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).
Visit to Peto & Radford Co. regarding the development and comparison of universal type batteries.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\4\ Scan052 | |
| Date | 5th February 1932 | |
| Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} X6136 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.2/AM5.2.32. X6137 UNIVERSAL TYPE BATTERIES We visited the Peto & Radford Co's Works on Wednesday last to talk over with them proposals for a new 20/25 and J.III universal type battery on similar lines to the 40/50 battery which is now on the way. At the same time we were able to see the first high rate discharge test carried out on a new 40/50 type of universal battery which they have produced similar to the Chloride Co. They wish to make the battery containers of both the 40/50 and 20/25 batteries in Dagenite as they are of the opinion that this is superior to ebonite. They also state that they have not experienced any more difficulty with Dagenite that with ebonite in hot climates due to cracking etc. In this connection it is interesting to note that the L.G.O.C. exclusively specify Dagenite for all their accumulators in preference to ebonite. As there seems to be a preference everywhere for Dagenite, and we personally have not found any disadvantage due to its use, we suggest that Dagenite moulded containers be used on both chassis for our new universal type battery. We shall also effect a small saving in cost due to using standard Dagenite containers. It will therefore, be necessary to specify Dagenite also for our Exide battery. As it is, the Chloride Co. purchase huge quantities of Dagenite containers from the Peto & Radford Co. for their own batteries and they also state that they have no preference for either Dagenite or ebonite. The universal type batteries they are producing for us will therefore be of moulded Dagenite. On comparing the high rate discharges of the Chloride Co. and P & R.{Sir Henry Royce} we note that the former is much better. This is explained by the fact that the P & R.{Sir Henry Royce} battery has a slightly less plate area than the Chloride thus giving a poorer high rate discharge. This high rate discharge, however, will improve considerably after a number of cycles charge and discharge. We have found this improvement to be more marked with the P & R than with the Exide. | ||