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).
The inadequacy of Lucas fuses and Klaxon switches, and the development of new electrical components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\3\ Scan010 | |
| Date | 22th October 1920 | |
| X4202 To R.R. of America Inc. from R. {Sir Henry Royce} (For the attention of OY). Copy to CJ. " " PN. {Mr Northey} " " Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " Ey. " " EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} RB {R. Bowen} /G22.10.20. X.2515. RE FUSES. X.4202. X.4165. With reference to fuses, you will remember that the present products of the Lucas company, to whome the lighting equipment was left owing to our being busy with the new chassis and the finishing of the "CondorAero Engine" engine, were so disappointing that we have designed and made a completely new equipment of switches, distributing board, and of locked ignition switch with other conveniences permitting the Klaxon button to be fitted to the steering column. It is thought by Mr. Hives, and my own impression has long been that the Klaxon switch is very inadequate for the duty it has to perform, and we are anticipating that when we make a fitting for the steering column we shall have to have something far better. Our impression is that it will probably require silver contacts and carbon break, in principle something the same as the press button for the starter control. Regarding fuses in glass tubes you will realise that such tubes are useful for high voltage, but quite unnecessary for 12 volts which cannot maintain an arc, also we have to make a scheme which is replaceable all over the world, and the size of the plain copper wire can be put into the Instruction Book. | ||