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).
Examination of an old Willard battery cell, with recommendations for further testing.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\F\April1921\ Scan31 | |
| Date | 1st April 1921 | |
| To EFC. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to OJ. " " HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " DY.{F R Danby} " " PN.{Mr Northey} " " R.R. of America. Inc. (For the attention of OY.) ORIGINAL R8/G14/4/21. X.1198 RE WILLARD BATTERY. Thank you for sending me the old Willard cell which we suggested should be examined. We assume that this is one of those we have had, in our possession for nearly six years, and which has been sadly neglected in the way of being left in an un-charged condition for long intervals. I have examined one cell of this battery, and I am extremely surprised to find that from a casual observation the cell appears to be in as good a condition as it was when made, the separators looking as if they were quite new, and the plates quite free from buckling, and apparently free from sulphate. No doubt you will be testing the rest of the cells to see if they behave as well as they appear. The following tests seem to stand out as the most important :- When refilled with acid of the right gravity, (which I presume would be round about 1200) and slowly and thoroughly charged, one would criticise each cell separately to ascertain what the capacity was compared with the original, whether the internal resistance is as low as we should expect from this size of cell, and whether the cells would hold their charge. Providing they would do all these things, I should give all my votes for the Willard. The particular cell sent to me does not belong to the battery that was at West WitteringHenry Royce's home town, because the cells of that particular battery had a cavity above the cell proper, and the (Contd.) K & E' 339Y (100 L) (2' H 198' 11-2-20) (C 3800) | ||