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).
Fitting a Klaxon horn and the company's cautious approach to new technologies like front-wheel brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\3\ Scan146 | |
| Date | 26th November 1921 | |
| Contd. -2- RL/G26.11.21. and we have arranged for a double wired press button on the steering column for the Klaxon. The arrangement on this car will, therefore, be quite up to date in every way, and I shall be anxious to put the same fittings on the 40/50 H.P. as soon as the stock of parts will allow. You will see in the catalogue specification for Goshawk II full particulars of the equipment, which I hope SA. will consider quite satisfactorily up-to-date. SA. will remember that it would be quite unwise for any firms with our reputation to be fitting novelties which are not likely to come into general favour, such novelties are continually cropping up and fading away. (Often, however, circumstances will not allow us to change as quickly as it is possible with people making a new chassis or an entirely new firm. For instance, we believe that most people so far have done themselves more harm than good in their attempts to fit front wheel brakes. The harm is not serious if they have got nothing to lose. We believe that it is generally a better scheme to make a thoroughly good piece of work of the existing standard arrangements, than to make anything which is not likely to prove uniformly successful in untechnical hands during long periods of semi-neglect. This is being proved in practice to be so, i.e. those on the Isotta at our works were soon out of action. Messrs. Hives and Haldenby found a Delage of the Contd. | ||