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).
Page from The Journal of the Society of Automotive Engineers discussing ignition systems and foremanship courses.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\1\ scan 171 | |
| Date | 1st July 1927 | |
| Vol. XXI THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS July, 1927 No. 1 40 (10) Accessibility in the airplane for inspection of breaker and distributor (11) Easily removable and interchangeable breakers, condensers, coils, and distributor parts (12) Standardization of the basic parts of a given make, such as main frames, coils, condensers, rotors, bearings, breakers, and the like, to make possible the use of the same parts with all types of engine Many of these ideal features are yet to be realized, but the following may be considered as having reached a usable state of development: (1) A reduction in the weight of the ignition system of from 25 to 40 per cent (2) An increase in the satisfactory operating-speed of magnetos of at least 100 per cent (3) Extension of the life of the magneto breaker at least five times (4) Elimination of the fire hazard (5) Direct drive without flexible coupling (6) Flange mounting (7) Air-gap distributor In conclusion it must be emphasized that the development of ignition equipment specially adapted to aircraft engines has just begun. So far, the conventional single-magneto has the same general appearance as the first magnetos built. A glance at almost any aircraft engine gives a distinct impression that the ignition equipment has been hung on after the engine was finished. The double magneto is an attempt to adapt the ignition to the aircraft engine, but there are still possibilities of smaller and more compact units than any now available and of more serviceable installation on the engine. FOREMANSHIP COURSES THE Department of Manufacture of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States has issued a statistical report on the growth of foremanship courses in this Country. This states that the number of such courses, judging from the best figures available, has increased several hundred per cent in a year's time; also that, while it is true that there are still altogether too many who have not made definite plans, the tendency is to place the activity on an organized and permanent basis. There are reasons for the rapid growth and permanent status of foremanship training. One company finds an increased production with a decreased personnel as the outstanding result. This it attributes to better foremanship. Another reports, through better cooperation on the part of the foremen, a considerably reduced inventory of material in process; a third has noticed closer cooperation between the foremen and the inspectors; another, less labor-turnover due to more intelligent handling of the human element; and still another, better employer-employe relations throughout. Some baffling problems still remain. Accumulated experiences and results show that foreman training, to be most successful by the class or conference method, requires trained or expert direction. The large organization has work enough to keep one or more men busy all the time in improving foremanship and thus can have expert direction. But what about the smaller plant? If the company wishes to conduct its own foreman-training, at best, it must be directed as a by-product duty of some executive. He does not have time to devote study and thought to a proposition which must be handled with the greatest dexterity. In spite of these handicaps, some are succeeding, due probably to natural ability in this line. A man may be a fine engineer, he may be an excellent cost-accountant, or what not, yet a total failure in foreman training. Of course, it is common knowledge that there are correspondence courses in foremanship, and these are naturally available anywhere. But if the company, or foremen's club in some cases, desires expert assistance outside of its own personnel in class or conference courses, the sources of such assistance are limited, particularly in some of the States. When the Chamber is asked by these smaller industries in these States “Where can we obtain assistance for foremanship improvement by the class or conference method?” it is limited to a very few names of institutions now offering instructional assistance by the methods they desire; while in other States the problem of the smaller organization is being fairly well cared for by existing institutions. In such cases one or more of the following agencies is usually functioning, and sometimes cooperatively: private agencies, city school system, State vocational education department, State university extension division, Young Men’s Christian Association, chamber of commerce, local manufacturers’ association, State manufacturers’ association, trade associations, and other organizations. The following are typical examples which are quoted in the report: At present the local Board of Industrial Education is cooperating with the Chamber of Commerce in conducting foremanship training with the assistance of the State university. The City Safety Council is sponsoring evening instruction in foremanship for about 300 foremen. Does it, in the broad sense of the word, pay? We need not express personal opinion in answering this E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. McCullough, of the Department of Manufacture, says. The answer comes continually from those who have had experience. Due to increased interest and fuller realization on the part of industry of the value of training for better foremanship the Chamber of Commerce of the United States has been able to list 324 courses that were conducted on an organized basis from June, 1925, to June, 1926. One executive comments: Much attention and study has been devoted to the development of automatic and labor-saving machinery. The human element in industry which has been neglected should now have equal attention, and the one big factor in human relations is better foremanship—better trained foremen. S A E | ||