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).
Issues with car magnetos for the Phantom model, considering materials and alternative suppliers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\2April1928-June1928\ Scan012 | |
| Date | 11th April 1928 | |
| EFC. ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) ORIGINAL R4/M7.4.28. REC'D AT WW. DURING EASTER & DESPATCHED 11.4.28. C. to BJ. WCE. RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} S? Mr. North (North & Sons Ltd.) CAR MAGNETOS. WATFORD EW.6. FOR PHANTOM. x7791 x8790 My impression is that the noise from a light type of contact maker should be so small and regular as to cause no trouble, especially with continuous well shaped cam, and since we now have no sleeve the vibration on the controls should be nothing, and require no further damping than the friction caused by the spring finger pressing on the cover. Therefore there should be no fitting friction on the cam support, so that the hard steel and bronze combination should be good, and can be .001" diametral clearance. In EAC. 7. this was much too tight and spoilt the feeling of the hand control: at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence we made it quite free and heavenly. Regarding the important item of the distributor drive, personally I should try the wheel bakelite canvas. I should use a steel wheel, I don't see the object of a bakelite pinion, and it is a weak piece. I am very sorry to say so, but something seems wrong in connection with magnetos. We do not make any real progress, perhaps we have tired Messrs North & Sons Ltd. by being impractically critical. Have we got good ones to meet our specified requirements and tests from Robert Bosch (Germany), Lucas (England), Scintilla (Switzerland), or any other sources? From a commercial pointof view - i.e. nationality and reputation the Watford suits us best, but it must be a good machine at a commercial price. We do not expect it to be the very lowest, and of the highest quality, but it should be reasonable. Unless I hear to the contrary I shall conclude that satisfactory progress is being made. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||