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).
Replacement of Clayton car heater switches with alternatives from Lucas or a custom-built solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\2\ scan0230 | |
| Date | 18th November 1938 | |
| c.to....Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c.to....RY/RD. File Heavy Spares 1158 Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}10/AH.18.11.38. Noted R / SD Car Heater Switches: BY.7/G.16.11.38. We do not appear to have been told that the Clayton switch has proved inadequate during experimental testing, nor have we a record of the failure of any of those which have been fitted to our cars, but agree, in view of what you say, we must give up using it as soon as an alternative is available. We are suggesting to Clayton Dewandre they copy or buy Lucas switches in future and incorporate same in their fitting in place of the present resistance which they buy from British Thermostats. We will tell you what they say. The last paragraph of your memo is not clear to us. As we understood your proposal, your intention was to buy an A.C. Sphinx rheostat costing 2/3d and to produce for it a pressing which is necessary so that the coachbuilder may suitably mount it, at a cost of 1/3d making a total cost of 3/6d each unit. We were told the tools to produce the pressing would cost £6. Assuming a batch of 250 is put through, and dividing the tool cost amongst these, brings the total cost per unit to 4/- which is the same as we were quoted for the Clayton switch in batches of 50. The Clayton switch as supplied to us is ready for mounting by the coachbuilder. If there is available a Lucas switch of which you can approve and which is in a condition suitable for mounting by the coachbuilder and costs less than the Clayton will you please have details sent to us. HW. | ||