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).
Criticisms and required changes for new 20/25-HP instrument dials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 62\2\ scan0126 | |
| Date | 9th July 1932 | |
| S/W. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. WST Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} " " PN.{Mr Northey} " " Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X6135. RECEIVED 11 JUL 1932 Cxl/H.9.7.32. Re: New Dials for 20/25-HP. Instruments. Thanks for your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst6/MA.8.7.32. with photostats. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and I had already seen these as in view of the urgency we got Mr. Nichol of Smiths to come along here with them on Thursday last. Our criticisms were that the R.R. monogram was the same as on the previous instruments and in view of the fact that we had never objected to the R.R. on the previous instruments we have asked them to copy this. We loaned them a sample instrument for the purpose. We also criticised a slight apparent difference between the thickness of the figures on the clock and those on the speedometer. We believe it to be an optical illusion, but they are to make the figures appear the same in thickness. On the water temperature indicator we have deleted the mid-way marks between 30 and 40, 40 and 50, 50 and 60, as it is too crowded as it is. We have also pointed out an apparent difference between the lettering of the word "water" and that of the word "oil" on the oil gauge. Here again it is probably an optical illusion, but we want the two to look alike. With regard to the petrol gauge, we pointed out that this is the wrong one as we have already approved a dial marking for all 20/25-HPs{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}, reading both in litres and gallons. They should be supplied at once with a copy of that instead of the enclosed so as to not delay matters. I told Mr. Nichol that the matter was extremely urgent and asked how long it would be before we could now see complete dials finished as they would appear on the chassis. He said it would take a week, but of course it will take longer unless you can let them have a new lay-out of the new petrol gauge dial. Will you please treat the matter as very urgent and let them have it at once to re-produce in the proper style. We pointed out that on the sample instrument loaned to them the figures were not white but silver or aluminium and we have, therefore, decided to accept the new instruments in the same finish. | ||