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 K.L.G. Sparking Plugs Ltd. regarding the development and testing of face-firing spark plugs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 162\5\ img106 | |
| Date | 7th June 1940 | |
| 6501 Elect. K·L·G Sparking Plugs Limited CONTRACTORS TO THE AIR MINISTRY, ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE & FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS Sole Manufacturers of "KLG" Sparking Plugs and Accessories PUTNEY VALE, LONDON. S.W.15 Telephone Putney 2671 (Four Lines) Telegrams "Kavigee" Phone, london. PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL DEPT AND QUOTE REFERENCE CMC/MEN IN YOUR REPLY 7th June, 1940. W.A. Robotham, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby. Ref. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/JMS. Dear Robotham, Thank you very much indeed for your letter of the 5th instant giving me information which you have received from Mr. Olley. I am particularly interested to learn that the makers of the face-firing plug are a small concern of which he believes the name is the Onan Company in Boston. Mr. West mentioned this plug to me last time I was in Derby and immediately afterwards I found that Napiers had been trying to make up a copy of it themselves. Their copy was badly made and not a fair specimen with which to make tests. In conjunction with Mr. Ramsay of Napiers we made up a few plugs on these lines with modifications which seemed desirable. The results have been surprising as the plugs have not only shown themselves capable of withstanding the highest duty in a Napier "Dagger" engine but, having been removed from that engine, have run about two hundred miles without trouble in a 10 h.p. Ford car. We are looking a bit further into the matter and I am now making up a few plugs which I hope Mr. West will be able to test in one of your "Merlins." At first sight it would appear that this plug must oil up almost at once, but, though it certainly is rather more prone to oiling up than normal plugs, its performance is very interesting and may warrant further development. Yours sincerely, C. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Carington | ||