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).
Letter to the Air Board Technical Dept. discussing the advantages of using jump spark distributors for the 'Condor' engine ignition.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 34\2\ Scan100 | |
| Date | 14th May 1918 | |
| COPY. Copy to CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to EH. c. to EFC. X.2514. R20/G14518. 1320 (5 lines) 14th May. 1918. X.3299. X.2514. X.3292. Controller, Air Board Technical Dept., Central House, Kingsway, LONDON. W.C.2. Dear Sir, Further to my letter of the 3rd inst., concerning jump spark distributors, some years ago it was the practice, when carburation and other things were not so good as at present, to use an external jump spark between the source of high ten-sion supply and the ignition plug. This we found to have a very definite advantage in preventing missfires when the insulation of the plugs was poor, owing to the deposit of soot. We learn from the Magneto Dept: and from our own Expl: Dept: that a jump spark distributor acts in the same way. If this is so, it is perhaps a definite point in favour of a jump spark distributor for the battery ignition which we are making for the "Condor" engine. Our own experience on the car work was entirely in favour of the jump spark of the distributor, after trying many forms of rubbing contact, all of which seem to require frequent and scrupulous cleaning. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. Engineer-in-chief W. S. & S. Ltd. (S.O.) (3) 250. 23-3-18. 1648. | ||