||