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).
Suitability and testing of magnetos for the 20 HP car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\2\ Scan019 | |
| Date | 1st December 1922 | |
| To BJ. from Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to FH. c. to HY. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} X4167 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 2/LGS.12.22. MAGNETO FOR 20 HP. CAR. X4167 X3551 You are aware, the reason we do not recommend a magneto for the 20 HP. is because up to the present all the magnetos we have tested have had fixed ignition. This means, when driving on magneto, the hand ignition control has to be operated as the engine speed varies. It is necessary to operate this much more so than on the 40/50 because the 20 HP. engine works with considerably more ignition range. We have been in communication with the Scintilla Magneto people and they are sending to us a Magneto which will give practically the same automatic range of advance as we have on the battery ignition. If this magneto works out as we expect, there should then be no difference at all in the running or operating of the car either on magneto or on battery. We are very anxious that, before we start on a 10,000 miles test with a magneto fitted to a 20 HP. car, we shall have the best we know of. The Scintilla magneto is a very excellent Swiss-made Magneto and has had very great success on the Continent. If Sales must have magnetos immediately, then the only thing we can fit is the standard Watford which will have no automatic advance. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||