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 performance and behaviour of different magnetos on 40/50 HP experimental Phantom chassis.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\June1928-August1928\ Scan017 | |
| Date | 16th June 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL. c.c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c.c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL1/LC16:6.28. MAGNETOS ON 40/50 HP. CARS. V8/90 Below we give particulars of the behaviour of the various magnetos at present running on experimental Phantom chassis :- 10-EX Fitted with Lucas E.R.6. magneto No.53. Will not start from cold fully retarded. Noisy, mostly contact breaker - some gear noise. Performance otherwise O.K. This magneto has a spark H.T. distributor. 12-EX Fitted with Watford E.W.6. magneto No.100082. Will not start from cold fully retarded. Quiet. Performance otherwise O.K. 8-EX Fitted with Lucas E.R.6. magneto No.51. Starts up from cold fully retarded. Not very quiet - considerably noiser than the Watford continuous cam magnetos. Performance otherwise O.K. 17-EX Fitted with Lucas E.R.6. magneto No.54 & 426. Will not start engine from cold fully retarded. Noisy make and break, knock in gears. (Spark gap distributor). Performance otherwise O.K. 14-EX Fitted with Watford E.W.6. magneto No.100080. Quiet magneto. Starts from cold. (N.B. Starter on 14-EX turns engine over faster than standard). Performance otherwise O.K. 9-EX Fitted with Watford E.W.6. Magneto No.100093. Quiet magneto. Performance otherwise O.K. The general deductions at present are that the Watford E.W.6. is preferable to the Lucas E.R.6. They both suffer from the same fault i.e., poor starting from cold fully retarded, but up to the present the Watford magneto is distinctly quieter. contd :- | ||