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).
Advertisement for the Bluemel's 'Telescopic' Steering Wheel, featuring a compilation of positive press reviews.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\3\ scan0226 | |
| Date | 1st May 1936 guessed | |
| "Cars are becoming tailor-made instead of ready-made" Vide "The Star." "The Practical Motorist." "DRIVING COMFORT" A device which is fast growing in popularity is the Bluemel-Douglas Adjustable Steering Wheel. More and more cars are being fitted with this wheel and there can be no doubt that it is rapidly becoming recognized to be as necessary as the sliding seat. "The Motor." "LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER AS SEEN AT THE MOTOR SHOW" By "An Ordinary Motorist" Another item on the Standards, also present in the Triumphs, which surely could be, and ought to be, a feature on all cars, is the extensible steering column. You pull the wheel upwards and the column comes with it a matter of perhaps 6in. and locks in that position for short-armed owners. "Financial Times." "NEW STANDARD LIGHT TWELVE" By James T. Skinner. ... and individual requirements are provided for in a telescopic steering wheel which is adjustable to any length. "Reading Evening Gazette." "GREAT POINTS ABOUT THE FLYING STANDARD 12" By "Car-Go". I like to have the steering wheel well into my body and in this car with the sliding seats I could have my own way, and what is more, I could adjust the steering wheel up or down to suit myself—a very useful addition to any car. This, I understand, is a "Bluemel" patent. "The Standard Review." ...Thus the steering column is nicely raked, being, in fact, of the adjustable type whereby the column can be varied—even while the car is running—to suit the arm length of the driver or as a change during a long run. "Car Topics." A feature that seems to have gained rapidly in popularity is the fitting of "Telescopic" steering wheels. On the face of it, a standard position or length of steering column, for the steering wheel could not be expected to provide the maximum comfort for every driver. With the "Telescopic" steering wheel, however, a range of adjustment for the wheel is allowed which will add much to the comfort of driving ... and several manufacturers are equipping their cars as standard with the interesting refinement. "Sunday Times." "A TRIUMPH GLORIA TEST" By H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Symons. The driving position was excellent, a steering wheel being mounted on a telescopic column so that the ideal position can instantly be reached. "The Evening News." "SALES GO AHEAD—BUSINESS AT THE MOTOR SHOW RUNNING ON WHEELS" Ask the Standard representative to show you how the new Standard cars can be made to fit any driver. Not only the driving seat but the pedals and steering column as well, are fully adjustable. This is a feature that makes for safety as well as comfort. "Motor News." In concluding this review of the accessory section, mention must be made of the Bluemel adjustable steering wheel which provides adjustment for reach to compensate for drivers of varying height and build. Since its first inception some time ago, this device has proved increasingly popular and is now fitted as standard to many cars. "Standard Review." "THE FLYING STANDARD TWENTY" By James T. Skinner. The column itself is instantly adjustable, even while the car is running, so that every individual driver can suit his own requirements. "Country Life." "AFTERTHOUGHTS ON OLYMPIA" By The Hon. Maynard Greville. I noticed a very pleasing feature about this car, [Flying Standard with New Avon Body Coachwork] a new Bluemel spring steering wheel fitted to the telescopic adjustable column which allows the driver to regulate the distance of the steering wheel from him ... so that it is possible to accommodate any size of person in perfect comfort with relation to the wheel. "Britannia & Eve." "AMONG THE NEW CARS" By the Earl of Cardigan. There are many attractive features of these new Standards ... The large cars have ... Permanent jacking and also "telescopic" steering columns—the latter device being a most ingenious aid to comfort. "The Light Car & Cyclecar." Although it can be fitted only by the makers of the car, the Bluemel-Douglas Telescopic Steering Column (Bluemel Bros. Ltd., Stand 414) is a noteworthy contribution to driving comfort. The device is standard on several light cars—Standard, Lanchester, and Triumph, for example—and is amongst the most interesting in the Show. "The Autocar." "THE EXPERTS SUM UP" Mrs. Wisdom says :- Small, nevertheless important, owner-driver desirable features are adjustable steering columns. Mrs. Jackie Astbury, well-known for her successes in the big rallies, thinks :- Many noticeable features designed to make things more comfortable and practical for owner-driver, viz., telescopic steering wheels ... "The Autocar." From "Correspondence". Adjustable steering columns have been put on cars in order to make things more comfortable for drivers who are not "standard size" and who, therefore, are not comfortable in the driving seat of a car with normal control. The majority of this class of drivers are taller than normal, and as a result, their legs are too long for them to be able to bend their knees up behind the steering wheel, and they have to push the seat back till their legs are nearly straight before they can work their feet freely without them jamming against the wheel. This, of course, takes them abnormally far from the wheel, and the result is that they have to reach forward to hold it. As things are at present, I think any driver of over 6ft. 2in. will agree with me that it is impossible to drive with comfort in any modern popular car of standard type. Read these Press Reports - PROOF CONCLUSIVE that the day of the fixed steering wheel is passing. Bluemel's "Telescopic" Wheel is inevitable Bluemel's "TELESCOPIC" STEERING WHEEL (Douglas Patent. British Applic. 28742/33) for all cars of the future Bluemel Bros. Ltd., Wolston, nr. Coventry. REF. No. A.261. | ||