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).
Proposal to modify the New Phantom Instruction Book regarding the conflicting advice on the use of the ignition and charging switch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\2\ Scan263 | |
| Date | 23th January 1926 | |
| X8782 To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from EFC. c. BY/NHW. c. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} EFC2/T23.1.26. NEW PHANTOMCodename for PHANTOM I INSTRUCTION BOOK. Would you please refer to my EFC3/T16.10.25, EFC5/T20.11.25 and EFC4/T9.12.25, each of which were addressed to BY/NHW. The Instruction Book as at first and at present arranged, does not convey to the customer quite the impression regarding the use of the ignition and charging switch which is intended. For instance, it is intended that the customer shall sometimes run with battery ignition only when no charge is required, and this is indicated on p.59, under "Use of Ignition and Charging Switch", whereas on pp.12 and 17, we deliberately contradict this by saying :- "To secure the best results, both ignitions should always be used." and "Normally, both ignitions should always be used." respectively. We have, therefore, in the main, most decidedly given the idea that both ignitions should always be used, whereas as I understood it was intended that the battery ignition position could be considered as a definite running position - in fact I am informed that the engine runs just as well and is no more inclined to soot up when running on battery ignition only - the object of running with this position of course being that you cut off the charge. It is impossible in our present system of third brush control so to average the output that if the dynamo be kept on all the time no undercharging will occur in the one extreme case, and no overcharging will occur in the other. Therefore, just as we advise charging in garage in cases of undercharging on the road, so we ought to advise switching off charge in the cases of overcharging on the road, and therefore I shall not feel happy about this matter until we have modified the Instruction Book accordingly. I therefore hope you will agree to modifying the Instruction Book on some such lines as I have suggested in the notes addressed to BY/NHW, quoted above. | ||