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).
Letter of complaint and suggestion regarding a car's performance in wet weather and waterproofing of ignition components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0174 | |
| Date | 3rd April 1936 | |
| TELEGRAMS: SUMMERS, CHESTER TELEPHONE 200 CONNAH'S QUAY. (10 LINES) JOHN SUMMERS & SONS, LIMITED. MANUFACTURERS OF GALVANIZED, CORRUGATED AND PLAIN STEEL SHEETS, &c. LONDON OFFICE: 34 LIME STREET, E.C. GLOBE IRON WORKS, STALYBRIDGE. LIVERPOOL OFFICE: 14 CHAPEL STREET. MANCHESTER OFFICE: 33 BRAZENNOSE STREET. ALL QUOTATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ARE SUBJECT TO REPLY BY RETURN OF POST REFERENCE G.S./M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} THE SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS LTD Hawarden Bridge Steel Works, Shotton, Chester. 3rd. April, 1936. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., Messrs. Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Nightingale Road, D E R B Y. Dear Bill, You have probably seen the latest number of your publication "On the Road", and I would like you to look very carefully at pages 18, 22 and 30. I venture to suggest that the cars depicted on any of these pages would require a good strong horse, with suitable towing tackle, to produce any movement !! When I sent my car recently to have it decarbonised and the brakes re-lined, I suggested that something might be done to make the car usable in wet or snowy weather, but my request was ignored. I have fitted an elaborate rubber-tube system to the ignition wires on the distributor, and have made a waterproof "tea-cosy" affair for the coil, but I cannot say that what I have done has effected much improvement. Both water and snow are splashed up by the front wheels through the louvered engine undershield, and a certain amount comes in through the radiator. Even the plugs themselves, due to the terminals being so close in some cases to pipes and control rods, would seem liable to short-circuit. I was looking at one of your aero engines in your showroom windows in London the other day. I noticed that the ignition wires and plugs were completely protected by metal casing, either flexible or otherwise, and I would suggest that this is the proper cure for the trouble, coupled with | ||