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).
Decisions on ignition, fuel supply, and gearbox specifications, with references to 'China' and 'J. 2.' projects.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\March1931-September1931\ Scan306 | |
| Date | 8th July 1931 guessed | |
| (2) IGNITION. Regarding ignition it is decided that we abandon fitting the magneto and have a single battery ignition, much the same as present 'China'. We shall however arrange that in the spares carried on the car there will be a coil, a contact maker, and a condenser, so that any failure of this ignition need not delay the car, where-ever it is, more than a few hours, providing that the supply of current is available. PETROL SUPPLY. This will be by pump instead of autovac. CHANGE GEAR. This has already been designed to have single helical constant mesh gears for the 3rd. with synchronous mesh change, for which we are expecting to have to pay a royalty to General Motors. We believe that Derby and WW. are in complete agreement with this specification and we do not think that at the moment there is any necessity for a conference unless someone reading a copy of this memo. objects to any detail, or is discontented with this specification. (Regarding the present 'China' we do not propose to alter this more than is at present in hand, that is, getting the best we can out of the engine as it stands and improving its appearance with the deeper radiator. We conclude that it will be necessary to get going with this until J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 2. is ready. The exact date of this cannot at present be decided;we never know in the designs what diffi-culties we shall meet and what changes will be necessary. For instance, tomorrow we might learn how to build a distinctly better engine of quite a better type. We believe however that we have adopted in the designs in hand all the knowledge we have at present, and that no serious changes will be necessary.) P.S. Advance copy - hope to complete this tomorrow with print of chassis as intended. The 16HP. is 8/10ths. linear scale of this Japan 2. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||