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).
Proposing to fit a Goshawk-style governed ignition to the 40/50 model due to its advantages in slow running.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\1\ scan 233 | |
| Date | 17th October 1922 | |
| X3949 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to PN.{Mr Northey} Wcr. c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} R4/M17.10.22. 40/50 & No.6 GOSHAWK GOVERNED IGNITION. X.3485. X.3949 X.3129 During some investigations with No.6 Goshawk I have noticed a great advantage in slow running of late timing of the ignition. This suggests that it would be a great advantage to fit our governed ignition to the 40/50. You will remember that I argued that it might not be wise to fit a governor to the battery ignition considering we had no governor to the magneto ignition, but having been impressed with the wonderful advantage of late ignition for slow speeds and light loads I think the advantages will out-weigh the disadvantages. I can see that with this governed ignition we should be troubled less with detonations because the pocket ignition would become later than the magneto and I think that we should find the slow running better, and the risk of occasional miss-fired verymuch less. The ignition for the Goshawk I understand has more than the necessary advance for the 40/50 but I think it would be advisable to stick to the same advance. This is a move that should be attacked with breathless haste. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||