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 from Joseph Lucas Ltd. discussing the potential manufacture and market for car heaters.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\1\ scan0101 | |
| Date | 28th January 1932 | |
| COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM:- JOSEPH LUCAS LTD., Great King Street, BIRMINGHAM. RLN/35. 28th Jan., 1932. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd. 14-15, Conduit Street, LONDON, W.1. Dear Sir, For the attention of Mr. Honeyman. Car Heaters. We acknowledge your letter of the 26th instant, in regard to the above and regret that we have not kept you fully advised of our enquiries into the possibility of the manufacture by us of some form of Car Heater. It is true that we have not yet seen the actual sample at Derby, but we are acquainted with the general principle upon which these machines operate, and it has been confirmed by conversation with Mr. Royce of Derby that the Heater they have there is similar to a type well known in the commercial vehicle field, and which has already been investigated by our Associated Company - Messrs. C.A.V. - Bosch. As a result of these enquiries the opinion was expressed that we should not venture into the commercial market, but in view of the importance you attach to the future of Car Heaters as applied to private cars, the whole matter is being re-discussed and we have arranged for our technical representative, Mr. Thacker, to visit Derby early next week. Car Heaters of varying types are common in America and we understand the demand for them is increasing, but over there as you will appreciate the climatic conditions are very different from this Country, and we are a little uncertain as to the extent of the probable market here, at any rate for the rather expensive design you have at Derby. We feel that future developments will be along the lines of utilising heat from the exhaust manifold, as these systems are more easily installed and more rapid in operation | ||