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).
Expressing concern over proposed changes to the starting handle mechanism, which requires disconnecting the thermostat control.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan348 | |
| Date | 10th January 1934 | |
| H3 X7380 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Re P.II Frontal Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}15/E10.1.34 Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}Br. Appearance with Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} Dropped front Crossmember. I am in receipt of E.7/HP.5.1.34 and have carefully examined the blue prints. I think the front appearance of the car generally will be greatly improved with the dropped cross member, the apron carried over it and the sliding cross bar, which is very prominent on the present car. Now in regard to the starting handle, I gather from the print that this will be in two pieces as on the Bentley, i.e. shaft and handle. It is regrettable in a way that we are having to return to the very long shaft but if the front appearance is to be improved, I see no alternative. I am sorry to see that it is proposed to introduce the scheme as on the Bentley car for opening the shutters to enable the handle to be inserted, i.e. disconnecting the thermostat control. I should not like to see this introduced on RR's - I am not at all keen about it on the Bentley. It means in addition to having to find one's starting handle and put it together for use, one has also got to open the bonnet, disconnect the thermostat control and then go right through the same performance to put the handle away. There is also the danger that people will forget to reconnect up the thermostat control. What effect that would have I do not exactly know but I cannot imagine that it would be good and as, when one wants the handle, one is usually in a hurry, i.e. because the normal means of starting has failed, it is obvious that the fewer things there are to do the better. One has only got to think of how often one forgets to straighten the mascot after opening the bonnet to realise how easily one might forget to reconnect the thermostat control! | ||